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National titles on the line this weekend

Slopestyle, national competitions in Gravity Fest lineup The Whistler Summer Gravity Festival kicks into high gear this weekend with a slopestyle event in the new terrain park at the base of Whistler Mountain and the Tim Hortons Mountain Bike Nationa

Slopestyle, national competitions in Gravity Fest lineup

The Whistler Summer Gravity Festival kicks into high gear this weekend with a slopestyle event in the new terrain park at the base of Whistler Mountain and the Tim Hortons Mountain Bike National Championships. In addition, there is a trials biking demonstration, a full bike industry expo, a fat tire criterium around the Village Stroll, and more.

Tim Hortons Mountain Bike National Championships – July 18 to 20

The top cross-country and downhill mountain bikers in Canada, including some of the top riders in the world, will be in Whistler for the national championships. There are elite categories for the top racers, as well as a number of skill level and age group categories that for kids Under 15 to adults over 50.

Expect a large number of Whistler riders to participate in all levels and age groups, including our local elite racers who have been participating on the Canada Cup and B.C. Cup circuits.

All of the cross-country riders will compete on the same six kilometre circuit, with different groups completing different numbers of laps.

The downhillers will ride a challenging four kilometre course from mid-station to Whistler Village.

The route for the competitions will not be confirmed until they are opened for course inspections and training on July 16.

Wednesday, July 15

The cross-country course opens for training and the downhill course opens for walking inspections from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Thursday, July 16

The downhill course opens for training from noon to 4:30 p.m., after which the course will be closed to elite categories until 6 p.m. The cross-country course is open for training again from noon to 5 p.m.

Friday, July 17

The cross-country course is open for training from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and the downhill course is open from noon to 2 p.m. for all riders, from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. for elite riders, and from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Saturday, July 19

The cross-country event takes place from 8:30 a.m. to noon.

The 8:30 start time is for men’s Youth Under 15 (ages 11 to 14), Junior/Under 17 Sport (ages 15 to 18), Junior Beginner Sport 19 to 29, Master Beginner Sport 30 to 39 and Master Beginner Sport 40 and Over, and women’s Youth Under 15, Junior/Under 17 Sport, and Senior/Beginner Sport.

The second start at 10 a.m. is for men’s Junior Expert (17 and 18), Youth Expert Under 17 (15-16), Senior Beginner Sport 19 to 29, and women’s Youth Expert Under 17/Junior (15 to 18), Senior Expert 19 to 29 and Master Expert 30 and Over. Awards for the day’s races are at 1 p.m.

The Timbits Challenge at the base of the mountain for kids 10 and under takes place from 2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

In downhill, the hill is open for training from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., followed by a mandatory seeding run for elite athletes until 2 p.m. The downhill championship final takes place from 2:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., followed by the awards at 6:30 p.m.

Sunday, July 20

Cross-country competition continues with a first start at 8:45 a.m. with men’s Master Expert 30 to 39 and Senior Expert 20 to 29. Awards are at noon.

The second start leaves at 11 a.m. with elite Women. The Elite and Espoir (Under 23) Men get underway at 1:30 p.m. The elite awards are at 4:30 p.m.

Whistler Village Fat Tire Criterium – Friday, July 18

After disappearing for a few years before reappearing last fall, the Fat Tire Crit is back again.

It doesn’t get any more crowd friendly than this event, which takes place on a short course around the Village Stroll in Whistler Village, on a flagstone course lined with gates and hay bales. It’s fast, dangerous, and there is a lot of passing and maneuvering.

The day opens with a Kids’ Crit for kids aged 4 to 10 from 3 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. The Women’s Junior Expert Crit runs from 3:45 p.m. to 4:15 p.m., the Men’s Junior Expert Crit is from 4:30 p.m. to 5:15 p.m., the Elite Women’s Crit is from 5:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., and the Elite Men’s Crit is from 6:15 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The Awards are at 7 p.m., followed by a party at a location to be announced.

There are cash prizes on the line for the Elite Men and Women. The top males get $300, $200, $100 and $50, and the top females get $250, $150, $75 and $25.

Shimano Slopestyle Expression Session – Saturday, July 19

In case you haven’t noticed, the base of Whistler Mountain is looking a little different this year with boxes, wall rides, gap jumps, dirt piles, and a new big drop higher up along the same rock wall as the famed GLC drop.

This year the event organizers are inviting 15 of the world’s top freeride mountain bikers for a jam session in the new park, which will be judged by peers in the industry.

Because of its location, the course is in a prime location for spectators.

The fun gets underway at 6 p.m. with training runs until 6:45 p.m. The event gets underway at 7 p.m. and lasts an hour.

The top prize is $2,000, plus $700 for second place and $375 for third.

Trials Demonstration – Saturday and Sunday, July 19 and 20

Some of the top trials riders in the province and North America have been invited to Whistler to show off their skills in a demonstration area. Particulars are still being worked out, but the action will be taking place on Saturday and Sunday with training running from 10:30 a.m. to noon, and demos running from noon to 12:45 p.m.

Athlete and Industry Tech Talk and Forum – on Friday, July 18

You will be able to meet with top riders and ask them questions about equipment, training, diet, technology – anything you’re curious about. Bring your questions to the Coast Whistler Hotel at 8 p.m.