Whistler Day 2: Let the Insanity Begin
by Drew Starks
Wow. All I can say is wow! Woke up early this day to rain, a lot of rain. Lifts open at 10 and here it was 7am. What to do? headed to Starbucks (yes they have the Bucks in Canada) Like they wouldn’t, and had my cup of joe, read the word (1 Peter 2) and prayed. Went back to the condo at 9-ish, suited up and got ready for the mayhem. Walking through the village was like walking down the main streets of Disney land. Real magical and exciting with people all around. Total theme park feeling. The mountain was beautiful in its natural beauty and power. I always am taken back by nature especially mountains. This one is huge and lush with the Lords work at hand. Its also one thing to be up there and seeing it, but also being allowed to scream down it on two wheels. First run was crazy just to get into the rhythm and wake up the muscles and your brain for the ability to see, think, react, and respond to what is being thrown at you at speeds that are unforgiving if you make a wrong move. For the most part I am able to handle that well. First run down we were soaked from head to toe. My white bike was now a brown crusty machine. I looked like Rambo from the movie first blood when he hides in the wall of mud from his enemy. I do not endorse this movie, but for those of you who have seen it it does paint the picture perfectly of how muddy we were. We had a mixture of rain, and hail today so it was quite chilly and cold, but the trails were tacky and fast.
We eventually went up to the summit. The ride down takes about 45 minutes to get down. It is a long trip that I really loved. Going up and up the ski lift we encountered snow at the peak. It was like the moon up there. Not that I have ever been on the moon, and I believe there were no trees on the moon, but for the most part it was just kind of an alien environment. The trip down was crazy fast. Long shoots downhill and crazy drops. Jeremy wrecked and Ron plowed into the back of him. Everyone was fine besides a little scrapes and ripped clothing. Ron did eat it again on a tabletop, but managed to get down the rest of the mountain. He is hurting, but driven to ride.
In the afternoon we went out to eat, watched Crankworx events (jump competition), hot tubing and everyone stayed in that night out of being tired. All in all it was a good day.
Need to go now and suit up for today; day 3. Will write day 3′s doings tomorrow.
