Tracing the rise of mountain biking in Whistler. - By Alan Forsythe
06 OPENING REMARKS Editor Braden Dupuis makes the case for a Whistler Department of Government Efficiency.
08 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR This week’s letter-writers weigh in on the future of the Whistler Racket Club, and call for an accessible path in Alpine Meadows.
18 THE OUTSIDER In which Vince Shuley rediscovers the backcountry mountain biking frontier known as the Chilcotins.
38 PIQUE’N YER INTEREST Sports reporter David Song offers a glimpse into what it’s like to cover the chaos of Crankworx Whistler.
10 BUDGET SURVEY Housing tops the list of resident priorities in Budget 2026, according to a municipal survey conducted this spring.
11 MAN WITH A PLAN Remembering Neil Griggs, the visionary Whistler Village planner who helped design the resort’s pedestrian core.
22 CRANK IT UP A full-send recap of the first week of hot and dusty Crankworx Whistler action in the resort.
26 FOLK-ROCK REVIVAL
Upstart Pemberton rockers The Zummers drop their debut single “Grenoble,” a love letter to chaos, key fobs and French flats.
COVER I remember the first time I saw the trail Snakes and Ladders before the days of functioning, full-suspension bikes and realizing the mountain bike community here was a little different. - By Jon Parris // @jon.parris.art
Publisher SARAH STROTHER - sstrother@piquenewsmagazine.com
Founding Publishers KATHY & BOB BARNETT www.piquenewsmagazine.com
The case for a Whistler DOGE
BEFORE MY INBOX gets flooded with hate mail, let’s get the obvious out of the way: Billionaires like Elon Musk, and his self-interested Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), are a cancer on society. The administration for which Musk did the work is corrupt as all hell, and flirting with fascism in a way never before seen in the U.S.
This is not a letter of support for anything currently taking place south of the border.
But lately I can’t stop thinking about how Whistler might benefit from its own
BY BRADEN DUPUIS
Department of Government Efficiency.
It’s not a new concept. I’ve long held the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) would be very well served by an external audit of all its finances and operations— someone not on the payroll to tell us what works, what doesn’t, what we can pawn off, and what we can do away with altogether. I suspect there’s a lot (and I suspect I’m not alone in suspecting it).
To list some examples (with names and positions omitted for privacy): A longtime legacy staffer, now “manager,” who no longer lives in the resort, manages no staff, and rakes in close to $90,000 a year while working three days a week; and another—a senior manager who manages exactly zero staff—pulling nearly $200,000 a year.
All told, there were 25 municipal staff members who made more than $150,000 last year, and six who topped the $200,000 mark— and that’s not including the two members of the Whistler Fire Rescue Service who also pulled in more than $200K.
Raise your hand if you expect to ever come close to making $100,000 in a single calendar year.
The 2024 Statement of Financial Information report showed a total payroll of just under $49 million—up from $44 million in 2023, $40 million in 2022, $36.8 million in
2021, and $33 million the year before that. But hey, what’s another $4 million?
Based on casual conversations with builders and others in town—basically anyone not directly feeding from the municipal trough—I know I’m not the only one who sees how absurd this all is.
And yet, the RMOW just keeps getting fatter, not content until it has its fingers in every last piece of the Whistler pie.
Meanwhile, many organizations in town have still not recovered from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and likely never will— Pique being no exception.
The pandemic forced those of us who live in the real world to get leaner. Do more with less. But the RMOW does not live in the real world. When it realized it was facing “unsustainable workloads” in 2021, it opted to wave its magic wand and add more staff.
The additions were deemed necessary after a November 2020 leadership retreat with staff and council in which some clear themes emerged: capacity challenges, burnout, and too much work with not enough time to do it.
It’s a fair point, and our municipality is not the only organization in town struggling
municipality.
He alleges the RMOW’s workplace culture is problematic, rife with bullying, harassment and discrimination. He also alleges the RMOW uses non-disclosure agreements, like the one he declined to sign, to “silence whistleblowers and prevent open discussion about systemic issues.”
“There is a prevailing culture of fear where retaliation is real, and internal policies intended to ensure a safe and healthy workplace are ignored,” Creery wrote in a letter to Pique
“Employees are terminated or pushed out while management roles with limited scope and questionable performance remain protected. There is little accountability at the top, and staff quickly learn that internal complaint processes are not designed to protect them—they are designed to protect the employer.”
It’s not the first time Pique has heard similar comments from disgruntled staff. It is, however, the first time anyone has been willing to say it on the record.
“Like any good employer, the RMOW does not tolerate harassment, bullying or discrimination of any kind. We have just
and resilient workplace.
“The RMOW is focused on supporting a work environment dedicated to kindness and respect. Our fast-paced and increasingly unpredictable world requires creative problem-solving and nimble adaptation, making this work one of our most important priorities.”
It may be the disgruntled staff Pique has heard from are just that—disgruntled, with an axe to grind. But we know the culture of secrecy and control runs deep at municipal hall. No staffers are allowed to speak with the media or provide comment before their words are thoroughly sanitized by the communications department, lest some of the sheen accidentally come off. God forbid someone be allowed to speak honestly and openly for once. Lately they’ve taken it to a new level, with even municipal councillors—the people you elected to represent you—attempting to defer requests for comment to the mayor as the one true “spokesperson” of the RMOW.
Pardon my French, but that is just a whole new layer of unaccountable horseshit. But why say anything when it’s so much easier to say nothing at all? Just have the mayor read
The pandemic forced those of us who live in the real world to get leaner. Do more with less. But the RMOW does not live in the real world. When it realized it was facing “unsustainable workloads” in 2021, it opted to wave its magic wand and add more staff.
with said challenges. But it is the only organization that has the option to raise taxes to fill the gaps.
The RMOW instituted a tax increase of 8.25 per cent in 2025, following increases of 8.18 per cent in 2024, 8.4 per cent in 2023, and 6.72 per cent in 2022.
Last month, we learned former longtime RMOW staffer Kevin Creery is suing the municipality for wrongful dismissal. In a termination letter shared with Pique, the RMOW offered Creery a higher severance on the condition he sign a waiver relinquishing his right to sue—or disparage publicly—the
Fully renovated2-bed/3-bath Symphony townhomejuststeps from Whistler Village yetinaquiet setting. Features granite countertops, newflooring,stainlessappliances, high-endfurnishings,andsundecks onbothlevels.Eachbedroomhasan ensuite. Zoned fornightly rentalswith excellentincomepotential.NoGST. Asking Price-$1,749,000 29-4385 Northlands Boulevard
conducted an equity, diversity and inclusion audit to seek guidance on how we can continuously improve, and the results were encouraging,” a municipal communications official said in a statement to Pique
“Our municipality is actively working to ensure we focus on growth areas to be a positive and inclusive environment for all staff. One of the aspects of the positive work culture identified in the audit is a team charter initiative led by our CAO Ginny Cullen. This initiative is aimed at fostering a responsive, open-minded and innovative culture and outlines the tenets of a healthy
from his pre-written talking points, while a communications staffer whispers in his ear, until the media goes away.
And we know former staffers have to sign NDAs to get their full severance packages, lest they cast their former employer in a bad light. What would be revealed if staffers could speak their minds? If former staffers weren’t gagged for fear of losing their full severance?
We’ll never know. But I’m sure an external consultant would work wonders on Whistler’s bloated budget.
Sadly it’s likely the one consultant the RMOW will never hire. n
screenings 8 pm
Racket Club town hall set for Aug. 30
The many members of the community that use the multi-use recreational amenity that is the Whistler Racket Club (WRC) will be focused on the upcoming public consultation scheduled this fall detailing plans for the Northlands Development where the club is currently situated.
To date there has been no detail on whether the club will be rebuilt, and if so, where. This is alarming as the facility is the only indoor amenity in town where tennis and pickleball are played. An informal committee representing all the user groups has been formed, the Community Recreational Action Group, and will host a town hall at the WRC on Aug. 30. It is important to all users of the facility that there is a continuity of use while a new facility is built, presumably off site and within easy reach of the village to cater to visitors as well as the local community.
This issue is of great importance to all those who benefit physically and mentally from the various activities pursued. It’s also an opportunity for Whistler to have a legacy facility commensurate with the world-class standing of the resort.
The town hall will be advertised throughout
the community in the coming days and will provide a forum to discuss the public consultation, to play the sport we all love and have a drink or two in the hospitable surroundings of the club.
I look forward to seeing you there!
Guy Darby // Whistler
A call for accessibility in Alpine Meadows
I currently reside in Alpine Meadows and frequent the 19 Mile Creek path on a daily basis. There are a number of families and specifically children that live in the neighbourhood, and I feel it’s worth a mention
Write to us! Letters to the editor must contain the writer’s name, address and a daytime telephone number. Maximum length is 450 words. Pique Newsmagazine reserves the right to edit, condense or refrain from publishing any contribution. Letters reflect the opinion of the writer and not that of Pique Newsmagazine. Send them to edit@ piquenewsmagazine.com before 11 a.m. on Tuesday for consideration in that week’s paper.
of a lack of accessibility on the trail. 19 Mile Creek intersects with Valley Drive, and there is an excellent staircase there, however, there is no ramp for strollers, wheelchairs, or bicycles.
“To date there has been no detail on whether the club
will be rebuilt, and if so, where. This is alarming as the facility is the only indoor amenity in town where tennis and pickleball are
played.”
- GUY DARBY
There are many infants and children in Alpine Meadows, and a few neighbours utilizing wheelchairs. Perhaps it would be worth paving a small pathway south of the staircase for those looking to enjoy this trail with a focus on accessibility and inclusivity.
Mick
Fockler // Whistler n
Housing tops the list of priorities in Whistler pre-budget survey
SURVEY PROVIDES ‘HIGH-LEVEL UNDERSTANDING’ OF COMMUNITY PRIORITIES HEADING INTO BUDGET 2026
BY BRADEN DUPUIS
AS THE RESORT Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) begins early preparations for Budget 2026, housing remains at the top of the list in terms of community priorities.
That’s according to a recent pre-budget insights survey conducted from April 21 to June 9, which saw a total of 214 responses.
A focus on Smart Tourism ranked second among respondent priorities, followed by community engagement and climate action.
Other main themes gleaned from the survey included general affordability in Whistler; the need to prioritize core service delivery; desire for a second-homeowner or empty-homes tax; deferring projects for new amenities; accountability for decision makers; a need for increased transit service; requests to stop parking fee and property tax increases; concerns around staff remuneration; and a need for improved transparency and communication.
“Ultimately, the budget insight survey gives us a high-level understanding of the community’s priorities for spending, community tolerance for trade-offs, level of service satisfaction and the public’s understanding of the budget and its process,” said senior communications officer Jill Brooksbank in a presentation at the July 22
committee of the whole meeting.
“While the survey provides valuable insights into community perspectives, it is not statistically representative of Whistler’s population, like the [Community Life Survey], for example—the results reflect the views of those who chose to participate, and should be interpreted as indicative, rather than definitive.”
The vast majority of the 214 respondents were over 35 years old, with fewer than 15 respondents in the 15 to 34 age bracket.
“During our youth engagement workshops, we learned that, generally
“Ultimately, Whistler’s youth are seeking impact. They need to see how their feedback affects change on the things that they care about most, which is housing, transit and climate, and it needs to be in a meaningful time frame.”
In terms of service satisfaction, library services topped the list, followed by parks and protective services. The lowest satisfaction was seen in permitting services, advocating for and enabling employee housing, and communications and input opportunities.
Respondents were also asked to rank services by which are most important to them.
“[T]he results reflect the views of those who chose to participate, and should be interpreted as indicative, rather than definitive.”
- JILL BROOKSBANK
speaking, online surveys may not be the right tool to seek feedback from Whistler’s youth,” Brooksbank said. “We have learned that the high-school age group are very distrustful of online surveys, primarily because this group feels as though nothing changes, or changes are slow to come as a result of their feedback.”
The 20- to 35-year-old age bracket is similarly detached.
“Our initial guess is that the budget is a bit too removed from this age group, from their day-to-day actions, and it doesn’t necessarily hone in on their interests,” Brooksbank said.
For those under 35, housing came first, followed by recreation facilities, roads maintenance, transit and emergency preparedness (all tied for second), and climate in third. The least important services, according to that age group, were online services and building and planning permitting (tied for first), followed by recreation programs in second and library, protective services, communications and climate action all tied in third.
For the over-35 group, housing topped the list of important services, followed by roads maintenance in second and emergency
preparedness and transit tied in third. The least important were online services, climate action and building and planning permitting.
“Just because a respondent had listed something as least important, it didn’t necessarily mean that they were dissatisfied or wanted to cut a service,” Brooksbank noted, using climate action and environmental stewardship as an example.
“Ten people felt it wasn’t the RMOW’s responsibility, [while] 21 respondents supported the RMOW’s climate action stewardship work, but wanted to see the level of investment stay the same,” she said. “They felt the program needs more balance with other municipal programs. They felt climate action work is at odds with tourism, or they felt it may need to be defunded for affordability sake and for balancing the budget. And ultimately, only six respondents stated that they didn’t support climate action outright.”
As for what respondents would choose to cut or reduce to balance the budget, parks planning, climate action, communications and opportunities for input topped the list.
“Overall, there is some willingness to pay increased fees for Meadow Park Sports Centre, Whistler Olympic Plaza Skating Rink and Lost Lake Nordic Trails; there was the least desire for increased fees for parking and utility fees,” Brooksbank said.
“When we look at overall perceived value for dollars, 55 per cent felt that they received good value for the their tax dollars, and 61 per cent felt they received overall good value for their utility user fees.”
