Pic: Sterling Lorence

The Whistler Mountain Bike Park has announced that the Garbanzo Zone trails are now open, with warmer conditions meaning they’ve been able to open the gates a week earlier than planned.

“Weather has definitely been on our side this spring with lots of sunshine and warm temperatures melting away snow and drying up the trails,” says Rob McSkimming, vice president of business development at Whistler Blackcomb.

“We’re very pleased that the Garbanzo trails are good to go so early. There is minimal snow up there and crews expect to get most of the trails open for the weekend. Although some sections of some trails are still a bit wet and soft from the snow melt, the overall conditions are excellent for this time of year.”

At the end of last year, the Bike Park opened up several new sections of ‘Blue Velvet’, a major extension of ‘Freight Train’ and a completely rebuilt ‘No Joke’ singletrack, now called ‘New Joke’. All of these new trails will be open be the time you read this. The addition of these trails provides experiences for a broader range of riders. With the opening of the Garbanzo Zone, the Whistler Mountain Bike Park’s total vertical drop is 3,314 feet, or just over 1000 metres.

“I am so stoked for the Garbanzo to open,” says Richie Schley. “First of all there is nothing like riding fresh trails at the beginning of the season and second, it is so much vert! Love the technical, and let’s face it Side Track has the sickest jumps out there. See you up there!”

The Garbanzo Express chairlift will access the zone Saturdays and Sundays, and the Whistler Village Gondola will access the zone Monday through Friday. Garbanzo hours of operation are 11am to 7pm daily. The Fitzsimmons Chair will access the lower Park from 10am to 8pm daily. Downhill bike rentals and lift tickets are available at the base.

Find out more at www.whistlerblackcomb.com/bike