Riding Commencals in the Snow in Whistler

Alternative uses for powder on the Whistler Valley trails.

“Fancy it?” was the only discussion needed, not really thinking through anything other than buzzing off some primed single-track on the sweet little Commencal Ramones. So we emerged from the safety of the warm garage to snow, and lots of it. For Sean, this was his first time in riding the snow, but being the adaptable little Irish chap he is, he was ripping cutties down the road on his carbon Commencal Meta5 in seconds.

Sending it through our estate, cutties and snow-roost flying at every opportunity we headed out on our local cross country trail loop. What we’d seen turn from dusty summer turns into sticky autumn buff today came with an extra topping, 4/5 inches of powdery snow. Heading up the first climb, all hope of traction of lost on the ever steepening incline, it was difficult to take in the transformation of trails we could recall every rock and root on in a previously summery haze.

Dropping into the first bit of single-track, always a thrill became a conglomeration of dabs and involuntary drifting as we learned the grip level.

Having cleaned the first few singletracky sections, we embarked upon the off camber rocks, easy enough to roll onto the off camber face, turn and roll out in the summer.

Today with a thick icy base hiding under the snow it was to be more difficult, as Sean proved, ejecting from his bike as he hit the deck at speed and continuing to slide across the rock in what resembled a foetal position. Number one. Taking a less nonchalant approach to the next few rock rolls yielded better results as we made it to the bottom of the loop, sitting down for a second and admiring the beauty of the partially frozen Canadian river.

Continuing on, through the baby Christmas trees and snow flurries making the climb unnecessarily hard we dropped onto a favourite of trail of mine. Hitting the swoopy single-track as fast as Maxxis tires would allow us came the shout, “ice,” as in one of the ice filled compressions Sean had gone to pump he’d almost emerged from the corner backwards. Emerging into what had been THE summer spot for swimming and loosely clothed chicks yielded the opportunity from some home made snow drifts and “ice skating” upon the frozen lake.

Racing back toward home, railing what would have been otherwise laborious 1 ½ track and sending in some of the most dangerous drifts I’ve experienced and dodging the uber surprised couple out walking the dogs, suddenly the death sound of “tsss tsss tsss tss.” First ever snow bite puncture and a short walk home.

Probably one of the best end of season rides for a long time, and a much better use for powder than the skiists!!