Stay tuned to engage.whistler.ca for more input opportunities ahead of the 2026 municipal budget.
NEWS WHISTLER
Remembering Neil Griggs, the planner who shaped Whistler’s heart
GRIGGS
CO-LED WHISTLER’S ORIGINAL
MASTER
PLAN,
GUIDED MAJOR RESORT AND URBAN PROJECTS, AND INSPIRED TRUST THROUGH COLLABORATION AND QUIET LEADERSHIP
BY LIZ MCDONALD
NEIL GRIGGS, the visionary Whistler Village planner who helped design the resort’s pedestrian core and guided landmark projects across B.C. and beyond, died peacefully in June at the age of 88.
Born in 1939, Griggs was known for quiet leadership, a collaborative style and an unwavering focus on how people experience a place. Those who worked alongside him recall an optimist with a steady presence, someone who could earn trust and guide ambitious developments through challenging conditions.
Working alongside Doug Sutcliffe and Jim Moodie, Griggs co-founded Sutcliffe, Griggs Moodie Planning Consultants. In 1978, the team was awarded the contract to lead Whistler’s master development plan—a blueprint that prioritized pedestrian access, mixed-use zoning and long-term livability.
“The project involved many significant contributors over the years, including Eldon Beck, Al Raine, Nancy Greene, Terry Minger, Whistler’s original mayor Pat Carleton, and influential B.C. politician Robert (Bob) Williams,” according to a press release provided by Griggs’ son, Paul, who researched his father’s legacy. “Later, as president and general manager of the Whistler Village Land Company, Neil oversaw the planning, infrastructure and land sales that laid the foundation for what is now one of the most celebrated allseason mountain resort communities in the world.”
The work was demanding. In the early years, it often required same-day return trips on the winding, single-lane Sea to Sky highway. Paul recalled his father sometimes making the Vancouver–Whistler drive twice in a single day for meetings.
“I know Whistler was such a big part of his and our lives growing up. When the village was just an idea, we would spend weeks there as a family enjoying the mountain in the Creekside days before Blackcomb had opened. He loved sunnyday skiing,” Paul said in an interview.
“I think it was such a dynamic project with a sense of urgency and attention needed. He collaborated with a lot of different people,” he added. That collaboration, he said, helped build the consensus needed to realize a true year-round resort.
At the July 8 Whistler council meeting, Mayor Jack Crompton noted Griggs’ broad role in the early Whistler Village buildout, including being contracted for the development plan around 1979 and later serving as president and general manager of the Whistler Village Land Company. In that role, Griggs oversaw completion of the Arnold Palmer-designed Whistler Golf
Club, the installation of Whistler Village infrastructure and the approval of the first wave of site proposals.
Griggs’ career stretched well beyond Whistler’s resort planning. In the 1970s, he served as project manager for the redevelopment of False Creek South in Vancouver—a risky waterfront renewal many expected to fail.
Retired architect Michael Geller first met Griggs while working for the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) in 1964. “I first met him when I arrived in Vancouver in 1964 with CMHC, and Neil was the project manager looking after False Creek,” Geller said. “Because most people expected it to fail, no one wanted to get involved. I got involved because I’d lived in England and seen how largescale redevelopments on waterfronts could become successful. Neil believed that as well. Like Whistler, many in Vancouver also thought the redevelopment would be a huge failure.”
Those early-1980s headwinds were significant, Geller added. “He was an optimist, and he had the right personality, which gave people a certain level of confidence he would follow up on his promises,” he said. “That was important in the early ’80s because the interest rates were 22 per cent, the real-estate market was in serious trouble, and developers and contractors were going bankrupt.”
By the 1980s, Griggs took on international work, moving to Australia to create Sanctuary Cove, which went from a muddy swamp to an ambitious resort community. Back in B.C., he was contracted to re-develop Oakalla Prison in Burnaby into a townhouse community, which received a Best Planned Community award in 1996 from the Urban Development Institute.
“He was a delight. He was optimistic, a decent person. He was not a bullshitter, and people liked him,” Geller said. “We underestimate how important that is when it comes to getting things done.”
In 1997, Griggs founded a Canadian chapter of Builders Without Borders, reflecting a long-standing humanitarian streak. “He had a big heart, which helped him succeed,” Geller said. “His moral compass was evident years earlier. When he passed away, I posted on Facebook, and it was a testament to who he was—the number of people I had no idea worked or dealt with him who commented what a decent guy he was and how pleasant he was to work with, in a very quiet way.”
Outside of work, Paul said his father enjoyed golf, sailing with family and coaching his kids’ soccer teams.
From False Creek to Burnaby to Whistler to Australia, the through-line was clear to Paul: “He always had people at heart,” he said. “It was always about a great space for people to use.” n
Transit gaps and amenity spending scrutinized in SLRD west WedgeWoods development debate
THE PROPOSED 12-UNIT DEVELOPMENT ACROSS THE HIGHWAY FROM WEDGEWOODS INCLUDES A
$2.4-MILLION
CASH
CONTRIBUTION
IN LIEU OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS
BY LUKE FAULKS
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
THE SQUAMISH-LILLOOET Regional District (SLRD) is considering a rezoning application for a 12-unit duplex development across from the WedgeWoods neighbourhood north of Whistler.
During a July 24 committee of the whole meeting, board members questioned whether the proposal adequately delivers on transit, affordable housing and fair use of amenity contributions—and whether those contributions balance out the cost of starting to develop on the west side of the highway,
“I’ve always been challenged by opening up the green side of the highway,” said SLRD board chair Jen Ford. “I’ve always been supportive of seeing this on the existing side of the development. I understand that there are reasons that people don’t want that to happen.”
The development—located on the west side of Highway 99 in Electoral Area C— would cluster six duplex buildings on three lots, while reserving a fourth lot for servicing. All units are proposed as market housing, a shift from the original plan, which included four below-market rental units.
The development under consideration by the SLRD would also allow for a common facilities building, play area, visitor parking and units equipped with level 2 EV chargers.
TRANSIT STILL A WORK IN PROGRESS
Transit access remains a sticking point for the SLRD directors. The proposal includes a bus turnaround and shelter on the west side of Highway 99 to serve the development, as well as north- and south-bound commuters. But a lack of a confirmed crossing has left questions about access for existing WedgeWoods residents.
“[The Ministry of Transportation and Transit (MOTT)] is not supportive of an at-grade crossing or speed reduction in [this] location,” planner Alix MacKay told the board.
“We’re currently working with the proponent to assess the feasibility of a pedestrian underpass tunnel at that location that could enable people in the existing subdivision to cross over and access transit on the west side.”
Some directors challenged the inclusion of transit infrastructure in the amenity package.
“It should be eliminated,” said Pemberton Mayor Mike Richman. “That’s a cost of doing business. That’s like supplying servicing ... I think it’s a little misleading to have it on the amenity package.”
MacKay clarified the $120,000 earmarked for bus infrastructure was listed under “greater community infrastructure,” rather than as part of the amenity package specific to the development. The new bus infrastructure
is subject to approval from both BC Transit and MOTT.
FROM UNITS TO CASH
The development’s amenity offering includes a $2.4-million cash-in-lieu contribution, replacing the previously proposed affordable rental units. Directors debated whether the shift aligns with the region’s housing priorities.
Richman said the original promise of below-market housing was part of what made the proposal appealing.
“Some of the willingness to contemplate this project was based around that there was housing generally being provided and some affordable units,” Richman explained. “The board then said, ‘Let’s look at taking that as cash-in-lieu.’”
If the amenity is just cash-in-lieu and can be used for anything, he added, “it just makes me rethink about how I’m looking at this development.”
Other directors asked whether the funds could be earmarked for affordable housing in Area C. The SLRD’s director of planning and development services, Kim Needham, confirmed this would be possible under existing policy.
“If the board wished to make the amenity go towards the construction of affordable
housing ... that could be [an Area C housing fund],” she told the board.
However, in response to a question from Director Chris Pettingill, she also pointed out Area C has limited capacity to support new standalone housing developments.
“Much of the electoral area is not serviced,” she explained. “So it’s very hard to find areas where we could land a large development where servicing could be provided on-site— outside of a well and septic field system.”
LOCAL VERSUS REGIONAL USE
The broader question of how amenity funds are used sparked debate. While staff proposed the $2.4-million contribution be placed in a general fund and allocated later “by future board priorities,” some directors took issue with loosening geographic restrictions on those funds.
Area C director Russell Mack objected to the possibility of Area C funds being spent in municipalities like Pemberton.
“Normally ... amenity funds in the area that they’re collected in are then used in the area that they’re collected,” he noted. “What I don’t want to see happen ... is amenity funds generated in an area all of a sudden go to a municipality to support their programs.”
Ford responded by citing past practice,
including the use of funds from the first phase of WedgeWoods to support the Pemberton & District Community Centre.
“Yes, it happened in Pemberton, but it benefits the residents of Area C,” she said. Needham clarified that under the SLRD’s Community Amenity Contribution Policy, the director representing the area where funds are generated has the authority to make decisions on their disbursement. She added that funds designated for a specific use, like recreation, must remain so for seven years, after which they may be reallocated with board approval.
“One of the reasons we’ve suggested that the use of the amenity not be determined at this time is we didn’t want to see this application getting caught up in board discussions over how that money should be spent,” she explained. “Instead, that it could just go into a general amenity fund related to Area C or whatever the board were to determine, and then dispersal of those funds could happen after this application is determined.”
CARRYING ON THE CONVERSATION
The Lil’wat Nation wrote to the board, saying it would need further information before providing input on the rezoning and development. The Nation’s Land Use Referral Committee will review findings from a contracted archaeologist and provide feedback to the regional district. The timeline for the Nation’s response is unknown, based on the availability of an archaeologist.
The SLRD’s committee of the whole motioned to have more direction on a cash contribution being preferred over the construction of on-site below market rental housing, have staff research safe highway crossing options, and separate amenities specific to the development (like EV charging) from community amenity contributions.
Richman “reluctantly” supported the motion, citing his desire to keep the conversation around affordable housing and regional transit going. n
Highway 99 crash sends cyclist to hospital in serious condition
BY LIZ MCDONALD
A CYCLIST WAS SERIOUSLY injured in a crash on Highway 99 in Whistler late Sunday morning, Aug. 10.
BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) says it received a call at 11:04 a.m. on Aug. 10 about a motor vehicle incident involving a cyclist in the 2700 block of the highway, near Wayside Park.
An ambulance with primary care paramedics and an advanced care paramedic response unit attended the scene. Paramedics
treated one patient, who was taken by ground ambulance to a health-care facility in serious but stable condition, said paramedic public information officer Brian Twaites.
Data from BC researchers shows collisions with motor vehicles account for more than a quarter of cyclist injuries requiring hospital admission in the province, and are more likely to cause serious harm than other types of crashes. Between 2015 and 2019, 27.6 per cent of hospitalized cyclist injuries in B.C. were the result of a collision with a motor vehicle, with 27.4 per cent of those cases classified
as serious—compared to 17.9 per cent for cycling falls.
The BC Cycling Coalition reports that about four out of five cyclist–vehicle collisions occur at intersections, often due to driver distraction or failure to yield.
“With more people expected on the roads this summer, BCEHS paramedics remind everyone to pay extra attention to road safety,” Twaites said, noting drivers should avoid fatigue, never use handheld devices, abstain from driving after consuming substances, refrain from distracting drivers as passengers, and watch for other road users. n
WEDGE ISSUE The SLRD board is considering a pedestrian underpass to connect the existing WedgeWoods neighbourhood to a new transit stop for north- and south-bound commuters.
PHOTO BY LUKE FAULKS
Vail Resorts launches 50%-off Epic Friend Tickets program
NEW PERK REPLACES BUDDY TICKETS, OFFERS CONSISTENT SAVINGS AT 37 NORTH AMERICAN RESORTS, INCLUDING WHISTLER BLACKCOMB
BY LIZ MCDONALD
IF SWELTERING SUMMER days at the lake have you dreaming of powder with friends, Vail Resorts’ new Epic Friend Tickets program might be welcome news.
The company announced Tuesday that Epic Pass holders can give friends 50 per cent off lift tickets this season. The amount spent on a discounted ticket this year can also be applied towards an Epic Pass for the 2026-27 ski season.
Depending on the purchase date, holders of the Epic Pass, Epic Local Pass, Epic Military Pass, Northeast Value Pass and most other season-long passes will receive between six and 10 Epic Friend Tickets.
The discount applies to 37 Vail Resorts properties across North America, including Whistler Blackcomb.
“Skiers and snowboarders know this sport is magic; a passion you can’t help but pass on,” Vail Resorts CEO Rob Katz said in a press release. “If you ski or ride, chances are someone brought you into the sport, and we want to make it easier for you to pay it forward. Epic Friend Tickets are the next step on our nearly two-decade-long journey to make skiing more accessible to more people.”
Pass holders who bought before April 14 receive 10 half-price friend tickets, while those who purchased after that date get six. The new program replaces the former Buddy Ticket perk, which varied in value.
A Vail Resorts spokesperson said Buddy Tickets previously offered up to 45 per cent off, but discounts often depended on the resort and date. “In certain instances last season, Buddy Tickets provided only 14 per cent off lift tickets. In contrast, Epic Friend Tickets will always provide 50 per cent off lift tickets at any of Vail Resorts’ 37 North American destinations,” they wrote in an email.
