Whistler 2005

"The Two Wheeled Approach to Self Esteem"

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Sprockids XC/Freeride Camp For The Generations

Over the September 30 to October 2nd weekend Sprockids hosted the 4th annual Sprockids “XC/Freeride Camp for the Generations” up at Whistler. The concept behind the camp is to bring teenagers and their parents together for a weekend of mountain biking and other activities. For many of the teenagers and parents this camp represents the highlight of their riding season. The weather at this time can be very unpredictable and this year the weather gods wreaked havoc with our emotions. A week before the camp the weather report called for “SNOW,” and 2 days before the camp rain was the the forecast. But neither rain, sleet, nor snow would dampen the spirits of this hardy band of bikers.

On Friday we loaded up the Sprockids trailer and headed for the ferry. As we drove up the Sea to Sky corridor the weather cleared and the sun shone through the clouds. Once we reached Whistler we checked into the Whistler/Blackcomb staff housing and headed off to the Old Spaghetti Factory to load up on our carbs for a weekend of intense riding. The next day we woke to a little drizzle, but after breakfast the clouds opened up and blessed sunshine christened our faces. The trails were in excellent condition and the group was pumped up and ready to ride some of Whistler’s finest single track. After a demanding 4 hours of riding we headed to Alpha Park for lunch. From there we rode back to staff housing for showers and a chance to rest our bodies. But just as everyone was starting to settle into their relaxation mode we were off to Spruce Grove Park for a BBQ and softball game. After some gourmet burgers and some major league play the sun set behind the mountains and we traded out bats and gloves for a “Glow in the Dark” frisbee. The crew split into two teams for a game of Ultimate in the dark using the illuminated frisbee. Ultimate is a very demanding game, but when you play it in the dark there are a whole new set of challenges to contend with.

The next morning we awoke to cloudy skies, but no rain. The weather gods must be Sprockids because they certainly were on our side. After breakfast we all suited up in body armour, full face helmets, and big squishy downhill bikes. We met our instructor/ guides and headed up the chair lift to ride the world famous Whistler Mountain Bike Park. For many of the high school students and their parents this was their first time in the park. Many of them were just a tad nervous about what the experience might entail. When you stand at the base of Whistler and watch the riders launching themselves off natural and man made stunts one can be easily intimidated. But once you start riding the trails you quickly realize how much fun this whole “Freeride” style of riding really is. After a morning of exploring the park the group loaded their bikes and themselves into the gondola and headed for the top of Whistler. When we reached the top and stepped out of the gondola it was very apparent we had landed in another world. There was snow everywhere, the temperature was below freezing, and there even was a sight dusting of snow happening!

After a hardy lunch and a few photos we suited up and headed down. It was quite the experience starting in snow and ending up in mud! During the afternoon we kicked it up a notch and the riders started to really showcase their talents. A couple of riders definitely “stepped out of their comfort zone” and took to the air. The results were some pretty spectacular crashes accompanied by some equally astonishing recoveries, resulting in a few minor bumps and bruises. Before we knew it our time on the mountain had come to an end and it was time to head into the GLC (Garibaldi Lift Company) for nachos, drinks and awards. As we sat safely inside the storm clouds rolled in and it began to rain. The weather gods had staved off the precipitation until we out from the exposure of mother nature. Our journey back to the Sunshine Coast was a wet one, but as the stories swirled around the table it was obvious everyone took something special back with them from our adventure.

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Over the September 30 to October 2nd weekend Sprockids hosted the 4th annual Sprockids “XC/Freeride Camp for the Generations” up at Whistler. The concept behind the camp is to bring teenagers and their parents together for a weekend of mountain biking and other activities. For many of the teenagers and parents this camp represents the highlight of their riding season. The weather at this time can be very unpredictable and this year the weather gods wreaked havoc with our emotions. A week before the camp the weather report called for “SNOW,” and 2 days before the camp rain was the the forecast. But neither rain, sleet, nor snow would dampen the spirits of this hardy band of bikers.
	On Friday we loaded up the Sprockids trailer and headed for the ferry. As we drove up the Sea to Sky corridor the weather cleared and the sun shone through the clouds. Once we reached Whistler we checked into the Whistler/Blackcomb staff housing and headed off to the Old Spaghetti Factory to load up on our carbs for a weekend of intense riding. The next day we woke to a little drizzle, but after breakfast the clouds opened up and blessed sunshine christened our faces. The trails were in excellent condition and the group was pumped up and ready to ride some of Whistler’s finest single track. After a demanding 4 hours of riding we headed to Alpha Park for lunch. From there we rode back to staff housing for showers and a chance to rest our bodies. But just as everyone was starting to settle into their relaxation mode we were off to Spruce Grove Park for a BBQ and softball game. After some gourmet burgers and some major league play the sun set behind the mountains and we traded out bats and gloves for a “Glow in the Dark” frisbee. The crew split into two teams for a game of Ultimate in the dark using the illuminated frisbee. Ultimate is a very demanding game, but when you play it in the dark there are a whole new set of challenges to contend with.
The next morning we awoke to cloudy skies, but no rain. The weather gods must be Sprockids because they certainly were on our side. After breakfast we all suited up in body armour, full face helmets, and big squishy downhill bikes. We met our instructor/ guides and headed up the chair lift to ride the world famous Whistler Mountain Bike Park. For many of the high school students and their parents this was their first time in the park. Many of them were just a tad nervous about what the experience might entail. When you stand at the base of Whistler and watch the riders launching themselves off natural and man made stunts one can be easily intimidated. But once you start riding the trails you quickly realize how much fun this whole “Freeride” style of riding really is. After a morning of exploring the park the group loaded their bikes and themselves into the gondola and headed for the top of Whistler. When we reached the top and stepped out of the gondola it was very apparent we had landed in another world. There was snow everywhere, the temperature was below freezing, and there even was a sight dusting of snow happening!
	After a hardy lunch and a few photos we suited up and headed down. It was quite the experience starting in snow and ending up in mud! During the afternoon we kicked it up a notch and the riders started to really showcase their talents. A couple of riders definitely “stepped out of their comfort zone” and took to the air. The results were some pretty spectacular crashes accompanied by some equally astonishing recoveries, resulting in a few minor bumps and bruises. Before we knew it our time on the mountain had come to an end and it was time to head into the GLC (Garibaldi Lift Company) for nachos, drinks and awards. As we sat safely inside the storm clouds rolled in and it began to rain. The weather gods had staved off the precipitation until we out from the exposure of mother nature. Our journey back to the Sunshine Coast was a wet one, but as the stories swirled around the table it was obvious everyone took something special back with them from our adventure.