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Whistler’s Garbanzo Zone Opens Early

June 8, 2005 (Whistler, BC) – Riders rejoice, the Garbanzo Zone will open two weeks early on weekends beginning this Saturday, June 11. Incredible weekend rider numbers in the Bike Park has contributed to the decision to open the Zone early, launching an additional 2,200 vertical feet of terrain in the Whistler Mountain Bike Park.

“Riders will find early season conditions which means the trails are still a little wet,” says Dave Kelly, trail crew supervisor. “Our crews have been working on the trails everyday and things are looking really good for this weekend’s opening.”

With rider visits up 20 per cent so far this year, opening the additional vertical of Garbanzo Zone will ensure shorter lift lines, more space on-hill for riders of all ability levels, and access to a greater diversity of trails. The Garbanzo Zone will open for weekends starting June 11 and will begin seven day a week operations on June 24. On Extended Play nights the Zone will be open until 7pm.

All Garbanzo Zone trails, with the exception of Freight Train slated to open some sections June 25, will be ready to go this Saturday. Riders can look forward to tearing into Fatcrobat, Too Tight and Angry Pirate, three of the newest Zone trail additions. Intermediate to expert riders will experience trails with an ‘old school’ single-track feel as well as almost twice as much vertical.

“The popularity of our park is sky-rocketing and being able to open the Garbanzo Zone early is a fantastic opportunity for us,” says Rob McSkimming, Managing Director of the Whistler Mountain Bike Park. “The Garbanzo Zone will spread riders out on the mountain, and will provide expert and advanced riders with additional terrain to explore and master.”

With a 33 per cent growth in biker visits over the previous year, and 700 per cent growth since Whistler Blackcomb opened for biking in 1999, the Whistler Mountain Bike Park is a world leader in delivering revolutionary lift-accessed downhill riding. Trails for all ability levels wind throughout the lower mountain forests, meadows and ski runs offering wide-open meandering beginner trails, the legendary A-line and Dirt Merchant trails packed full of jumps, tight turns and steep terrain, and everything in between.

Whistler Blackcomb is an Intrawest resort. Intrawest Corporation (IDR:NYSE; ITW:TSX) is one of the world’s leading destination resort and adventure travel companies. Intrawest has interests in 10 mountain resorts in North America’s most popular mountain destinations, including Whistler Blackcomb, a host venue for the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. The company owns Canadian Mountain Holidays, the largest heli-skiing operation in the world, and a 67 percent interest in Abercrombie & Kent, the world leader in luxury adventure travel. The Intrawest network also includes Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort in Florida and Club Intrawest – a private resort club with nine locations throughout North America. Intrawest is developing five additional resort village developments at locations in North America and Europe. Intrawest is headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia. For more information, visit www.intrawest.com.

Proud to be a venue for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.





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