GROWING THE SPORT
In an interview with Ski Magazine, Katz said the streamlined 50-per-cent discount aims to grow the sport. He oversaw the launch of the Epic Pass in 2008, which has since become a major revenue driver for the company. Season passes made up about 25 per cent of revenue in 2008 and now account for 65 per cent, according to the Financial Times.
However, skier numbers have not grown at the same pace. Statistics Canada reported strong growth between the 1960s and 1980s, with participation rising 10 to 15 per cent annually. But research by Daniel Scott and Natalie Knowles for the Alpine Club of Canada’s State of the Mountains report shows ski visits in Canada averaged 18.6 million between 2009 and 2014, and 18.4 million between 2015 and 2019—a decline they attribute to climate change shortening and disrupting winter seasons.
One strategy to counter these fluctuations
FILE PHOTO BY SCOTT TIBBALLS
is to encourage pass sales. In a previous interview with Pique, Kate Wilson, Vail Resorts’ vice-president of environmental and social responsibility, said selling passes in advance helps protect the business from unpredictable winters.
“We think about our advanced commitment—where people purchase passes ahead of the season—as something that is important to the overall business, and it is something that does help us mitigate climate [impacts], because none of us know what is going to happen in a specific season,” she said.
Advance passes also give guests flexibility to ski elsewhere if their home mountain experiences poor conditions.
OTHER FRIEND TICKET OFFERS
The “Ski With a Friend” tickets will continue through the end of the 2025-26 season, after which they will expire. Epic Pass holders who bought before April 14 receive six of these tickets; those who purchased on or before May 27 get two; and anyone buying after that date receives none.
Certain pass types, including 80-plus and 90-plus passes, as well as Tot passes, are excluded from the Epic Friend Tickets program.
Friend tickets can be redeemed through the My Epic app. The pass holder must be present at the lift line and scan their own Epic Pass before their friend’s discounted ticket becomes active.
“By making it easier for our pass holders to share the ski experience with friends— through savings across not one, but two winter seasons—we hope to help spark traditions that will inspire groups of friends to return to the mountains for years to come,” Katz said.
Whistler Blackcomb offerings include the Day Pass, available for one to 10 days of skiing. Single-day passes cost $132, and EDGE Cards are available for Canadian and Washington state residents. The five-day EDGE option with peak dates included costs $548 for adults; other EDGE options include a two-day and 10-day package.
Epic Pass and EDGE Card prices increase Sept. 1. n
BETWEEN FRIENDS Vail Resorts is launching new discounted ticket prices for friends of Epic Pass holders for the 2025-26 season.
‘We are losing a generation’
REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE ST’ÁT’IMC CHIEFS COUNCIL DISCUSS NEXT STEPS AFTER DECLARING A STATE OF EMERGENCY OVER TOXIC DRUG DEATHS
BY LUKE FAULKS
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
ON JULY 8, the St’át’imc Chiefs Council (SCC) declared a state of local emergency across its 11 communities in response to the toxic drug crisis.
“We are losing a generation,” said Chief Justin Kane, chair of the SCC. “Now is the time for us to try to come together and think as one to help tackle the issue at hand.”
The decision to declare the emergency came after a rise in both fatal and non-fatal overdoses in the Lillooet area—a region that now reports the second-highest toxic drug death rate in the province at 116 deaths per 100,000 residents.
“We made a recommendation to bring [a declaration] to all the chiefs, and all chiefs were automatically in support of it,” Kane explained. “There was no question.”
The SCC represents 11 St’át’imc communities—Ts’kw’áylaxw, Xa’xtsa, Xáxli’p, T’ít’q’et, N’Quatqua, Tsal’álh, Xwísten, Sekw’el’wás, Samáhquam, Skátin, and Lil’wat Nation.
“There became a time when we had
some losses, but we were also getting quite an amount of overdoses,” said Kane. “So we thought it was a time to look at how we can come together and address the issue.”
The SCC explained the declaration invokes Canada’s Constitution Act (Section 35), the United Nations Declaration Act (UNDA), and B.C.’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous
SCOPE
The province declared a public-health emergency over toxic drugs on April 14, 2016. Since the declaration, the BC Coroners Service reports more than 16,000 British Columbians have died of toxic drug overdoses.
The St’át’imc Nation isn’t the first to declare a state of emergency over toxic
“Now is the time for us to try to come together and think as one to help tackle the issue at hand.”
- JUSTIN KANE
Peoples Act (DRIPA) as frameworks requiring immediate consultation and accommodation.
The Chiefs Council is formally requesting meetings with provincial Health Minister Josie Osborne, Indigenous Relations Minister Spencer Chandra Herbert, and federal Crown–Indigenous Relations Minister Rebecca Alty.
deaths. Ehattesaht First Nation, one of 14 communities in the Nuu-chah-nulth Nation on Vancouver Island, declared a state of emergency in February 2023 after six toxic drug deaths.
the Tŝilhqot’in National Government declared a local state of emergency across its six member communities in central B.C., citing a sharp spike in toxic drug poisoning deaths and pointing to historical and ongoing colonial harms as a contributing factor.
In September, the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council declared a state of emergency for its communities, including Ehattesaht.
And in March 2025, the Homalco First Nation—located on Vancouver Island— declared a state of emergency after four young community members died from toxic drugs within the prior six months.
SEEKING SUPPORT
SCC representatives say they’re not just sounding an alarm—they’re asking for tangible, immediate interventions.
“We are seeking next steps to come together with St’át’imc,” Cameron said, noting discussions are already underway with neighbouring First Nations also grappling with the drug toxicity crisis.
“We are immediately requesting a meeting,” said Cait Cameron, policy advisor to the SCC. “We want to learn about what immediate engagement and commitments can come from them to discuss both emergency measures and long-term solutions.”
Since then, more than 30 First Nations communities, including the St’át’imc, have declared their own emergencies.
In February 2024, the Gwa’sala’Nakwaxda’xw Nations, located in the Port Hardy area of Vancouver Island, declared a state of emergency in response to rising toxic drug-related deaths. In April of the same year,
Michelle Edwards, a former Cayoose Creek Chief now advising the SCC, said the requested supports span harm reduction, mobile services, mental-health counselling and help for frontline workers and families.
“This is such a large issue that we need everybody together,” Edwards said. “These drugs are very harmful these days, and it’s widespread. It’s not only the Indigenous. We COME
town of Lillooet, situated within the traditional territory of the St’át’imc Nation, has the province’s second-highest toxic drug death rate.
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say we’re going to heal everyone. A circle isn’t complete till everybody joins us and we all heal together.”
NO BLANKET SOLUTIONS
The SCC hopes to move quickly toward concrete planning. An approach combining short-term interventions with long-term healing and housing infrastructure is the goal.
“We need at least within this next month to come together and have a more phased, planned approach,” said Kane. “Identify how to address the needs in the short-term and the long-term.”
Edwards stressed the emergency must be met with solutions that reflect the distinct needs, culture and geography of each Nation.
“Every region, every area, is unique in its own way, what services are available,” she said, noting Nation-specific plans could be developed in collaboration with the provincial government.
That means building resources at home, including treatment facilities and traumafocused supports, rather than sending members far from their land and community.
“We have to stop sending our people elsewhere, because it’s been over 100 years of separation and taking our people away from who we are and our identity, and removing us from our territories and our lands,” Edwards told Pique.
She suggested land-based healing programs and extended after-care initiatives within each community as key to reconnecting people with their families, Nations and
cultural practices.
“We have ideas now,” Edwards said. “We need to sit and plan and we need to do it quick, because our people are hurting and need that support now.”
SLRD RESPONSE
During a July 23 board meeting, the SquamishLillooet Regional District (SLRD) discussed the SCC declaration.
“This is really important to highlight— how this is affecting communities, how this
good move on our part for the board to send a letter to the Foundry and to the ministry saying, ‘Our local chiefs are declaring a state of emergency. This just reinforces that we need to have a conversation about bringing these services to Pemberton, which serves as a hub to all these communities in the southern St’át’imc,’” he suggested.
The board voted to draft a letter of support for the declaration, to be sent to Health Minister Josie Osborne, Mental Health and Addictions Minister Jennifer Whiteside, and Foundry Sea to Sky.
“This is really important to highlight— how this is affecting communities, how this is affecting families...”
- JEN FORD
is affecting families and how this is affecting people in our communities,” said board chair Jen Ford. “It’s tragic and it breaks my heart that we’ve got to the point where they have to make this kind of a declaration.”
Pemberton Mayor Mike Richman called the declaration “alarming,” and urged the board to push for stronger local mentalhealth supports. He pointed to ongoing efforts to bring a Foundry youth wellness centre to Pemberton’s under-development Harrow Road building.
“With this context in mind, it might be a
BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS, NOT LAWSUITS
Though the declaration references the legal obligations of the Crown, the SCC says legal action is not currently on the table.
“We know the first part of the process is to reach out and look for collaboration,” said Kane. “There’s a recognition there of wanting to come and sit down.”
Cameron added local officials—including those from Lillooet and the SLRD—are aware and aligned in concern.
“We’re definitely all on the same page
about this issue,” she explained. “[But] we don’t assume what the solutions are right now.”
The SCC says it is taking notes from other Nations that have declared similar emergencies, such as the Haida Nation and the Tsilhqot’in National Government.
Members of the Tsilhqot’in National Government addressed the United Nations in April 2025, a year after their emergency declaration. Representatives called for Canadian provincial and federal governments to fund culturally centred programming, improve access to services and expand supportive housing.
“We owe a lot of thanks to them, especially [Yuneŝit’in] Chief Lennon Solomon,” Edwards said. “He’s really an advocate with the ministers—pushing their treatment program, their harm-reduction drug testing, [and] getting beds for their people in the community.
“We all need to be almost really that aggressive, because this is a crisis and we care about our people.”
In the meantime, St’át’imc leaders are cautiously optimistic.
“I think there’s a path forward, and I think there’s a lot of urgency and commitment,” said Kane. “We can do it if we put our minds together. The opportunity’s there, and we have the supports of the governments and organizations that collaborate and support us.”
The FNHA declined to comment. The Lil’wat Nation did not respond to a request for comment before press time. n
Rediscovering the Chilcotins: Part 1
MOUNTAIN BIKING in the Sea to Sky tends to set a very high standard. We have the best bike park in the world in Whistler, some of the biggest granite slabs in Squamish and terrain that lets builders craft some of the most incredible advanced trails in the world.
BY VINCE SHULEY
Spoiled, we most definitely are.
The thing about bike trails, however, is they need someone to build them. And those builders need access, as do the mountain bikers who want to ride the trail after it’s completed. That limits where mountain bikers can go, especially in the backcountry.
Trails like Whistler’s (now iconic) Lord of the Squirrels are a bit of an exception. It was built after extensive consultation by the Resort Municipality of Whistler’s Trails Planning Working Group and the build itself required extensive funding and resources. Into the Mystic is a machine-built highway compared to many alpine climb trails in other parts of the world, and Lord of the Squirrels (construction led by WORCA’s lead trail builder Dan Raymond) is designed so well that every ability from intermediate to expert can have the time of their lives on the descent.
If you want to get into the real backcountry, however, purpose-built trails like Lord of the Squirrels are few and far between. Commercial operators like AlpX (owned and operated by Blackcomb Helicopters) have invested in alpine trail building, but those trails are very expensive to access with a helicopter. The next frontier of backcountry mountain biking is a bit further out, and also has aircraftassisted access available—the South Chilcotin Mountains, often colloquially referred to as “the Chilcotins.”
I first rode in the Chilcotins more than a decade ago as part of a media promotion with Mountain Biking BC and remember the area exceeding its reputation for adventure. Even if you hop aboard the float plane into the backcountry with Tyax Adventures (our group did not), getting around the Chilcotins
Elbow Pass, Warner Lake, Tyaughton Creek, Spruce Lake, and Gun Creek.
A couple weekends ago, I returned to the Chilcotins for the first time since 2014.
A couple of friends (who’ve both explored multiple times over the years) were interested in covering some ground with zero assistance from aircraft. Needing to whip myself into mental shape for a big hike next month, I figured it was as good a time as any to return to this alpine riding mecca.
We parked the truck at the top of the Taylor Creek 4x4 access trail, happy to cut about 45 minutes of gravel road pedalling out of the day. We set off on the Taylor Creek Trail, a doubletrack climb that winds along the flanks of Taylor Peak and Eldorado Mountain. Not long after breaking through into the alpine, the trail got steeper and we resorted to
Not long after breaking through into the alpine, the trail got steeper and we resorted to pushing our laden bikes and packs up to the first of many mountain passes this weekend.
is a very different experience from pedalling up on a machine-built trail and descending hand-built singletrack. Long before bikes showed up, the South Chilcotin Mountains were a popular horsepacking destination and a few outfitters still operate in the area. And long before that, the Tsilhqot’in, St’at’imc, and Secwepemc Nations first established the network of trails, linking key routes through
pushing our laden bikes and packs up to the first of many mountain passes this weekend.
A rough doubletrack descent followed, where my borrowed handlebar bag (with a sleeping bag stuffed into it) bounced with every bump and obscured the view of my front wheel, making me instinctively hit the brakes more before every corner. I made a mental note to adjust it later, but at that moment, we had to
stay on schedule.
The next push took us up High Trail to Windy Pass, where we stopped for lunch and got swarmed by horseflies. I was too exhausted to care, waving them away as I chomped on dried sausage, a block of cheese and a stack of mini tortillas. The descent down from the pass had some great mountain biking with fast and flowing sections intermixed with dusty, technical corners. But it was over quite quickly, and the final grind began.
