July 15, 2008
Trail conditions have changed, we are in "loose" mode now with dry and dusty surfaces throughout virtually the whole park. It is also that time of year where riders are in the groove, feeling the force (see last weeks report) and edging into complacency when it comes to riding trail. This is evident from the number of casts and crutches visible in the Village. While these fashion accessories of summer in Whistler may seem to add street credit to ones style, they ultimately cramp said style for the 6 to 8 weeks the wearer has to endure. As a new member of this elite fashion group, (yes I had a bone breaking fall in the Park this week), I can attest to the fact that a momentary lapse of attention = pain and suffering. The pain part of this equation is obvious, the suffering part I am starting to realize, is that everyone else is out riding on these beautiful days and I am not!

I thought about Karma when it all went wrong but could not think of who I might have shafted to deserve this. I guess with Karma it could have been a long time ago or even in a former existence. While hiking around the Park (my new hobby) to look at potential new areas for trail and snapping some photos, I did witness a few riders exercising really good Karma. I witnessed a kid with a flat ask a total stranger if he could buy a tube and the stranger handed it to him with the nouveau karmatic phrase "No kid, just pay it forward." The same kid then managed to get another complete stranger to pull up and provide tools and time out of his run while the kid repaired the tire, thereby increasing the good Karma for stranger #2. All of this goodness made me want to reach out to my fellow rider in need and I put a little credit back in my Karma account by giving two guys with flats a ride down to the valley. Whether you believe in Karma or not, take the time out of your day to help a biker in need, one day one of us will return the favor.
 
As for what's new in the Park, we are still forging ahead with the No Joke replacement trail, Ninja Cougar gets closer by the day and the Dual Slalom inches ever closer to completion. Once those jobs are done, we will be getting into more trail maintenance as well as working on extending Blue Velvet in Garbanzo. In case you are wondering about the activity under the Fitzsimmons Chair, Tyler Morland is working with our crew and a posse of volunteers to create a new DH Race line. Stay tuned for updates on this trail and other new surprises we have in store for you.