June 27th: Whistler
We get to Whistler with no major issues and head to our good friend Alan Lande’s for a quick catch-up and make some plans for some trout fishing as we wait for the riders to get off the hill from camp. The weather is beautiful, mid-90’s, not a cloud in the sky and the lake is aching to get served. After sorting out our gear we determine there are only 4 flippers for the float tubes and we need 8. Everyone decides to go one-footed and it turns out to that trying to paddle in a float tube with one flipper is not that rad. By the time we get out of the water my right leg looks like quadzilla.

We float out to the middle of the lake, the fly du-jour is the ant and within three casts I’ve got a 12” rainbow on the line and a smile from ear-to-ear as we enjoy the lake surrounded by snow-capped mountains and plenty more fish the rest of the day.

When we head back to the condo, which overlooks the village square, we spy a mad bmx course with crazy big gap jumps. We noticed some people milling around and then a guy drops in. When I say drop in, I mean drop in, there was a 40’ scaffolding built up and the riders would drop in about 20’ and then pump the hairpin corners picking up mad speed, as soon as they shot out of a corner the gaps began. We’re talking easy 50’+ gaps and people were just chargin’ it. We snapped a picture of a guy who was slaying it. It’s either clear the gap or pay large…….see for yourself.

Shortly after jump mania, Jesse Fox, Annie Boulanger and Dom Vallee roll-in. Another crew that’s on point with what they like and don’t like. We get solid feedback and head down to Sushi Village to stuff ourselves with fish. After many Saki Marg’s, we head over to longhorns to finish off the night and head to bed tired and stoked.

JUNE 28th: A down day.

Since we finished our last round-table and there’s nothing on the agenda per-se we decide to head up to the glacier to make some turns. To access the glacier you have to take three chairs and a short bus ride, there is plenty of snow and the sun is expected to hit 100 today.

Up on the hill, the amount of snow is unbelievable. We head over to the camp of champs tent and scope out the scene. Plenty of campers getting nasty on the jumps and rails coupled with a solid level of positive energy and we know today is going to be on. Inside the tent is one of the most ridiculous food spreads you’ve ever seen, meats, cheeses, fruit, etc, etc. The best part of the food table for me was at the end, out of sight. After prepping a healthy sandwich with chips I look down and see a massive blue bin filled with candy. Yay for candy.

We spend the next several hours hitting the wedges, quarters, rails and half-pipe. At the end of the run everyone on the hill is funneled on to a T-bar which proves to be adventurous for Travis and I as we get on and I try to explain to him how when I’m riding solo I like to put the T-bar between my legs and make obscene gestures, but he’s not getting it as he has it behind his butt. Next thing I know Travis is sitting on the snow and I’m laughing my ass off, as he now has to ride back down to wait in the massive line again. I take the opportunity to show him how it works between the legs now that he’s off. He’s laughing, but the look on his face is one of disappointment.

A handful of hours later we decide to head down as camps are wrapping up. We head over to the ‘you can never come back to whistler’ coulour (will make sense in few sentences). We drop into some steep corn-snow turns and decide to hit another line where an old cornice is still there from the winter. We take the bus and lift back up to the top, strap in, ride the snow vein down to the cornice, roll in and make another round of great corn-snow turns.

As we hike out of the valley floor I look up to see Johnny Ski Patrol coming over. ‘Hey guys, where did you come down from’? It’s obvious where we just came from as it’s the only way into the spot we are standing so we turn around point up the chute and momentarily admire our turns. ‘Did you notice it was roped off’? Limoge steps up, ‘No, I only saw the trail name sign’. Now, you have to realize that when they rope something off in Whistler they put up like 8’ netting so it’s impossible to not ‘notice’ it’s closed. ‘Right, right, let’s see your passes’. We show ‘em our passes and he notices our wristbands from camp-of-champions. He’s all ‘what’s going on’? I say we just drove out from Vermont and we are only up for the day. ‘You drove all they way out from Vermont to ride for one day’? Yes, we are leaving tomorrow, we are doing a tour of sorts and this is our last day’. ‘Do you have any ID’? Almost in unison we all reply ‘Not on me’. He realizes this is probably going to be more of a pain in the ass than it’s worth and warns us that if we are up again tomorrow he’s going to ‘turn us around’.

We get the hell outta there and head back down to jump in the lake and get ready to take off the next day. A good hard day was had by all and we have a mellow night in the village as we have to get up at the crack of way-too-early AM to head back to VT.

Next week, the road trip home including all the uncensored trip outtakes, ever wonder where all those mufflers on the highways come from?

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