Two-day festival kicks off bike park opening
Although the official opening of the Whistler Mountain Bike Park is something to get excited about, it’s hard to ignore the two-plus metre base of snow a little further up the hill.
That’s why the organizers of the inaugural Mud Fest mountain bike weekend have included both snow and dirt in the first ever Crud to Mud race.
The Crud to Mud is a combined snow and dirt race from the alpine to the valley.
Competitors start on skis or snowboards at the top of Raven and wind their way through GS gates towards the bottom of the Green Chair, and then down Lower Olympic to the transition zone, which will be somewhere above the gondola midstation at the snow line.
In the transition zone, competitors have to get into their bike gear as quickly as possible to begin their decent down the Bike Park’s A-line to the village and a reception at the GLC.
There’s no handicap for the snowboarders on the GS section, but they may be able to make up time up by keeping their boots on for the bike descent.
Prizes will be awarded to the top male, female, junior and team of two consisting of a skier/snowboarder and mountain biker.
Mud Fest, which is a joint effort between Whistler-Blackcomb and Joyride Productions, takes place on the bike park’s opening weekend, May 18 and 19, and features Bike Camp demonstrations, music, poster signings with pro mountain bikers, and WORCA season sign-up.
The Crud to Mud race takes place on the second day of Mud Fest, Sunday, May 18, at 11 a.m. You can register during the festival on Saturday, or by visiting Guest Relations.
There will be an awards ceremony at 4 p.m. and a Mud Fest party at the GLC at 8 p.m.
