It’s starting to look like a busy bike season for Revelstoke Mountain Resort with summer pass sales exceeding last year, a host of activities on the calendar and extended hours.
This summer, guests can clock extra time on the trails from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday starting Saturday, June 20.
“We’re trying to provide a better experience and service to our mountain bike guests, but especially also our local community, the people who work Monday to Friday until five,” Vincent Lafontaine, resort director of visitor experience said.
Offering summer resort activities is still a new venture for Revelstoke Mountain Resort, president Jason Kelder said when reflecting on the previous winter season, but it’s an area the resort is seeing continuous growth in, Lafontaine said.
New attractions like the Revelstoke Skywalk are expected to bring more guests to the resort, he added.
There are no new bike or hiking trails on Mount Mackenzie this year, with work focused on maintaining current routes for the summer season. Plans are in development to eventually expand alpine trails and provide options for a wider range of skill levels.
“Our beginners and intermediate experience can definitely be improved. That’s part of the plan moving forward,” Lafontaine said.
To help bridge skill gaps, the resort is adding to its range of mountain bike classes, skills courses and evening group rides.
Starting in July the resort will host a women’s and men’s evening bike night every Friday. Novice to advanced riders ages 19 and older are invited to the two-hour long session aimed at improving skills with instructors and a supportive environment.
Kids will get the chance to build on their skills at new three-day long mountain bike camps that will focus on jumps, drops and maneuvering through technical terrain.
“We’re trying to introduce more and more new people to the sport,” Lafontaine said.
Resort staff are also working on three big races that Lafontaine expects to bring in some local and regional crowds.
Partnering with Revelstoke Cycling Association, the resort hosts two evening races Friday, July 24 and Friday, Aug. 21. With a $5 entry fee, live music and drink specials, the races are designed to be a fun introduction to bike racing with ticket sales supporting the Revelstoke Cycling Association.
Coinciding with this year’s Bike Fest the resort hosts the inaugural Revelstoke Gran Fondo Saturday, Sept. 19. The endurance-style road biking race includes a 100 kilometre and 160 kilometre route, both sending riders from downtown Revelstoke up past the Revelstoke Dam to Carnes Creek with the option to return to Revelstoke or carry on to Downie Creek.
Between longer summer hours, new classes and races Lafontaine anticipates more residents and visitors getting a chance to try out mountain biking this summer.
“We’re just trying to have a really nice, fun vibe all the way through,” he said.
Revelstoke Mountain Resort’s lower mountain bike and hiking trails open Friday, June 5 along with the Mountain Pipe Coaster, Revelstoke Skywalk and the Revelation Lodge. The upper mountain trails and the Outpost open Saturday, June 20. The Stoke Climb, Mackenzie Ridge and the upper part of the Fifty Six Twenty will open once snow conditions allow. To register for mountain bike courses and check trail conditions, head to revelstokemountainresort.com.
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