Most mountain bikers riding into South Chilcotin Mountains Provincial Park would probably call that a day and set up camp on the shores of Spruce Lake. But my friends had other plans. We were scheduled to meet our other friends (who flew into Lorna Lake that morning) at Bear Paw Camp, another 20 kilometres away. The remaining 500 metres of vertical didn’t seem too painful, but the remaining trail ahead was rough in places with a handful of river crossings. Travel became a sequence of pedal, push, ride, repeat. Every part of my body hurt, from sunburn on my neck to my back muscles from hauling a pack full of food, clothes and shelter, to my aching butt from hours in the saddle.
We triumphantly rolled into Bear Paw Camp where our friends were waiting, and they handed us a beer each. The stats for the day are 42.5 kilometres of travel with 1,885 metres of elevation gain.
I had two more days ahead of me. That beer never tasted better.
Vince Shuley was well overdue for some real adventure biking. For questions, comments or suggestions for The Outsider, email vince. shuley@gmail.com or Instagram @whis_vince. n
WHERE YOU BELONG Alpine travel in the South Chilcotin Mountains is a rite of passage for many Sea to Sky mountain bikers.
PHOTO BY VINCE SHULEY
B.C. court ruling puts Aboriginal title above private property rights
BY ROB SHAW
IT WILL TAKE TIME to fully understand the implications of a landmark court ruling that appears to place Aboriginal title in British Columbia above standard private property rights.
But already, there’s a fierce political debate.
The B.C. Supreme Court ruled Friday, Aug. 8 that the Cowichan Tribes holds title over federal, city and private land in Richmond that it historically used as a fishing village. This title sits higher in the legal hierarchy than fee simple land rights of other current owners. The ruling could set a precedent that fundamentally changes the security of standard private property in B.C.
“This ruling just cracked open the door for your land title to mean nothing,” Opposition Conservative MLA Harman Banghu posted on social media.
“Allowing this decision to stand will only invite further conflict, deter economic investment, and place vital infrastructure at risk,” added Opposition Indigenous Relations critic Scott McInnis in a public letter to minister Spencer Chandra Herbert.
“The City of Richmond has already warned that as much as $100 billion in critical infrastructure could be thrown into legal uncertainty.”
The Conservatives were quick to send out a fundraising email attacking the NDP government’s aggressive reconciliation policies.
“As Conservatives, we believe private property rights are the foundation of our democracy and, without them, everything else crumbles,” read the party email.
“Please help us send a powerful message—that British Columbians will NEVER surrender their private property rights without a fight.”
The BC NDP government’s response was a cautious statement. “The province is reviewing the court’s ruling now to determine our next steps, as we consider an appeal,” said Attorney General Niki Sharma.
But you could read between the lines of the totally unsolicited accompanying statement by the premier.
“While the Attorney General reviews this decision and considers grounds for possible appeal, we will continue to seek resolution of this matter through negotiations with the nations involved outside of court,” read the statement attributed to Premier David Eby.
“But let me be clear: owning private property with clear title is key to borrowing for a mortgage, economic certainty, and the real estate market.
“We remain committed to protecting and upholding this foundation of business and personal predictability, and our provincial economy, for Indigenous and non-Indigenous people alike.”
Eby’s comments hit at the core of the fallout—that with most of British Columbia
identified by First Nations as traditional territory, the court ruling could scare away not only the general public but businesses considering investing in the province.
If you can’t assure anyone they actually own the land they purchase, then very quickly British Columbia becomes a risky place to live and do business. All at a time the NDP is trying to grow the economy to dig itself out of a record-setting budget deficit.
Consider the lands the B.C. Supreme Court ruled upon in Richmond. They include a large portion of 1,846 acres, including City of Richmond property, an airport fuel line, private agricultural property and federally owned port land upon which there are warehouses operated by Amazon, Wayfair, UPS, Canadian Tire and Amazon. Major companies that now face significant uncertainty in British Columbia.
In court, B.C. tried to argue “the declaration would create significant uncertainty regarding the ownership of the land and invariably affect the rights of non-parties” and that “B.C. relies on the provisions of the LTA (Land Title Act) and submits that, regardless of any defect in the Crown grants from which they derive, the fee simple interests are valid.”
But B.C. Supreme Court Justice Barbara Young disagreed, outlining in an 863-page judgment that the fee simple interest in those lands “are defective and invalid” because they infringe on Aboriginal title, after the lands were unfairly taken away from the Cowichan Tribes by the Crown between 1871 and 1914.
Cowichan Tribes did not explicitly ask the court to overturn the private property ownership, and the court ruling didn’t order any particular settlement other than an 18-month period for governments to negotiate with the nations on the issue.
But Justice Young appeared to set a new precedent by calling Aboriginal title the “senior interest in land vis-a-vis the fee simple titles.”
“I agree that Aboriginal title is a prior and senior right to land,” she wrote.
“It is not an estate granted by the Crown, but rooted in prior occupation. It is constitutionally protected. The question of what remains of Aboriginal title after the granting of fee simple title to the same lands should be reversed. The proper question is: what remains of fee simple title after Aboriginal title is recognized in the same lands?”
It’s a delicate question the BC NDP government now has to answer. The implications for the province, and for the government’s political fortunes, are huge.
Rob Shaw has spent more than 17 years covering B.C. politics, now reporting for CHEK News and writing for The Orca/ BIV. He is the co-author of the national bestselling book A Matter of Confidence, host of the weekly podcast Political Capital, and a regular guest on CBC Radio. rob@ robshawnews.com n
There’s no place like hom e There’s no place like hom e There’s no place like hom e
Tracing
Tracing
the rise of mountain biking in Whistler
the rise of mountain biking in Whistler
By Alan Forsythe
In 1989, at the age of 17, Ian Ritz moved to Whistler, and got involved with the relatively new sport of mountain biking. What was it like back in the good old days, when Whistler was still largely regarded as a ski resort? Was there resistance to this new summer incursion to local hills?
“It may have seemed that way at times, but I think Whistler was very progressive in its adoption of mountain biking,” says Ritz, founder of Whistler bike manufacturer Chromag.
“Even in the early ’90s we had some world-class events here, and Whistler has long held a reputation for being ahead of the curve in its extent of trails, bike park development and mountain bike events. There have been hiccups, for sure, and at times the resort has been conflicted, but overall I think this has been one of the most progressive places when it comes to mountain bike adoption.”
Dan Raymond, lead trail builder for the Whistler Off Road Cycling Association, or WORCA, was about 10 years behind Ritz in his arrival here in Whistler, but as he says, it was still early enough that he benefitted from the “old guard”—the first generation of mountain bikers.
“I got here in 1999, but the first mountain bikes here started in the early 1990s or earlier,” he says. “There was this community here that I benefitted from, who showed me where to go. There was no internet, no apps to download, so I was lucky to have that community.”
Tony Horn moved to Whistler from Montreal in 1992, although he had gotten into mountain biking a few years prior to that. Since moving here, he has never looked back. In the mid-’90s he joined WORCA, becoming first trail director, then president, and then later race director.
“The area has done a great job of selling the Whistler lifestyle.” says Horn. “Riding has made it a great place to live year-round, so I’m not surprised mountain biking got so big.” And while he calls Whistler home, he’s not “in the bubble,” so to speak. He does get out there, and has explored what the rest of the world has to offer for mountain bikers. His verdict? There’s no place like home.
“I’ve travelled the world, and these are the best trails for riding … the Sea to Sky as a whole is the best in the world. The next best is still in B.C, on the Sunshine Coast or in the Nelson area. The quality of our trails are just the best, that’s why we’re a mountain biking mecca.”
Raymond agrees, noting he has watched the sport steadily grow in popularity since the ’90s.
“The biggest change since I first came here is the increased popularity in mountain biking. When I’m asked if mountain biking will surpass skiing in the winter, my gut response is that it already has. Whistler is one of the great ski resorts of the world, but for mountain biking we’re No. 1. All the other ski resorts are looking at us as the standard. We’re where everyone wants to go—we’re iconic for mountain biking.”
COME FOR THE SNOW, STAY FOR THE SUMMER
Ritz isn’t so sure mountain biking has eclipsed skiing or snowboarding, but says that day could come.
“It really depends on how you look at it. From a sheer numbers standpoint, I’d think it’s hard for mountain biking to rival the crowds we see on the slopes during peak ski season,” he says. “However, if we’re talking about the local population and what people who live in the corridor are doing year-
round, then yes, I think mountain biking is starting to give skiing a run for its money.”
Raymond says the summer lifestyle in Whistler is becoming the reason people stay here long-term, or at least year-round.
“People come here for the snow but stay for the summer,” he says. “I prefer the summer for biking, and in my 25 years here, the difference in the summer season is day and night. You can go to the lakes, and they’re certainly crowded, but then you get out on our trail network and you don’t get a crowded feeling.”
The success and popularity of mountain biking in Whistler begs the question: could it become a victim of its own success, or is there still room to expand?
“The pragmatic answer is yes—we have enough real estate to continue to expand the network,” says Raymond. “Philosophically, do we have enough trails already? Maybe, but WORCA membership for the past 10 years has been asking for easier trails. We have lots of Black trails, but most of WORCA’s membership is asking for easier.
“In the past three years we have elevated trail criteria to the adaptive standard, wide enough to be more inclusive. And overall the membership wants Blue stuff.”
Horn says many people who come to Whistler often don’t experience all it has to offer, which has its own effect on reducing potential trail congestion.
“The bike park is kind of an anomaly. So many come here to ride it, and then don’t leave the park. Lots do, but you don’t see them out on the trails,” he says. “But we do see trails getting blown out, although they get fixed, [and] the trail infrastructure is maintained. We’ve always celebrated our trail builders, although we have moved on more to the era of trail stewards.”
AN ARMY OF VOLUNTEERS
That’s perhaps what has done the most to popularize the sport in the valley: the creative trail builders of the past three decades, and the army of volunteers who maintain the routes.
“WORCA has done very well with trail building and maintenance. Our list of volunteers is over 300 and 1,760 hours were put into trail building—money can’t buy the kind of synergy we have with volunteers and the community we have,” Raymond says. “People here have a feeling of ownership, a connection to the trails, and that’s hard to replicate. I’d say the closest example of that sort of community would be the Hood River (in Oregon) for kite boarding/wind surfing.”
That volunteer dedication makes it hard for other areas to compete with Whistler.
“Even if you throw money at trying to do what we’ve done in Whistler, it can’t replace the time it’s taken to build our trail network,” Raymond says. “Up north or in other smaller communities they’ve spent a lot of money in creating amenities for mountain bikers, but it takes a lot of work and that just takes time.
“That sense of community becomes infectious and it helps grow our membership.”
Horn, who was himself awarded the Governor General of Canada’s Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers in 2017 for his volunteer work with WORCA, agrees on the importance of the volunteer community in Whistler. He says WORCA has really been key to expanding the sport here.
“WORCA is really good at bringing in the next generation of riders. They keep pushing races, trail building, keeping everything breathing, growing—it’s a real testament to the
Ian and Rebecca
Dan Raymond
scene here,” Horn says. “The difference between WORCA and SORCA (Squamish Off Road Cycling Association), is, first of all, SORCA followed us. Although they moved into trail building first, and had a master plan for their trail network, Whistler developed more organically… but ultimately both organizations are hoping to bring in the people for trail building and trail maintenance.”
Plus, adds Raymond, Whistler has the bike park, which as Horn mentioned, does reduce some of the strain on trails.
“We’re lucky to have the bike park, so we don’t need more jump trails—but it’s always challenging. Where do we go next, are we meeting our potential?” he says. “We have accomplished a lot, but you have to go other places and check them out; like Smithers or Burns Lake, where I’m headed later this summer, and see how other trail networks develop and exist.”
SELLING WHISTLER TO THE WORLD
As a mountain biking mecca, Whistler has also evolved a mountain biking industry, or at least contributed to B.C.’s industry in sports recreation.
“It’s really incredible how many B.C. bike companies have sprung up. I mean companies in Europe and the U.S. have good product, but [B.C. is] competing with them,” says Horn.
He singles out Ritz’s Whistler-based company, Chromag, as a prime example.
“Ian Ritz at Chromag took what Whistler is and sold it to the world, which is pretty cool,” he says.
Ritz has heard that praise before, but remains unsure what to make of it.
“In a way I had a hard time relating, because it sounded like I was making Whistler snow globes and selling them off, but I think I understand what he means. [It’s] that Chromag is kind of built around the spirit of Whistler and that a lot of how we came to be, and how we appear to our customers, is kind of a reflection of the mountain biking lifestyle that exists here,” says Ritz.
“I also see it as Whistler providing all the nurturing elements to help build Chromag into something special. Whistler is obviously a great place for riding, and when it comes to creating relevant products, you have this extensive knowledge base, a testing ground, and so many riders to gather feedback from. You also have this tight-knit community here, and when I started Chromag, everyone was incredibly supportive. That support helped make the brand visible to anyone who came here to ride, which is another benefit Whistler provided: a continuous flow of aspiring visitors who could discover us.”
Ritz started Chromag in 2003, after seeing all sorts of broken bike parts coming into the bike shop he co-owned at the time. Seeing a need, and having a desire to fill it, he set out to create his own bikes, based on what riders in Whistler and the Sea to Sky were telling him they wanted.
“I wasn’t sure if it would succeed or if I was just starting an expensive hobby, but eventually, I started to make progress and it felt like something that might actually work,” he says. “I worked out of my home for three years, designing, coordinating with manufacturers, and assembling products on my kitchen table, until I moved into a small warehouse in Function Junction. Today, we are in our 23rd year of business and we’re a team of 22, making 14 models of bikes, a broad range of components, and an apparel and protection line. Our main business is in Canada but we ship globally.”
