The Whistler Off-Road Cycling Association has a busy couple of weeks ahead with Loonie races, a trail maintenance course, clinics, the IMBA Summit/World Mountain Bike Conference, and more.
As the host club for the conference, WORCA will be hosting guided riders for beginners, intermediates and experts on Tuesday, June 20 from 4 to 6 p.m. and on Thursday and Friday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. All rides will meet at the new Behind the Grind location, opposite the gondola building and Westin Resort and Spa. WORCA members are encouraged to join the ride, and organizers are still looking for guides. If you can help out contact info@worca.com or let WORCA know at the next Loonie Race.
Because of the conference, the Loonie Race that week will move from Thursday to Wednesday, June 21 and include conference delegates. The meeting place is Behind the Grind and the course will be epic – a climb up Easy Does It, a descent of B-Line, and sections of the Magic Park on Blackcomb, the White Gold Traverse and Lost Lake singletrack, finishing at Spruce Grove Field House for the after party. It’s a potluck, and WORCA is expecting a huge turnout from the conference so bring lots. WORCA is supplying the beverages.
WORCA is also looking for trail builders, experienced or eager to learn, to apply for an IMBA trail building course. The course will run four days, July 10-13, using the now universal trail construction standards that Whistler helped to develop. Up to seven candidates will be enrolled in the course by WORCA in exchange for 40 hours of volunteer trail maintenance with WORCA trail contractor Chris Markle, who designed and built Kill Me Thrill Me and Comfortably Numb.
In addition, there will be an IMBA trail maintenance day on Saturday, July 10.
If you’re interested in taking the four-day program, or participating in the trail maintenance day contact WORCA director of trail Boyd McTavish at trails@worca.com.
If you’re new to mountain biking, WORCA is bringing back its bi-weekly skills clinics on Tuesday, June 20. The clinics are $10 for WORCA members, and the first night is open to delegates attending the conference.
To take part, sign on is at the Cross Country Connection hut by the entrance to Lost Lake Park at 5:30 p.m. and the clinic starts at 6 p.m.
The clinics will then run ever second Tuesday through the summer.
LUNA’s BMX jam delayed
The LUNA group (Late and Unique Nighttime Alternatives) is hosting a BMX jam on Thursday, June 22 from 7 to 10 p.m. in the Whistler Skate Park – the rain date for the June 8 event.
The event features some of the best riders from the region. There will be a DJ, an expo with local bike shops, and promotions from the events sponsors at Monster Energy, Katmandu and others.
Entry is free for riders, and there will be a raffle for prizes donated by sponsors.
Learn to snowboardcross
The B.C. Snowboard Association is hosting a three-day snowboardcross camp on Blackcomb, June 22-24 for riders 13 and older.
The cost is $350, which includes lift access, on-hill and off-hill coaching, video analysis and fitness training sessions. Only the first 10 riders will be accepted, and will work with the provincial snowboardcross team coach, David Hugill.
To register, send an email to dhugill@mac.com or call 604-966-8665.
