Intro to Park
Intro to Park is a beginner clinic tailored for anyone who hasn’t ridden in the Whistler Bike Park before. This program is for you if you’re a first-time mountain bike rider (you must be comfortable riding pavement), or you are an experienced XC rider but have never ridden in a Bike Park. If you are looking to get a taste of the park and develop basic downhill skills, our amazing guides will have you loving our easy cruising trails and learning areas.
INTRO TO PARK
- 3 hour lesson - includes your lift ticket, lesson & 3 hour rental (full suspension bike, full-face bike helmet & armour).
- Morning or Afternoon lessons available.
- For beginner riders - I can comfortably ride on pavement or wide gravel trails, maintain balance and can use hand brakes.
- For XC riders who have never experienced a Bike Park. We will tailor this lesson so you get the most out of it: learn DH skills learn, learn where to go in the Bike Park. Suitable for XC riders that ride up to “black tech” cross country trails but rarely leave the ground.
- You will encounter mainly wide open easy freeride dirt trails.
- You will experience an extensive and safe introduction to DH biking, and learn the basics of body positioning, braking and cornering from our fun and experienced coaches.
Lesson Information
Meet at the Bike School hut located to the right of Fitzsimmons Express at the base of Whistler Mountain. Please arrive one hour before the lesson start times to pick up tickets and rentals to ensure you are ready for the departure lesson times.
10:00am | 2:00pm
- 3 hour rental - full suspension downhill mountain bike with disc brakes
- Full Face Bike Helmet (CSA certified)
- Armour (knee, shin & elbow pads & gloves)
- 3 hour lift ticket
- 3 hour group lesson
Schedule
AM Lessons: 9:00am - 10:00am
PM Lessons: 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Pick up vouchers, collect safety information, sign waivers at the Bike School Sales desk. Pick up Bike Rentals and Equipment at G1 Rentals. Allow for rental process; bike and armor fitting, this can take up to an hour on busy days.
AM Lessons: 9:30am - 10:00am
PM Lessons: 1:30pm - 2:00pm
Meet your coach at the Bike School hut located to the right of Fitzsimmons Express at the base of Whistler Mountain. You will be asked some simple questions about your bike experience, to gauge your ability. To the best of our ability we will separate into groups with similar abilities and mind set.
AM Lessons: 10:00am - 1:00pm
PM Lessons: 2:00pm - 5:00pm
Load the chair and start the day – don’t worry we will show you how!
Some switching between groups may still happen throughout the lesson in order to accommodate different rates of progression, stamina, and student goals.
Skill development in our learning area and riding trails. Our guides will teach the basics in our flat learning areas and give you time to get to know the bike and techniques. Once ready to descend groups will start with our easiest green trail Easy Does It and will progress to more technical trails when the whole group is comfortable and ready. Number of runs will depend on the speed and stamina of each group.
What clothing should I bring?
Please dress appropriately for the weather/temperature. Shorts and T-shirt are fine with a sweater or light pants/track pants/tights for cooler days. We recommend long shorts and no tank tops. Closed toes shoes are required, no sandals or flip flops. You may bring a back pack with water and snacks if you would like but we will stop for water breaks at the top and bottom of each run. We will be riding in all weather, so please be prepared with rain gear and sunscreen!
Guests are required to present the credit card used for purchase upon activity check-in.
LEVEL ABILITY CHART
- I can comfortably ride on pavement or wide gravel trails, maintain balance and can use hand brakes.
- Little or no experience on single track trails or in a DH Mountain Bike Park.
- I can comfortably ride on green and easy blue single track and freeride trails in the Bike Park or cross country.
- I am confident to ride and carry momentum through bumpy, rooty sections of trail without putting a foot down and have good brake control.
- I have a little experience riding Bike Parks.
- I am comfortable on all blue technical trails and can ride all green and easy blue freeride trails in the park. My wheels rarely leave the ground.
- I can maintain my momentum and ride through rocky, rooty sections and am starting to look at increasing speed.
- I can comfortably ride raised ladder bridges and small rock faces.
- I have some experience riding in a Bike Park.
- I am a strong rider on all blues and easy blacks and I can ride all or most of the features.
- I am confident on this level of trail in the Bike Park and cross country.
- I ride at a moderate but safe speed and carry my momentum.
- I can do a rear wheel lift, bunny hops, a track stand, and small jumps and drops with correct technique.
- I am excited to ride steep roll downs, raised ladder bridges and technical trails.
- I am comfortable at fast speeds on all black trails both cross country and in the Bike Park.
- I can pick a line through difficult technical sections, ride steep rock faces and raised skinnys.
- I have good technique and can carry and judge my speed to do medium jumps (12ft +/- table tops) and drops.
- I am confident at high speeds on all trails, I can ride all the features on black and some double black trails both cross country and in the Bike Park.
- I can clear large drops and jumps (20ft +/- table tops) with correct technique.
Need assistance?
| CALL CENTRE HOURS | |
|---|---|
| May 21 - October 11 |
9:00am - 5:00pm PST |
1-800-766-0449
604-967-8950 (LOCAL)
wbreservations@vailresorts.com
