| British
Columbia British Columbia as their license plate says is beautiful. For a mountain biker it is more than beautiful, it’s nirvana. On July 10th, I left an already humid Brooklyn, New York for uncharted British Columbia, armed with nothing more than an Intense M1, some body armor, and a map. I flew out on Cathay Pacific which is an airline that flies from New York to Vancouver to Hong Kong. If your lucky it will flown by Claudio Latan, a mountain bike guide at Whistler in the summer and a ski guide at Blackcomb in the winter. I got my ticket for around $400, which was a good price but I booked far in advance. Search the internet keeping in mind both Seattle, Washington and Vancouver, BC destinations will get you within striking distance of the sickest riding of your life. I hitched a ride in the following morning with a couple of nice girls from New Zealand, but you may not be that lucky. There is a bus service that leaves from the airport at regular intervals and is bike friendly and costs about $65 each way. If you plan on renting a car, I heavily suggest renting a pick-up truck. There are shuttle runs a plenty in BC, and with one pick up and another vehicle you can session a run all day. Discount Car Rental had the cheapest deal on a pickup truck when I checked around, but booking ahead is always a good idea. There
are two highly reputable companies that can pick you from the airport
and bring you to Whistler for the start of your trip. One is a Ticket
2 Ride BC and the other is West Coast Freeride Guides. Both are owned
and operated by riders who will take you to the illest riding in the
province. Ticket 2 Ride BC is a company owned by Orange sponsored English
rider Scott Lanzi. Lanzi has a beautiful Chalet in Creekside just minutes
from Whistler Village that can accommodate up to 15. The chalet has
a beautiful open kitchen, large wrap around deck and full bike work
shop that is available 24 hours a day. You’ll pay less staying
at Ticket 2 Ride BC than the Shoestring Lodge, and you won’t have
to worry about getting your bike or camera jacked from your room. You’ll
also have access to skills clinics, pro camps, and day trips to the
North Shore, Squamish and other spots only known by locals. On top of
that Lanzi is a great rider and can hold his own at the pub…don’t
ask about that night at Buffalo Bill’s-what happens at Whistler
stays at Whistler. If getting out of Whistler to ride is on your agenda the West Coast Freeride Guides are your best bet. WCFG are also happy to pick you up at the Vancouver International Airport, and can offer a discounted rate at several local hotels. Owned and operated by local freeride militiaman Michael Hallet and Whistler Park Guide Brian Vanderkamp, West Coast Freeride Guides offer day, multi-day or week long adventure vacations that will take you to riding spots that until now resided only in your dreams. They know the North Shore like the back of their hands, so bring your body armor and don’t follow them too close because they’ll drop anything. WCFG will provide tents and provisions or arrange discounted motels if you want to get out and really see something. Regulars to the interior of BC, these guys are tight with local legends everywhere from Penticion to William's Lake. On our trip to Squamish I sat next to the Bronze winner of last year’s Red Bull Rampage, Glynn O’Brien. Offering tours to slick rock stunt encrusted Squamish, dry and dusty Pemberton with descents steep enough to require a parachute, Seymour, Cypress and Frome on the North Shore, the inland empire of Kamloops with pro‘s like Specialized’s mad man Brett Tippie and IDUN hero Brendan Parker , Williams Lake where the locals are more excited about showing you their stunts than you are about riding them, the West Coast Freeride Guides will show you everything BC has to offer. Get up with these guys at 604-905-9375 or www.freerideguides.com. |
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