DEFYING TYPE
That said, what is the typical mountain biker these days, either here in Whistler, or worldwide?
“I think one of the coolest things about mountain biking is that there isn’t a typical rider. It’s a sport that attracts such a diverse group of people,” Ritz says. “Whether you’re fitness-focused or gravity-fuelled, whether you’re into short lunch-break laps or multi-day epic adventures, mountain biking has room for all kinds of riders. Some people wear spandex, others rock jeans and a T-shirt. You can even be different things at different times. There’s no ‘one way’ to enjoy the sport.”
Then there are e-bikes. From Squamish to Pemberton there are those who would like to see e-bikes banned entirely from trails. But can changes in technology, even ones that might fundamentally change the sport, be halted?
“I have one myself, mostly for commuting,” says Raymond. “They are banned in certain places, but it’s very few, and it’s the province that’s limiting people in the alpine—the first limit
was motorized access. And I can attest that renting a motorized bike to a less experienced person here can cause problems with wildlife and potentially search-and-rescue issues. E-bikes can encourage people to get up to areas where they can’t handle the descent. But the province makes the decision. We have no power to change the policy.”
But Raymond certainly understands their appeal.
“E-bikes are fun though. It’s changing the sport, or maybe the sport is just changing,” he says. “In my 35 years of mountain biking, the grit element, that you have to hack it, isn’t there as much.”
Horn agrees that you can’t halt progress.
“E-bikes allow people to do more trails in a day. It’s another tool,” he says. “The analogy for people taking e-bikes on trails is like if all of a sudden people who have skied, but never that high, suddenly want to see the snow cave on Blackcomb Glacier. Now they have to use the T-bar, which causes problems, plus they have to hike in skis, which they’re probably not used to. But they get to see the snow cave on Blackcomb Glacier, which is pretty cool.
“So that’s what e-bikes are like—it opens the door to a world that some riders wouldn’t see normally.”
Ritz says while the sport has changed, the community that was built up around mountain biking here in Whistler, and the rest of the Sea to Sky corridor, hasn’t.
“Mountain biking has gone from a fringe sport to widely adopted. Whether you look at the ways bikes have advanced, or what people can do on them, it’s been constantly changing,” he says. “Trail infrastructure, bike park development, and participation have grown so much and transformed the sport into something that anyone can relate to. You could cite so many things that have changed, but to me, what really stands out is the community here.”
Where mountain biking used to be a “second” sport to skiing or snowboarding, “now people move here because of their love for riding bikes,” Ritz says. “An incredible community of people has formed and if you ride a bike here, you are part of something bigger than the sport itself.”
A MATTER OF PREFERENCE
And Ritz most certainly does still get out there, riding not just Whistler, but trails up and down the Sea to Sky.
“I like riding all over the Whistler Valley and in Squamish and Pemberton. My preferences are often based on the season and what’s good at the time,” he says. “Working in Function I tend to ride the Westside and Cheakamus a lot, and living in Emerald, I get into the No Flow Zone, or out to Wedge often. I don’t spend much time in the bike park but it’s fun to ride there, too, or maybe get a Top of the World lap in. I love Pemby in the spring, Whistler in the summer and fall, and Squamish in the winter.”
Raymond admits his preferences in trails have changed over time.
“As someone who hangs out with the ‘old guard,’ I can say we’re less thrill-seeking than we used to be; more endurance than adrenaline,” he says.
“I ride almost every trail, but mostly in the Wedge zone these days, like Out There, or Bring on the Weekend. Also Java Time in Cheakamus. It’s very technical but I can do it in about 45 minutes. There’s also Chipmunk Rebellion, which is a Blue trail on the west side of Stonebridge.”
Horn says he has a very specific trail style he looks for.
“For me, I like trails people have put a lot of work into, like Slaybertooth Kitten—trails like that are a work of art. Lord of the Squirrels is another one. It was supposed to be a Blue trail but it’s not anymore, with erosion. It’s hard here, we just have steep forests. It’s just how it is. Bring on the Weekend is also one of my favourites, and one of the great things about Whistler is you can do loops off of different trails.”
Horn reflects that while Whistler has certainly changed, that’s not such a bad thing in the end.
“I guess I was part of the generation that saw the scene blow up. But things change. That pioneering spirit to get out in the mountains and do crazy things gets diluted; it gets diluted by Vail [Resorts], by people getting older. That hardcore element is diluted,” he says.
“The counter point to that is, I’m not leaving Whistler. Yes, Whistler has changed, but it’s still awesome, because guess what? We can still go into the backcountry, and then we can come back and go see a free concert at the Olympic Plaza. The lifestyle here is still pretty awesome.” n
Luke Meier-Smith, Mille Johnset win OG Canadian
Open DH in respective returns to Whistler
JACKSON FREW NETS SILVER, DANE JEWETT SETTLES FOR BRONZE AMONG ELITE MEN
BY DAVID SONG
THE ORIGINAL CANADIAN Open
Downhill (OG CDN OPN DH) is back after a three-year absence, so it’s only fitting a pair of riders not seen in Whistler for some time rose to the occasion.
Luke Meier-Smith and Mille Johnset each took care of business on Saturday afternoon, Aug. 9, to grab gold. Meier-Smith (2:45.004) edged out his fellow Australian Jackson Frew (2:45.283). Johnset established breathing room (3:12.573) over the elite ladies’ field and top qualifier Kailey Skelton crashed out, unable to podium.
Frew’s runner-up effort bolstered his No. 2 spot in the King of Crankworx aggregate as local favourite Dane Jewett clocked in third behind him (2:46.769). Emmy Lan netted silver on her side of things (3:16.470), leaving Indy Deavoll to claim bronze (3:17.331).
Queen of Crankworx frontrunner Jordy Scott lined up valuable points in fifth (3:21.843) and incumbent King Ryan Gilchrist managed 13th (2:52.752).
“Pretty clean run,” assessed Meier-Smith. “I raced [the OG course] back in 2019 when I was a junior, so it’s been a few years but this track suits me pretty well. I always love this place: the bike park’s awesome, awesome trails, and the crew do an awesome job of maintaining it all.”
Johnset’s most recent competition in Whistler also occurred six years ago, which to her feels like a lifetime in the rearview. “It’s a really fun track, really loose, so it’s not really my home feeling because in Norway, we don’t get so much dust,” she said. “So much fun … Crankworx has been going almost as long as I’ve been alive, so it’s really cool seeing it do so well. I think it’s the riders’ favourite event to do during the year. Everyone comes here for the riding, but also for the vibe.”
CONSTANT DEVELOPMENT
Rain earlier in the week gave way to increasingly dry conditions, keeping athletes on their toes. Meier-Smith tweaked his bike setup in response, while Johnset felt she needed to adjust her riding style and evolve with the “constant development” on track.
Likewise, Lan adopted a cautious approach in training and seeding in her attempt to build towards a fruitful outcome. She unleashed on race day, felt the venue was less intimidating than it had been before, and even took pole position in the Canada Cup downhill series along the way.
“It’s super awesome racing at home, obviously, and Mille is one of my really good friends so it’s super cool going one-two,” Lan commented. “All of these races like 1199 and Canadian OG, they feel special because they’re at home with all the familiar faces. I’ve actually never been leading the [Canada Cup] series before. I feel like I’ve done so many races in previous years, but I’ve always missed a few so I never got the actual leader’s jersey.
I didn’t even know that was going to happen.”
Mountain bike fans might recognize Lan for her past handiwork on long stages, but she had this to say about focusing on a different discipline: “Enduro is super fun and I’ll always love enduro, but I think there’s no feeling that compares to when you’re in a downhill race and there’s so many people on the sides and you are going as fast as you possibly can. It’s such a cool adrenaline rush. Enduro kind of gives you that—but not to the same level.” Jewett attacked out of the gate, eager to improve on his unmatched seeding run,
but quickly found himself making error after error. He tried to compensate, but went fully offline at a key moment and could do little else to recover his hopes of victory.
“This was my first time ever racing this track, so it was a bit different because it was pretty gnarly and full-on,” said the Squamolian. “There are just so many aggressive sections where you have to be off the brakes. That’s what causes the mistakes and I just cooked it a bit too hard.
“It’s pretty disappointing that I can’t race with [my injured brother] Jakob for my first year of elite, but trying to hold the Jewett family up with some good results. Now I know the pace is there, so I’ve just got to trust it—and if I make a mistake, just let it blow by because I know I can be one of the fastest here.”
‘THOSE WHO DARED WON’
After a long and challenging winter at home, Frew felt a bit more pressure than normal to manifest a podium appearance he felt was vital. He directed praise towards the OG venue, to trail crews for keeping it in tip-top shape, and to Meier-Smith for being “a consummate professional” who leaves no stone unturned in training.
Frew’s 694 points nudge him closer to Gilchrist’s 904, but there’s more work to be done.
“We’re always out here swinging for the fence and this is just the first home run we’re going to hit, I think,” remarked the Canberra, Australia native. “I’m not looking at the points. I don’t have the app open on my phone, I don’t really care. Every race is an opportunity … I missed the first stop [in Christchurch] so I’m pretty far back, but it’s a bonus to be in this position already.”
Gilchrist soldiers on despite an upper-body injury that happened during a brutal crash this May in Cairns. He still has very limited mobility in his left wrist, but is grateful his dreams of kingship remain very much intact. The Aussie enters Whistler with nearly twice as big a lead as he had in 2024, but knows there’s just as much to lose as to gain.
“I’m trying to get my body all the way to the finish line because you can’t win King of Crankworx in a hospital,” Gilchrist quipped. “I raced 1199 last year, but this is my first time finishing in the Boneyard for downhill and … all I can think of when racing this track is Stevie Smith and him absolutely sending it. The speed is unreal, the pace that everybody’s rocking with is astounding and astonishing. He who dares wins, and those who dared won.”
Last but not least, there’s Scott, whose 782 points give her a margin of error in front of second-overall Sabina Košárková (600). Scott faltered in practise but regained form when it mattered most—and with lots of extra downhill training banked, she’s confident to avoid a repeat of her weeklong Whistler slump from the previous July.
“I was struggling last year starting with all the downhill races, and I hadn’t rode my downhill bike in a year,” admitted the American. “So I really wanted to make sure that didn’t happen this time. Last year I felt like I won a bunch of the small bike races, and Martha [Gill] still managed to edge me out with her consistent results in downhill. I just want to be a bit more well-rounded and get on as many podiums as I can instead of winning a few races and then getting 11th.”
For more results, visit crankworx.com/ results, and stay tuned to piquenewsmagazine. com for photo galleries and full coverage from Crankworx Whistler. n
Air DH victory lap for Richie Rude in Whistler, Jenna Hastings tops elite women’s podium
MOST HUMAN BEINGS on Earth would not want to attempt the punishing Garbanzo Downhill (DH). Many of those who do feel like sleeping for a week afterwards.
Not Richie Rude. Instead, Rude struck Air DH gold on Aug. 12, roughly 24 hours after triumphing on Garbanzo.
Only two men pulled within three seconds of the enduro maestro’s benchmark (4:15.719). Tyler Waite of New Zealand raised eyebrows
with a silver-medal worthy outing (4:18.509) and Squamish’s Dane Jewett clawed to his second bronze of the festival (4:18.817).
“Definitely was a hard day,” Rude said. “Arms are definitely cooked after Garbo, but still could pedal a bit. Started this practise pretty slow, but just had to work into it and find the flow on A-Line … it’s all about staying low on jumps and carrying a lot of speed through the berms. Luckily, on this track you
can keep a pretty high average speed. Works well for a racetrack, but it’s scary at times, hitting the big holes and overshooting jumps.”
Last year’s RockShox Canadian Open DH champ, Jenna Hastings, claimed victory over her fellow pro women (4:43.461). Taylor Ostgaard eked out a runner-up result (4:47.747) over Amy Morrison (4:47.776), while an untimely dropped chain held Georgia Astle in fourth (4:49.260). Midway through proceedings, Anneke
Beerten entered the Boneyard. In tow was an entourage of female riders commemorating her retirement after a devastating traffic incident left her with a traumatic brain injury. Beerten grew emotional during a finish corral interview as hundreds of onlookers clapped and cheered.
“Anneke won Queen of Crankworx the first year it ever came to my hometown, Rotorua,
DARING DESCENT Mille Johnset attacks downhill at the 2025 OG CDN OPN DH. PHOTO BY CLINT TRAHAN / COURTESY OF CRANKWORX
TEGAN CRUZ BANKS VALUABLE KING OF CRANKWORX POINTS AFTER FINISHING FOURTH
BY DAVID SONG
THE 2025 MEN’S Garbanzo Downhill (DH) followed a familiar script: Richie Rude victorious, Ryan Gilchrist in second.
Rude dominated this time around (12:08.870) with a notable gap between him, his Yeti teammate Gilchrist (12:22.733), and Luke MeierSmith who backed up his OG Canadian Open DH win with a third-place effort (12:24.283). Tegan Cruz hustled to fourth (12:37.197) after a demoralizing crash in the OG DH.
Yet the hierarchy of power among female Garbo riders changed Monday evening, Aug. 11, with Aletha Ostgaard (14:05.149) halting Georgia Astle’s undefeated streak at three. It’s quite a coup for Ostgaard, the young American who took U17 Garbanzo gold just last summer.
Perennially popular with her fellow locals, Astle salvaged silver (14:18.117) in commanding fashion over bronze medallist Emmy Lan (14:40.434) and the rest of the elite women’s field.
