A new series of mountain bike camps, called Bike Whistler, will be coached by some of the top riders in Canada and the world.
Andrew Shandro, X Games gold medallist and a former Canadian Downhill Champion and World Cup competitor, will be the program director for the newly created Summer Gravity Camps.
There will be four one-week courses for riders’ aged 13 to 18 starting July 21. Every camp includes accommodation, airport pick up, day meals and coaching from Thomas Vanderham, Dave Watson, Elladee Brown and "Dangerous" Dan Cowan. The final camp, starting August 11, will be open to all ages.
The popular Richie Schley Freeride Camps will return for a second season, and will run on five weekends beginning on May 24. Each camp begins on Friday and will run through the weekend. Participants will learn to ride steeps, jumps and clear obstacles. Guest coaches include star freeriders John Cowan, Wade Simmons, Brett Tippie and Dean Collingridge.
The Spokeswomen Mountain Camps will be back for a sixth year with the addition of former Canadian Downhill champion Daamiann Skelton to the coaching staff. There will be six weekend camps through the season beginning on May 18. Participants will learn to ride single track, steeps, drops and obstacles. World Cup racers Lesley Tomlinson and Sylvie Allen will drop in to help out with the coaching.
"The Whistler Mountain Bike Park has the terrain, facilities and features that provide the perfect learning environment for riders of all ability levels," said bike park manager Jason Roe. "The park’s lifts take the sweat out of getting back up which means that participants can focus their energies on improving – one day in the park is like a week of riding without the uphill boost."
More information and registration for camps is available at www.whistler-blackcomb.com.
