The Whistler Mountain Bike Park will be celebrating the end of another record-breaking season on the Thanksgiving weekend, bringing back the annual Harvest Huckfest Oct. 5 to 8.
Details are still coming together for the Harvest Huckfest, but at least three events are confirmed at this point — a jump jam at the Air Dome, a team downhill on A-Line, and an amateur slopestyle in the Boneyard. Huckfest will also host the Whistler premiere of New World Disorder 8: Smack Down, less than two weeks after the world premiere at Interbike in Las Vegas.
Air Dome Jump Jam — Friday, Oct. 5, from 5 to 9 p.m.
Whistler athletes made a definite impression on the mountain bike slopestyle circuit this year, to the point where three local teens managed to qualify for the super finals in this year’s Crankworx Kokanee Slopestyle. While having the Whistler Mountain Bike Park and dirt jump park to train in helped, the addition of the Air Dome last season made it possible to try out all kinds of new tricks into a foam pit.
To lead off the Harvest Huckfest, Air Domers will be able to show off their best tricks for a panel of judges.
The open jam runs from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., which will be followed by the finals from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. where riders will have a set amount of time to fit in as many tricks as they can.
There are pro, sport and amateur categories, but no division of age categories.
Team Air Downhill — Saturday, Oct. 6 at noon
In this race the win will go to the team of four riders with the cumulative fastest time on A-Line. At least one member of every group must be female, and the course will be closed for training from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on the morning of the race.
Given the popularity of the Air Downhill and A-Line races in the Phat Wednesday Downhill Series there is a chance this event will sell out. To guarantee your spot pre-registration is recommended.
Registration is available through www.whistlerbike.com or Whistler-Blackcomb Guest Relations.
Slopestyle — Sunday, Oct. 7 at noon
This is an amateur slopestyle event where riders will have two runs to show off their skills to a panel of judges on selected features in the Boneyard at the base of Whistler Mountain.
There will be training sessions on Saturday at 2 p.m. and on Sunday after 10 a.m.
Spectators are welcome at both training sessions and the main event, but should respect fencing and the course marshals who will determine where people can stand.
This event is also expected to sell out, and early registration is recommended.
For more information on Huckfest, visit www.whistlerbike.com.