“Garbo to me is a really fun race and kind of a special one,” Rude said. “These long stages here in Whistler, I’ve had a good run of them in the past. I was a little nervous coming to this Garbo because I haven’t done a ton of races in the past couple weeks. Hard to decide between the enduro and the downhill bike for this one, but I had a lot of fun on it, and it’s really cool to do two in a row.”
As for Ostgaard, “I just had fun riding my bike. I think that was the main part,” she said. “If I wasn’t having fun, it wouldn’t be a good achievement. It’s such a physical course so it feels good to take a person that’s gone back-to-back on it, but that’s racing. [Georgia] will probably come back harder, and we’ve got to give it another shot.”
‘SHE’S GOING TO WIN’ Ostgaard is still a junior on the World Cup
<< FROM PAGE 22
and I wasn’t there [in 2015] unfortunately,” revealed Hastings. “I met her a couple days ago. She said: ‘I haven’t met you before’ and I said: ‘no, you have met me before. I was just a child.’ We took a picture together, so it is cool to see one of the people I used to look up to now closing out her career. It is just really inspiring.”
Regarding her own performance, Hastings admitted to feeling sick mere hours before go time. She napped, then steeled herself to give maximum effort and took care of business.
CLOSING A CHAPTER
For those unaware, Beerten was driving her pickup truck in August 2020 when another motorist ran a red light and barrelled into her driver’s side door. Soon to follow were a litany of ailments: nausea, vertigo, memory loss, headaches, insomnia and more. Despite the best efforts of medical specialists, the loyalty of sponsors and her own resilience in rehab, Beerten was forced to retire approximately one year post-accident.
BY CLINT TRAHAN / COURTESY OF CRANKWORX
circuit, where she put together four straight podium appearances (two silver, two gold) heading into Crankworx Whistler. The 17-year-old also notched a runner-up outing at U.S. Nationals in Big Bear Lake, Calif., and is more or less red-hot every time she enters a starting gate.
Displaying poise beyond her age, Ostgaard elected to use her downhill bike after winning on an enduro bike in 2024. She maintained a sustainable pace through the venue’s technical upper sections, conserving energy with which to pedal hard across the finish line.
Astle was one of many to take notice.
“As soon as I saw how [Ostgaard] rode, knowing that she doesn’t ride the bike park often, it’s like a whole new ball game,”
The Dutch standout built a resume many would be envious of: three World Championships in four-cross and two more in BMX, the firstever Queen of Crankworx throne and, in 2019, a Crankworx World Tour Spirit Award for community engagement and all-round generosity to the sport of mountain biking.
“We always hope that we inspire the next generation or whoever comes into the sport, and hearing that [others look up to me] is such a fulfilment, right?” Beerten said. “Knowing that you pass things along to other riders in the sport is so cool. Grateful for all of those people that helped me get back here today to do one final run and then find some closure. It couldn’t have been any better … this was just perfect.”
Upon reaching the top of A-Line on Tuesday afternoon, Beerten learned to her surprise that several others (including Red Bull Rampage champ Robin Goomes, Harriet Burbidge-Smith and Casey Brown) had decided to ride a party lap down with her— foregoing their own medal chances.
“During my first Crankworx in 2014, I met Anneke,” recalled Astle. “I was racing [Enduro World Series] and she was a fully Specialized-
remarked the Whistlerite. “The up-andcoming girls are so insanely talented and switched on. As soon as I saw her ride past me in practise, I was like: ‘OK, she’s going to win,’ but I will happily take second place to her.”
Now a dedicated disciple of freeride, Astle won silver at last year’s Red Bull Rampage and has pre-qualified for the next one in October. She hasn’t practised much downhill since 2024’s Garbanzo event, but made sure to ready herself by chugging “four litres” of water, taking a bath in Fitzsimmons Creek and enjoying some gummy bears as she reminded herself to breathe on a sweltering 30-degree day.
“It’s kind of nerve-racking, not knowing when or how you’re going to tap into that different race pace—but I felt really good up there,” Astle said. “I was floating, going way faster than in practise but still somewhat in control. That’s what I miss the most about racing and I’m stoked that I get to have another taste of it at Garbo.
“Once I made my suspension work like how a downhill bike should feel plush, my shoulders stopped hurting. I think riding stiff freeride suspension has been not bad for upper body training and oh my God, it felt so good once I put clips on. It felt just like how I used to always ride the bike park.”
PRACTISE AND PREPARATION
When asked why Rude is so hard to defeat, Gilchrist called him one of the best gravity racers of all time.
Rude may have a case for being the enduro G.O.A.T., with four Enduro World Cup (EDR) overall titles and 22 medals under his belt. He eats long stages for breakfast and has won in Whistler by titanic margins before, so Gilchrist feels honoured to even approach the Connecticut native’s orbit.
To train with such a man is invaluable.
“We were talking about this with Richie on the chairlift up: we really should do a
sponsored rider, such an icon. I had goosebumps when I saw her at the top and gave her a big hug, because it’s really special to see her back.”
Two-time Queen Caroline Buchanan, who placed seventh in Air DH, had this to say: “Anneke is someone I’ve had some really close rivalries and competitive battles with, and ultimately she’s inspired me. She’s inspired so many girls, and for me to have battled against her in four-cross as well as Crankworx as well as BMX, we share a similar path.”
‘NOT LETTING IT GET TO MY HEAD’
Eagle-eyed fans may have noticed a key absence from the start list: Jill Kintner. The Seattle native is dominance personified when it comes to Air DH, with 10 of her 45 Crankworx gold medals earned on A-Line. She still hasn’t been beaten, however, a practise crash left the threetime World Champion unable to raise her arm.
“Been a wild ride, happy to have racked up a good record over the years, and hopefully made a positive impact,” Kintner wrote on social media. “It was pretty hectic out there,
voice note of all the little things that you forget after a lap around the sun,” Gilchrist said. “You can watch a GoPro and get all your lines, but what did I eat before? How many milligrams of caffeine are in the system? I think preparation is a huge thing and we definitely prepared the best. Richie’s done more laps of Whistler in a winning position than anybody else in the world.”
Now with 984 King of Crankworx points, Gilchrist inflates his lead on Jackson Frew who placed sixth (734), and Cruz (711). Despite such a leg up, the Australian still stares at the ceiling at night wondering what could happen next. His rivals are true professionals—and he’s nursing an injured wrist.
“It’s really good considering I broke my wrist into many, many pieces [in Cairns] … the timeline I had to get it back up and running is about a month shorter than what any physio would happily have,” revealed Gilchrist. “Slalom and pump track, if done properly, can be really smooth. Garbanzo, you can’t do it smoothly … definitely not letting my guard down until that cheque’s in my hand.”
An honourable mention goes out to Cruz, who was disappointed in finishing 16th at the OG DH but resolved to bounce back for his hometown supporters. He lauded Gilchrist and Frew, calling it “an honour to be in the battle” with them.
“There’s no fitter guys ahead of me in that results sheet, so that makes me feel really good,” Cruz said. “Those boys are really impressive and it’s one of the hardest races of the year, if not the hardest 12-and-a-half minutes of my life. You give everything you’ve got, and then a little more.”
Nothing dramatic transpired in the Queen of Crankworx overall, with leader Jordy Scott (804) pulling up 12th to remain ahead of lastplace Sabina Košárková (618) and Caroline Buchanan (585).
For more details, visit crankworx.com/ results. n
people everywhere. I got distracted for a sec and went over a high speed berm.”
Astle, too, had a date with dirt in practise, which she attributes to miscalibrating her equipment after the rigours of Garbanzo. She made adjustments, but then her bike chain failed early in her Air DH foray and she felt precious seconds were left on track.
“Before I lost my chain, after the crash, I was kind of like: ‘OK, I’m just going to be conservative and smooth,’” Astle said. “Once I dropped my chain, I was like: ‘alright, now you just have to hit every single berm the best you’ve ever hit a berm, because you can’t pedal out of it.’ I had to tap into a new gear yesterday for Garbo and today … so I’m just proud of myself for not letting it get to my head.”
Also remaining calm is Buchanan, who is up to 621 season points—just 13 behind Sabina Košárková for No. 2 overall. Košárková has yet to move the needle in Whistler after placing 15th on A-Line, and Jordy Scott managed eighth to keep her lead with 836 points. Buchanan isn’t focused on the Queen title this year, but does want to finish as top female slalom athlete.
- By David Song n
TOP OF THE HEAP The 2025 Garbanzo DH elite podium, left to right: Georgia Astle, Ryan Gilchrist, Aletha Ostgaard, Richie Rude, Emmy Lan and Luke Meier-Smith.
PHOTO
From market stall to Industrial Way: The British Baker Rises in Pemberton
AFTER SIX YEARS AT LOCAL FARMERS’ MARKETS, THE BRITISH BAKER HAS OPENED A PERMANENT SHOP IN PEMBERTON’S INDUSTRIAL PARK
BY LUKE FAULKS
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
LINDSEY DAWKINS is The British Baker; still, you won’t find her real name on her website. She likes it that way.
“I love the fact that I’m British. And The Great British Bake Off is a fabulous show. Why not riff off that a little?” Dawkins explained with a smile “I love having that alter ego.”
That identity has been a fixture at the Pemberton and Whistler Farmers’ Markets for the better part of six years. Her stall is known for flaky sausage rolls, buttery shortbread and neat stacks of French macarons in colours that might have been plucked from an oil painter’s palette.
Now, she’s bringing those same market-day favourites—and plenty of new temptations—to a permanent storefront in Pemberton’s industrial park.
FROM CORNWALL TO THE SEA TO SKY
Dawkins’ journey to her new kitchen began in Cornwall, England, where she baked alongside her mum. She recalls “sitting by the Aga trying to keep warm from the cold, wet Cornish winters, waiting for the cakes to bake.”
She cooked professionally from the age of 16, working in a supermarket café before ski seasons took her to New Zealand, the French Alps and, eventually, Whistler. There, she worked at the Wildwood Pacific Bistro,
“making eggs Benny at 6 a.m. on a Sunday when you knew [The Bistro] was going to get rocked on a long weekend.”
A stint at Purebread in Whistler cemented her shift from cooking to baking. She worked at the Whistler institution as it grew from one to four locations.
“Purebread taught me how to turn my hobby into a profession, and I could not be more grateful to them,” she says. “I loved every second of it. We’d all go snowboarding in the morning and then go and make a thousand scones in the afternoon.”
During her daughter’s early years, Dawkins became a caretaker for
“Three months into it, I’m sitting there, super depressed, thinking this is not happening,” she recalled. “Eventually, I gave in and took the sausage rolls, and now I’m selling 250 to 1,000 a week in Whistler.”
A MENU THAT TRAVELS
Dawkins’ massage therapist recently reminded her she once said she wanted to open a bakery when her youngest started school.
“[My son] started school this year,” Dawkins says. “So it was time. I opened the bakery.”
She settled on a location in the Pemberton
“Until I actually opened the doors, I was super terrified about it… but I feel like I’ve paid my dues, I feel confident in people liking my stuff.”
- LINDSEY DAWKINS
Drumkeeran House—a six-room guest house on Ivey Lake. And while she originally saw the gig as a moment to relax, she quickly started to feel like it wasn’t enough.
I was a little bit bored. So I started making holiday boxes; Christmas, then Valentine’s, then national holiday boxes,” she said. “Because it was during COVID, people were really missing home. So, let’s try and bring that taste of home to them.”
Those boxes led to her first farmers’ market season in Pemberton, then Whistler. It was the Whistler market that taught her one of her best-selling secrets. At first she avoided making sausage rolls there, thinking cakes and cookies would be enough.
Industrial Park, next to the car wash. It’s the first food joint as you drive in off the 99. Dawkins has used the space as a kitchen since December, but only opened the doors to customers this summer.
“Until I actually opened the doors, I was super terrified about it… but I feel like I’ve paid my dues,” she said. “I feel confident in people liking my stuff.”
Dawkins resists being boxed in as strictly British.
“Everyone comes in here and they see the French macarons and they say, well, you’re British. I refuse to be pigeonholed like that,” she said. “You can come and get your sausage rolls and your Scotch eggs… but I’ve converted
so many new people to that because it’s not pastry; it’s more protein, less pastry.”
That’s not to say she’s not always testing; pushing to grow her menu to cater to customers’ palates.
“I’ve always tried to have vegan options, gluten-free options. If somebody comes in and says they want something, I’ll give it a go,” she said. “Somebody asked for Jamaican patties—I will absolutely try to make those in the future.”
Some menu changes are necessitated by the season; Dawkins prides herself on sourcing local when possible, which means she follows the growing season.
“We’ve had a long cherry season, so everything was really cherry until everyone got really cherry-ed out,” she said. “Now we’re on to blueberry.”
STOPPING IN
Dawkins launched her storefront just a few weeks back. Customers have already been asking for lunch options.
“Especially in the summer, people are looking for a lighter sandwich,” she said. “I’m working on a bread recipe and we’re going to do paninis in the future.”
When asked what first-timers should order, she doesn’t hesitate: “The pork sausage roll—sage apple-flavoured pork sausage roll—is definitely the most popular one,” she answered quickly. “The butter chicken pie and definitely the French macarons. They’re my favourite things to make, and they’re super delicious.”
Getting a new business off the ground, particularly with young kids at home, is never easy. But the challenge bringing new flavours to the Valley and harnessing the market-style social energy makes it all worthwhile.
“This is my dream,” said Dawkins. “This was all in my head, and now it’s here.” n
REIGN OF GRAIN Customers can now browse the bakery’s mix of British classics and globally inspired treats.
