8/12/2019 Singletrack Spectacle & Longboard Leather (This Week In Whistler)

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Bytobias c.vanVeenSPECIAL TO THE PROVINCE

People have been rollingdownhill since the inven-tion of the wheel andfrom July 3 through 6, twofestivals roll into Whistleroffering spectacular view-ing of world-class wheeledadventures. The weekendfeatures the close of the

seven day, massive epicknown as the BC Bike Race,as well as slides and hairpincornering at the competi-tive downhill races of theWhistler Longboard Festi-val. Both events base theirprowess upon the speedand technical mastery ofbalancing on two wheels orfour as well as providinggood doses of sweat, fear,and at-out wipes.

The BC Bike Race is world-

renowned for its challengingrides through island rainfor-ests and mountainous coast-

lines, nally coming to a restin the rocky escarpments ofWhistler. On July 5, the trium-phant survivors of some 525kilometres of rocky androotedsingletrack cycling will rocketacross the line to cheeringcrowds at Whistler OlympicPlaza. Some 600 mountainbike riders from around theplanet have endured an en-tire week of 50 to 75 kilome-

tre rides in all conditions, andwill compare saddle soresover countless jugs during theequally epic aprs that goesdown in theVillagebars.

Meanwhile, the WhistlerLongboard Festival inwhich leather-suited racersstrap hockey pucks to theirpalms and slide steep pave-ment like its slick water isas wild as it gets. From July 3through 6,Whistler is home tothe warp-speed antics of over

200 world-class longboardersfrom 20 different countries,with plenty of viewing angles

for kids and photographersalikealongtheroadsidecourseof the Whistler Sliding Centre.ThursdayJuly 3 isfreerideday,Friday the fourth is practiceand qualifying, and Saturday,July 5 showcases the WorldCup Downhill from 9 a.m. to4 p.m., featuring six-personheats down a 1.6km trackthat drops 300 metres over 12corners including seven

hairpin turns. Racers whipdown thecourse on elongatedskateboards at speeds over 80kilometres per hour. Specta-tors can catch a shuttle fromthe Village or park in Lot 7 onBlackcomb to catch the ac-tion. From 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.on Sunday. July 6, theWhistlerSkateParkis host toa freestyleSkate Bowl Jam and SlalomDeath Race.Expect localsandvisitors alike to style their stuffon theopen-airconcretenear

Lot 3 and Fitzsimmons Creek.For more details go to www.whistler.com\events

Singletrack Spectacle and Longboard LeatherThe BC Bike Race and Whistler Longboard Festival

PHOTO BY MIKE CRANE COURTESY TOURISM WHISTLER

WhistlerBeginsHereSPECIAL INFORMATION FEATURE

kegsteakhouse.com

SEE YOU

TONIGHT.

ContinuedfrompreviouspageCanada Day itself kicks off

with a pancake breakfast at

9 a.m. in Florence PetersonPark, then its time for the pa-rade, which starts at noonandwinds from Town Plaza toMountain Square,nishing upwith anofcialceremonypriorto the VSOs Canada Day con-cert at 3 p.m. Finally, CanadaDayreworks will llthe skiesabove Skiers Plaza at 10:15,bringing a very busy day to amagicalconclusion.

There will be street enter-tainment all over the Village

throughout the extendedweekend celebrations, in-cluding musical favouriteslike the North Shore CelticEnsemble, the Delta YouthOrchestra and the LittleMountain Brass Band, aswell as family-friendly ac-tivities like face painting,gymnastic demonstrations,balloon artists, stilt-walk-ers, kite-making, crafts andphoto cut-outs.

The Whistler Arts Council

will also be running their pop-ular Art Walk self-guided artstour through many of thehigh-trafc venues in the Villagestarting on SaturdayJune28.

This year on the openingday of Art Walk were cel-ebrating all the arts, as mu-sicians, painters, potters,quilters and writers comeout and perform along theVillage Stroll from three toseven p.m., says Event Co-ordinator Andrea Mueller.

Its going to be a very vi-brant scene for this eventthe whole Village will cometo life with live performanc-es, visual art displays andmusicians galore.

It might just be the perfectway to kick off your best sum-mer evercome up early forthefree concerts,enjoythe tra-ditional parade and reworkson Canada Day and maybeconsider staying a few extradaysforallthefunoftheFourth

of July weekend too. Soundslike a plan! Check out www.whistler.com formoredetails.

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TUESDAY,JUNE 17, 2014 A19THEPROVINCE.COM