IrishDH - Bear Back Biking Whistler Trip

July 05

In June this year IrishDH and friends hooked up with Bear Biking and headed to Whistler for a flat out 10 days of Biking, relaxing eating, drinking and more biking. Here is how it went.

We got some cheap flights via Canadian Affair and flew out via Manchester, London and then to Vancouver. It’s a tough old journey but everyone was well up for it and it’s never as bad as you imagine. A few good films later and after reading every word in a couple issues of Dirt (even Lawlors column!) we descended over the Rockies and into beautiful Vancouver. We were picked up by Joern in a massive bus type thing that comfortably took 6 people 5 bikes and all our luggage. Joern is a Whistler local, XC savage and one of the Bear Back Crew and was able to give us the low down on all the sights as we headed towards Whistler which was only two hours up the road through stunning Rocky Mountain foot hills. As you drive along you can see why this is MTB heaven as very bump on the horizon is a steep mountain side covered in mature forest.

We arrived in Whistler in good time and got dropped off at Chalet White Wolf which is one of the two houses offered by Bear Back. We were well impressed, massive garage kitted out with a good range or bike tools, all rooms en-suite, outdoor hot tub, gas barbecue, big lounge and kitchen, big fridge for all the beer!, everything you could ask for and more. We were greeted by Beckie who looked after us for the week, made us home made muffins and cookies every other day and also scooped the gravel and mud out the washing machine and dryer after we had used it (sorry about that one Beckie!)

What followed was a great week of MTBing despite the terrible weather (rained almost all day everyday). Here are a few of the highlights.

We hooked up with the Rich and Andy Smith and John Lawlor later in the week as they travelled over from the Mt St Anne world cup. All three were totally ripping and we all found ourselves riding a bit faster when they were around. It’s pretty scary riding 6 feet behind Rich when he tried a No Foot Can-Can on the A-Line and only just got his feet back on in time!

Michael White insisted on throwing himself down every Double Black Diamond trail in his flat out style and took some pretty big crashes. Suspected broken ribs on the second day and some really bad bruising didn’t stop him completing the week and riding every day.

Michael goes over a man made bridge - the mechanics of which are demonstrated by Dale

We took a day off the mountain bike park and rode a local XC trail called ‘River Runs Through It’ (locals just call it ‘River’) We did this on our DH bike as there are no real climbs. The circuit takes a couple of hours at a slow pace and is full of mad ‘northshore’ stunts. Definitely worth a look if you have time but best have flat pedals. Dale took a clipped in headfirst dive from an 8 foot high log ride onto a dry river bed, he was pretty lucky not to break a few bones and nursed bruised ribs for the rest of the week.

Rich 'aka Peat' Smith

Hummer tours are pretty crap. Don’t bother - it just ain’t very exciting after riding A-line all day.

Not exactly the 'A' Line!

John and the Smiths came round for a cool BBQ for Dales Birthday. Great Craic

If you hire a Helmet Cam make sure you do it on a dry day, it doesn’t make great footage when there is a blob of mud on the lens most of the time. We got some ok footage but it could have been better.

Carving the turns on 'Heart of Darkness'

Michele conquered the A-line drop which is at least an 8-footer half way down the A-line and the biggest drop she has done.

No chicken wire in sight

Tina became the master of the B-line getting all her lines sorted. She was even seen to get some daylight between her wheels and the ground and developed a worrying affection towards northshore.

The Bears

One of the coolest things about whistler is the wild bears. There are loads on the mountain and you are likely to see one or two almost every day. Sometimes they can get pretty close!

Just as Tina gets the hang of the teeter totters a bear tries to attack!

The Bear heads for the some drop practice

A photocall with one of the Whistler Bears!

All in all it was a great trip. We would like to thank Bear Back Biking for putting up with us, making the trip 'easy' and would strongly recommend staying with them.

Dale likes to get it in his mouth all the way down to the balls!

For more information on Whistler and BearBackBiking click HERE