PHOTO BY LUKE FAULKS
MEADOW PARK SPORTS CENTRE
The Zummers drop debut single ‘Grenoble’—a love letter to chaos, key fobs and French flats
THE PEMBERTON QUARTET IS LAUNCHING A MINI-TOUR AROUND THEIR NEW ‘SONG OF THE SUMMER’
BY LUKE FAULKS
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
IN 12 MONTHS, The Zummers have gone from playing backyards to headlining regional festivals.
Over the last year, the quartet of genrebending rockers has taken top honours at both the Crystal Lounge’s Whistler Music Search and the Brackendale Art Gallery’s Battle of the Bands. The band—featuring Tom Csima, Mikey Muscat, Alex Drapeau and Jessie Richards—has crisscrossed the province, played to festival crowds from Prince George to Squamish and tracked five songs at Holy Cow Studio in Kamloops.
But it’s “Grenoble,” a “last-minute addon” written a few weeks before they hit the studio, that marks their official arrival.
“When we were deciding which song to choose as the first single to release, it was very difficult,” Csima says. “We have such a diverse and eclectic range of influences and song styles, but we felt ‘Grenoble’ had all the elements that make up The Zummers. It was unique and catchy and a great sample for what is to come.”
“Grenoble” blends folk-rock roots with funk and disco, drawing comparisons to
Steely Dan and Dire Straits. The song is named for the French Alpine town where Csima once lived in a “dingy apartment” during a transitional time.
“I had just left New Zealand where I had my PR, and followed my girlfriend back to France,” he says. “Shortly after moving there we found out she was pregnant with our son… We only had one key fob, so she used to have to throw it down to me from her fifth-
and still always found a way to appreciate the beauty of it.”
Musically, the track showcases each Zummer at full tilt.
Muscat drums and pairs the organ with his backing vocals on the track’s infectious chorus. Drapeau contributes mandolin and slide guitar, interweaving with Csima and Muscat’s vocals to produce a “haunting harmony.” And Richards’ bassline anchors the
“We have such a diverse and eclectic range of influences and styles, but we felt ‘Grenoble’ had all the elements that make up The Zummers.”
- TOM CSIMA
floor window. I always found this kind of ridiculous, and imagined how we must have looked to our neighbours… in the dark trying to catch keys flying down from above.”
That mental image sat in his lyric notebook for years.
“I wrote some lines about it which marinated for a few years unfinished, but eventually shaped into a full song,” Csima says. “The apartment and our living situation is a bit of a metaphor for our lives, and how we just made it work, despite the challenges,
song’s climactic final section, just before the beat breaks open and a French mademoiselle’s voice glides into the mix.
The Zummers’ style, explains Csima, is somewhat blended.
“It’s always really difficult to pin down a genre,” he muses. “We like to say we have some rock bangers like The Strokes, but the soul of Alabama Shakes, and I’m cautious of the absurdity of comparing ourselves to The Beatles, but we love vocal harmonies and have a wide range of song styles, similar to what
you would see on the later Beatles albums.” To celebrate “Grenoble’s” release, the band is kicking off a mini-tour around southern B.C. Their first stop, on Aug. 15, is at the Heatley Pub in Vancouver, where they’ll be joined by Leah Barley and Myles from Home, before heading to the Rogue Arts Festival in Sechelt on Aug. 16. The tour culminates in a homecoming—a free double-set gig on Aug. 17 at Collins Cross Farm as part of the Slow Food Cycle after-party. There, the band will team up with food truck The Silver Chook and Pemberton Brewing to cap their summer with, as Csima puts it, “a bit of a love letter to the valley.”
Although early buzz around “Grenoble” has raised expectations, Csima remains grounded in the community that propelled The Zummers forward from the beginning.
“We have been so incredibly lucky to get to play some big shows locally in our very short time as a band,” he says. “The local audience always brings such an infectious energy and enthusiasm. We feel we owe our success so far to the word of mouth of our local fans, and we hope that they dig our songs and get to enjoy them wherever they’d like.”
Csima says “Grenoble” is just the beginning for the band’s original music.
“This is the first of many,” he says. “We are continuing to write new music faster than we can record and release it.”
For now, “Grenoble” plays like a groove-laced postcard from the edge of adulthood—hopeful, chaotic and unmistakably Zummers. n
ZUM ALONG Sea to Sky sensation The Zummers released debut single “Grenoble” to mark their oneyear anniversary.
PHOTO BY NINA LAFLAMME PHOTOGRAPHY
‘We don’t allow ourselves to be hypnotized by the past’
THE
SIX-TIME JUNO-WINNING SAM ROBERTS BAND REVISITS WHISTLER ON AUG. 22
BY DAVID SONG
ONE OF THE SAM ROBERTS Band’s lessheralded songs, “The Last Crusade,” features a chorus that goes like this:
“You play the king and you play the pawn, you give up and you soldier on, this is the last crusade we’re on, this is the last crusade we’re on.”
Such words might be interpreted as a microcosm of Sam Roberts’ entire career, which he spent alongside lead guitarist Dave Nugent, keyboard whiz Eric Fares and James Hall on bass. Even relative newcomer Josh Trager has manned the drum kit for 20 years already. They’ve accomplished lots: six Juno award wins, 14 nominations, spot No. 59 on Billboard’s Top 150 Overall Selling Canadian Artists list and more than 125 million streams.
This level of success does not materialize overnight, and the double-Platinum-selling crew has had to navigate plenty of obstacles along their way. Roberts, Fares and Hall have been together since high school, and sharing the same jokes for 30-odd years is in itself a challenge.
“The measure of our success, in our own view, is that we’re still driven and forwardthinking and ambitious as a band,” says Roberts. “The trials we face are almost never mentioned … being in a rock ‘n’ roll band for 25 years is going to have its bumps in the road as well, and those are the things that help to galvanize the spirit of a band. We don’t allow ourselves to be hypnotized by the past.
“Can’t overstate how important it is that you feel a sense of connection with the people you play music with. That goes beyond the music itself because you have to share your whole life with them. It’s not just my love of music, it’s their love of music as well, and so you have this responsibility to one another— to embrace the things that could happen but also to see yourselves through the more difficult times. If that starts to break down, the dominoes start falling.”
‘IF YOUR LIVES DEPEND ON MUSIC, THEN YOU SHOULD COME AND CHECK US OUT’
Roberts released his debut EP, The Inhuman Condition, in 2002 under his own name. By 2011, when “The Last Crusade” dropped as part of the album Collider, he and his gang had rebranded officially as Sam Roberts Band.
They’ve gained enough clout to play alongside AC/DC and The Rolling Stones at times. Folks like Jim Barber describe their music as possessing “a unique spirit” with “infectious” melodies, “deep and somewhat enigmatic” lyrics, and a mix of subgenres that is difficult to categorize.
Ask Roberts of his personal opinion, and the answer is more straightforward: they’re a rock ‘n’ roll outfit comprised of musicians who pour as much energy as humanly possible into each show. He also has a separate gig called Anyway Gang: a collaboration with Dave Monks of Tokyo Police Club, Chris Murphy from Sloan and Menno Versteeg of Hollerado.
The last Anyway Gang album released in 2019. Roberts quips that he and the others are “always threatening to make another record” and hopes to do so when an opportunity presents itself. Until then, the Sea to Sky corridor awaits.
Longtime Whistlerites might have attended multiple Sam Roberts Band concerts over the years, and the band itself is very excited to return.
“Anytime you get to marry such an incredible outdoor setting with music— barring the fact that we’re probably scaring the wildlife off a long ways—it’s a very unique opportunity for a band that cut its teeth playing in beer-soaked punk rock bars and dark, dingy spaces,” Roberts reflects. “When you get to go outside and play music under the stars, it invokes a different feeling in the show and certainly you see it in the audience.
“We try to play like our lives depend on it, so if your lives depend on music, then you should come and check us out.”
On Aug. 22, the pre-show in Olympic Plaza will feature DJ Whitness at 6:30 p.m. before the Sam Roberts Band struts its stuff an hour later. Visit whistler.com/events/concerts to learn more. n
GOOD PEOPLE Sam Roberts Band plays the Whistler Summer Concert Series on Aug. 22.
PHOTO BY DUSTIN RABIN
ResortMunicipalityofWhistler NOTICE | 2026 Regular Council Meeting Dates
Councilwillmeet inthe Franz Wilhelmsen Theatre at Maury Young Arts Centre,4335 Blackcomb Way, Whistler, British Columbia,starting at 5:30p.m.onthe following Tuesdays in2026:
January6
January20 May12 May26 November3* November17
February3
February24 June9 June23 December1 December15
March10
March24 July14 July28
April14
April28 September1 September22
* Inaugural Council Meetingpost2026municipalelection
Notice of the2026 Council Meeting Scheduleisgiveninaccordance withsections94and127 of the CommunityCharter.
in Whistler this week and beyond. FIND MORE LOCAL EVENT LISTINGS (and submit your own for free!) at piquenewsmagazine.com/local-events
RED BULL JOYRIDE
RED BULL JOYRIDE
The fan-favourite (almost) finale to Crankworx Whistler goes live on Saturday, Aug. 16, featuring a death-defying display of tricks at the foot of Whistler Mountain. Training kicks off at 8 a.m. with the main event starting at 10 a.m. Get there early to claim your spot! Find a full Crankworx event schedule at crankworx.com/schedule/#whistler.
> Aug. 16, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
> Whistler Mountain
GREEN LAKE BIRD WALK
Join the Whistler Naturalists on the third Saturday of the month for a walk to Green Lake and the Fitzsimmons Creek Delta. Open to anyone interested in learning about birds and contributing as a citizen scientist. Connect with experienced birders who are happy to share their knowledge. More information at whistlernaturalists.ca/birding.
> Aug. 16, 7 a.m.
> Meet just across the highway from Meadow Park at the small parking lot beside the River of Golden Dreams
URBAN SAFARI: EXOTIC ANIMAL SHOW
Urban Safari Rescue Society‘s live animal show will fascinate, educate and entertain with animals ranging from insects and arachnids to amphibians, reptiles and mammals. The show is suitable for all ages and no registration is required. Find more info at whistlerlibrary.ca.
Presented by Pemberton Valley Supermarket, the Slow Food Cycle Sunday is a popular annual event held just 30 minutes north of Whistler in Pemberton Meadows. Participants cycle a 40-kilometre route, stopping at local farms to enjoy fresh produce, artisan goods, live music, and community connections. Celebrating sustainability, local food, and fun, the event encourages riders of all levels to join and ride at their own pace. Read more at tourismpembertonbc.com/ slow-food-cycle-sunday.
> Aug. 17, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
> Pemberton Meadows Farmland
WHISTLER FARMERS’ MARKET
A feast for your senses, the Whistler Farmers’ Market features local produce, tasty food, local artisans, live entertainment and family activities. Markets happen every Sunday until Thanksgiving on Oct. 13, with the addition of Saturday markets on Aug. 30 and Oct. 11.
> Aug. 17, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
> Upper Village Stroll
ART THERAPY CLASS FOR TEENS
This art therapy class offers a safe, supportive space for teens aged 12 to 18 years to explore their thoughts and emotions through creative expression. Guided by a trained art therapist, the class encourages self-awareness, emotional growth and personal insight using a variety of art materials and techniques. No prior art experience is necessary. Find mor info at audainartmuseum.com/childrenand-youth-programming.
> Aug. 18, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
> Audain Art Museum
REALTORS GOLF CLASSIC
The annual REALTORS Golf Classic takes place in the stunning mountain setting of the Whistler Golf Club. This is a chance to connect with fellow real estate professionals while helping raise funds for charity, competing for awesome prizes, and taking in those breathtaking Whistler views. Get tickets at eventbrite. ca/e/realtors-golf-classic-tickets-1323250250119.
Whistler turns 50 and you’re invited to join the celebration! The Resort Municipality of Whistler marks this milestone with a dynamic weekend of community events that honour Whistler’s past while looking towards its future. Enjoy a vibrant, family-friendly lineup designed to keep you moving and having fun. No long speeches, just memorable experiences including a community picnic celebration on
MUSEUM MUSINGS & ASTROLOGY
A wrangler at Rainbow Lodge
BY LOGAN ROBERTS
HORSES WERE a vital part of life at Alta Lake in the early half of the 20th century, facilitating transportation, construction, agriculture, leisure, and exploration. David Esworthy, who passed away in 2015, was a highly respected figure in the Canadian equestrian scene whose beginnings can be traced back to Rainbow Lodge. He went on to amass an impressive score of accolades, including president of the Canadian Equestrian Federation and Horse Council BC, and member of the BC Sports Hall of Fame.
David was born on Jan. 29, 1929, in Victoria. His mother, Margaret Esworthy (née Tapley), had travelled to Alta Lake from Maine to help her sister, Myrtle Philip, set up Rainbow Lodge in 1914. Photographs from the Philip collection reveal that David very quickly became acquainted with the lodge’s horses.
Growing up in the Lower Mainland, David spent summers at Rainbow Lodge. As a teenager, he worked as the lodge’s wrangler. During that era, guests could sign up for early morning trail rides, which meant employees like David rose at 4 a.m. to prepare the horses. Lodge guests could pre-book their breakfast rides to Lost Lake or Green Lake, or opt for midnight trail rides complete with campfires, singing, and toasted marshmallows.
Moira McCarthy, who tended to the horses with David, remembered how Myrtle once caught them jumping the horses over logs, and the pair received a healthy scolding. Still, a 1974 article in The Province announcing a Rainbow Lodge reunion fondly remembered David as “the summer wrangler [who] had all the young things scrambling to ride along with him when he rounded up the
Free Will Astrology
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Rama is the star of the ancient Hindu epic story, the Ramayana. I love him! He’s one of my favourite legends! His heroic journey isn’t fuelled by a greed for power or personal glory. Unlike 90 per cent of modern action heroes, he’s not pumped up with anger or a lust for vengeance. Instead, he is animated by a sense of sacred duty. Against all odds, and in the face of bad behaviour by weird adversaries, he acts with exemplary integrity and calm clarity. During your upcoming exploits, Aries, I invite you to be inspired by his exalted and unwavering determination. As you proceed, ask yourself, “Is this in rigorous service to my beautiful ideals? Are my decisions and words in alignment with my deepest truths?” Be motivated by devotion as much as by hunger. Aim not just for novelty and excitement, but for generosity of spirit.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): In the Mexican festival of La Noche de Rábanos—Night of the Radishes—giant radishes are carved into elaborate altars and scenes. Humble roots become fancy art. I think you’re engaged in a metaphorically similar process, Taurus: sculpting with uncommon materials. Something you’ve regarded as modest—a small breakthrough or overlooked strength—is revealing unexpected value. Or perhaps a previously latent or indiscernible asset is showing you its neglected magic. Celebrate your subtle but very tangible luck. Take full advantage of half-disguised treasures.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): In Zen archery, the aim is not simply to hit the target. Instead, it’s to align one’s body, breath, mind, and bow so fully that the arrow releases itself naturally and effortlessly. It shoots itself! I would love for you to adopt this breezy attitude in the weeks ahead, Gemini. See if you can allow an evolving project, relationship, or vision to reach a new maturity, but not through pushy effort. Rather, trust life to bring you the precise guidance exactly when you need it.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): In ancient Rome, the
priestesses known as the Vestal Virgins tended an eternal flame. They never let it be extinguished, not even for a moment. Their devoted focus on nurturing the fire was both a religious practice and a symbol regarded as essential for the well-being, prosperity, and survival of the Roman state. I propose, Cancerian, that you engage in your own version of Vestal Virgin-like watchfulness. Assign yourself the role of being the keeper of a sacred promise or resource. What is it, exactly? Identify this repository of spiritual wealth and dedicate yourself to its sustenance.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): In medieval Europe, pilgrims travelling to the shrine of Saint James in Spain often wore scallop shells. These were badges to signify they were on a sacred path in quest of divinely inspired transformation. The shell also had practical uses. It was a scoop for food and water, underscoring the humility and simplicity embraced by wayfarers on the road. I invite you to acquire and wear your own equivalent of this talisman, Leo. You have begun a new chapter in your self-perception, and life is asking you to proceed without pretense. You don’t need definite answers. You don’t have to rush to the end of the journey. The becoming is the point. I hope you seek out inspirational symbolism and generous companions to help nurture your brave transformations. (PS: Your best conversations may be with people who will lovingly witness your evolution.)
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): In ancient Greek drama, the peripeteia was a term for the moment when everything turns. The pivot doesn’t happen through force, but through the revelation of what was always true. I see the coming weeks as your peripeteia, Virgo. There may be no fireworks or grand announcements. Just a soft spiralling crackle that signifies a realignment of the system, a cathartic shift of emphases. Confusion resolves. Mysteries solve themselves. You might say, “Oh, yes, now I see: That’s what it all meant.” Then you can glide into the future with a refined and more well-
horses at 4 a.m.”
After leaving the lodge, David worked on a ranch in the Interior for two years and studied agriculture at the University of British Columbia. In 1949, he married Patricia Howat, and the couple naturally chose Alta Lake as their honeymoon destination.
David, Patricia, their son Philip, and dog Sandy continued to visit Myrtle and would
often travel to Alta Lake in the summers. The Alta Lake Echo’s Dec. 18, 1960 edition described how the Esworthys got stuck on the PGE when a bridge over Cheakamus Canyon caught flame, arriving so late for dinner at the Philips’ there was no time to help wash dishes before they had to turn around and return home!
Seeking to spend more time with his young family, David joined North Vancouver’s Northridge Riding Club, and soon became its instructor and buyer. For the next 50 years, he dedicated himself to the sport, teaching clinics internationally and serving as judge, a horse-show chair and an organizer. He was one of the few Fédération Equestre Internationale stewards to hold tickets in all three disciplines. He was also a director on the Canadian Horse Council, and he assisted in the preparations for the equestrian events in the 1976 and 1984 Olympics in Montreal and Los Angeles. David’s vast resumé of volunteer work was merely in addition to his 40-year career with the Hastings Brass Foundry, the last four serving as president and CEO.
David was undeniably influential in Canada’s equestrian scene, and, if stories of his indomitable aunt are to be believed, he certainly came by his penchant and inclination towards horses honestly!
Logan Roberts is the Summer Program Coordinator at the Whistler Museum through the Young Canada Works Program.n
informed set of intentions.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): In coastal Portugal, there’s a lighthouse called Farol do Cabo da Roca. Built on a cliff where land ends and the Atlantic Ocean begins, it marks the westernmost edge of continental Europe. We might say it’s a threshold between the known and unknown. I believe you will soon be poised at a metaphorically similar place, Libra. An ending is at hand. It’s not catastrophic, but it is conclusive. And just beyond it are shimmers, questions, and a horizon that’s not fully visible. Your job is to finish your good work, even as you periodically gaze into the distance to see what’s looming.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): I Invite you to channel the spirit of Kali—not in her form as the destroyer, but as the fierce liberator. She has the power to burn away stagnation, neutralize the poison of old lies, and slice through illusion with a sword of compassion—and so do you. I believe you are ready to sever a bond that has secretly (or maybe not-so-secretly) limited you. Don’t be afraid of the emptiness that results. It may appear to be a void, but it will quickly evolve into a fresh sanctuary. Into this newly cleared room, you can pour your strongest longings and most rebellious love. What are the wildest versions of your truths?
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): In some early maps of the cosmos, Sagittarius wasn’t just an archer. Your sign was symbolized by a centaur with wings: part horse, part bird, part god. I bring this to your attention because I suspect your own hybrid nature is extra wild and strong these days. A part of you wants to roam, and a part wants to ruminate. A part wants to teach, and a part needs to learn. How should you respond to the glorious paradox? I say, don’t force harmony. Let contradiction become choreography. Maybe liberating joy can arise through a dance between apparent opposites.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): In Sardinia, there are
tombs carved into rock called Domus de Janas—“houses of the fairies.” People once left offerings there to court the help of beings they couldn’t see. They truly believed that fairies are real and can exert effects in this world. In modern times, fewer Capricorns actively consort with invisible presences than any other zodiac sign. But I hope you will take a short break from your usual stance. Mysterious and mythic influences are gathering in your vicinity. You’re being nudged by forces that defy explanation. What do you have to lose? Why not have fun making room to be delighted and surprised by miracles and wonders?
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Thou shalt embrace the confounding contradictions, Aquarius. That’s the first commandment. Here’s the second commandment: Thou shalt caress the tricky incongruities. Third: Thou shalt whisper endearments to the mysterious ambiguities and invite the mysterious ambiguities to whisper endearments to you. Fourth: Thou shalt rumble and cavort with the slippery paradoxes. Commandment No. 5: Thou shalt chant spicy prayers of gratitude to the incongruities, paradoxes, contradictions, and ambiguities that are making you deeper and wiser and cuter. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): In early medieval gardens, there was sometimes a space called the hortus conclusus. It was a walled sanctuary that protected plants and herbs from harsh weather and predation by animals. It comprised a microclimate and provided a private, peaceful space for contemplation, prayer, and study. Sometime soon, Pisces, I would love for you to create your personal equivalent of a hortus conclusus.—even if it’s metaphorical. You will harvest maximum benefits from surrounding yourself with extra nurturing. The insights that would come your way as you tend to your inner garden would be gently and sweetly spectacular. Homework: What’s crucial for you to learn next? Newsletter.FreeWillAstrology.com
GIDDYUP David Esworthy as a toddler on horseback, held there by Myrtle Philip.
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I’VE COVERED a range of sports in my career, but Crankworx is a particularly rewarding experience.
As a volunteer for The Gauntlet (the University of Calgary student paper) I wrote mostly about college hockey and football. During my master’s degree at the school
BY DAVID SONG
dsong@piquenewsmagazine.com
now called IU Indianapolis, I levelled up to March Madness basketball and Big Ten Championship football. Then arrived a remote internship with Golfweek during the heart of COVID-19 where I learned heaps about a sport I once cared nothing for.
With Pique Newsmagazine, I’ve reported on everything from bobsled to freestyle skiing… but Crankworx is a different beast.
Let’s flash back to July 2023, my first brush with this unfettered celebration of all that mountain biking is. I had been Pique’s sports journalist for approximately eight months at that time, and my editor Braden Dupuis gave ample notice regarding what would be the busiest 10 days of my work year.
The problem was, I had never watched a mountain biking race before.
A valued mentor from Indianapolis preaches the importance of preparation, and I heeded his words: looking things up and emailing former Pique sports reporter Dan Falloon for guidance. He warned me to brace myself for Red Bull Joyride, for I’d need to contend with 35,000 fans and larger media organizations in my quest for the allimportant champion’s quote.
“Once, maybe twice, I eventually got
Emil Johansson when he was in one of the sponsor tents signing autographs an hour or so after the event,” Dan wrote to me. “They’re long, hot days. Be sure to pace yourself, stay hydrated, take as many Clif Bar samples as you can.”
SINK OR SWIM
With that in mind, it was time for my first event: the RockShox Canadian Open DH at its new Creekside venue. Having slept very poorly the night before, I drank several Red Bulls (which did not help much because I’m apparently resistant to caffeine).
At first I meandered up towards the top of the course and dealt with a few staffers who weren’t sure how to help a lost reporter like myself. Before long, I decided to plant myself in the finish corral instead—it would
even bobsledding are regulated—you have to go through official or semi-official channels before speaking to athletes.
Mountain biking seems to practice a more hands-off approach. Writer-reporters operate independently, which sounds neat but isn’t ideal when you’re elbowing your way through crowds of fans and interrupting a rider’s conversation with their buddies to ask for two minutes of their time.
My first few days of Crankworx were sink or swim. At times, I ranted to my friends about the task. Yet my confidence grew with each race, each successful interview and each filed story. Braden and Dan let me know they were loving my stuff, so I was doing something right.
Crankworx enabled me to further develop my journalism skills. I got used to navigating busy situations on my own, discerning the
Kids brush shoulders with their mountain biking heroes whenever they’re not racing each other. The Village Stroll becomes a nexus of socioeconomic activity as people of diverse backgrounds mingle.
be difficult to keep track of results from elsewhere.
Squamolian brothers Jakob and Dane Jewett won their respective divisions and a wide grin crossed my face. An obvious, locally compelling angle had just materialized, so all I needed were some interviews.
That’s when I realized, belatedly: there was no post-race press conference to attend. There was no communications specialist on hand to liaise between myself and the athletes.
By no means am I trying to disparage how Crankworx organizers run things. I’m just identifying the marked difference in media policy between this festival and other sports I’ve covered. Football, hockey, basketball and
right moment to stick my nose into somebody else’s affairs. Growth does not happen without discomfort, after all.
GLOBAL AND GRASSROOTS
Here’s what really makes Crankworx special though: its people.
The festival engages the local community to a greater degree than many major sporting events. Kids brush shoulders with their mountain biking heroes whenever they’re not racing each other. The Village Stroll becomes a nexus of socioeconomic activity as people of diverse backgrounds mingle. Unexpected but gratifying relationships form.
Hours before the 2023 Canadian Open DH
kicked off, my sleep-deprived self casually began talking to a woman at the base of Creekside’s gondola. I assumed she was a local, but she was from East Burke, Vermont.
Over the next few minutes I became acquainted with Heather Kissinger, her husband Eric and their kids: Maryjane, Easton and Evan. All three youngsters had emphatically selected Whistler over Disneyland as their preferred vacation spot after watching Return to Earth, a Red Bull film featuring Brandon Semenuk and younger versions of Jackson Goldstone and the Jewett brothers.
I reconnected with the Kissingers last year, both in person and during a Zoom interview about the 25th anniversary bike park feature I was authoring for Whistler Magazine They can’t come this time, but we remain in touch—Maryjane is now entering pro ladies’ downhill contests as a 14-year-old and her younger brothers likewise love racing. Without Crankworx, it’s unlikely I’d have such friends in Vermont.
Needless to say, I’ve gotten to know a few locals as well. These boys and girls seem to get faster every year: U15 Mack Manietta routinely obliterates his age bracket with ludicrous margins of victory, while fellow adolescents Cami Bragg and Ruby Wells are capable of beating adult women. Of course there are many others I could name, but print space is limited.
It is a privilege to tell the stories of Crankworx Whistler. I’ve been stretched, I’ve made mistakes and I’ve grown. I have met many fascinating people, including the aforementioned families and superstar riders from overseas. Some of those superstars remember me, even as I follow their careers back to this mecca of mountain biking.
If you’ve lived in the Sea to Sky for years, Crankworx might now feel routine to you— but don’t take it for granted. As a man who’s been around lots of sports, I can say that this event represents the best of both worlds: global talent and grassroots community in one place for 10 memorable days at a time. Now let’s do it again, shall we? n
HERO WORSHIP Wei Tien Ho on course at the 2025 Canadian Open Enduro.
PHOTO BY CLINT TRAHAN
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