Fernie Summer Blog

Nik Dunn, photo credit Nick Nault

About three weeks ago I was browsing through internet land, when I received a message asking me to start off the Summer Bike Park Blog for Fernie Alpine Resort. I’m pretty stoked to do so!
Being a local for all 15 (almost 16!) years of my life I’ve been pretty lucky having a ski hill and bike park in my backyard. I’ve been skiing since I was about 2 years old, but I’m relatively new to mountain biking, about 5 years ago I was forced into a summer mountain bike camp. I guess thats when my life turned around, I transformed from a winter ski maniac to a summer two wheeled adrenaline junkie….I guess that’s what I’m classed as. My first bike race was back in 2007 I did one Thursday night race, at the end of the season, I was super excited as it was down hollow tree (my favorite run at the time). I remember it like it was yesterday, just starting to get dark, buckling up my helmet and looking down at my shaking hands. That feeling of pure excitement, and energy is pretty unique, the feeling of your shirt flapping, and flying through the trees just seeing them through the corner of your eyes.
Like I said that feeling is pretty unique and i guess I got addicted to my mountain bike, that winter I swear my friends thought there was something wrong with me, because all I talked about was the snow melting and riding my bike! The following year I got a new bike (new to me) the old Devinci Johnsons that were the demo fleet for the previous years. I was so Excited to have a full suspension bike that was actually squishy! That year I think I broke everything on the bike, I did most thursday night races, and one Alberta Cup. By the Alberta Cup my parents were fed up with breaking bike parts and i got a new (to me) Kona Stab Supreme and had a ball of a time on that bike! Only early next year when I was shuttling 48 Hours with a good friend I found out I cracked the frame in 4 places. I sent the frame back to Kona and received a new frame on warranty, and a new bike through a grassroots sponsorship.

That brings us to where I am right now, for the past 2 years I’ve been racing B.C. cups Canadian National Championships and Various other races in the United States. To think all of this came about by being forced into a summer camp, and a thursday night race! As I’m writing this I’m sitting in a car with my coach, and family heading out to Kamloops B.C. for round 1. I’ve rode at every mountain in B.C. and a few across the border, Fernie Alpine Resort comes to my mind when people ask me where to go for the friendliest and most fun riding. I might say this because I’m a local, or because I started riding here, but I honestly think it’s some of the most developed trails in B.C. Not because of the jumps, log rides or steeps, Because it has been rode in throughout the generations, there is no best way to describe it. You just have to come check it out for yourself!

See you on the trails!!

Nik Dunn

The sun is out in full force, well some days, and people are already getting out on their bikes in town and in the South Country. Those first couple of rides can end up causing a little bit of pain in the legs, back and other parts of the body you may have forgotten about this winter. The legendary powder days of winter may have helped sculpt quads of steel but there is still more work to be done. Here are a few fitness tips to make the transition to the mountain biking season a little smoother.

1. Start out slowly and riding short distances. The sun and warmer days will tempt you to go on epic rides and race your friends right to the very end but give your body a chance to adapt to being on the bike again. Also give muscles a chance to build strength and the joints to get into the rhythm of the ride.

2. The legs are the work horses but the core keeps the body in balance. Start a core workout every other day, that not only strengthens the stomach muscles but other muscles in the core.

3. Work on your basic skills. Get on your bike and pedal to a nearby parking lot. Practice lifting your front tire, riding up, down and along curbs as well as down a set of stairs (watch out for people and small dogs).

4. Finally and most importantly get out and ride! Have fun on your bike.

Take it easy out there,

Jean Boyd, Bike Instructor Fernie Alpine Resort

Jean is a certified Bike Coach and specializes in women’s and beginners lessons here at Fernie Alpine Resort. She has been coaching in Fernie and working on the Bike Patrol for six years. Don’t let her smile fool you, you can catch her hammering out laps on Far Out and eating marathons and long distance rides for breakfast!

Dear Winter,
This isn’t easy, but then again, break ups never are. First off, let me just say that I have really enjoyed spending the last several months with you. We have had some truly legendary times together here in Fernie; our 50th Anniversary Celebration, the new Polar Peak chairlift, and, most of all, the relentless deep powder snow we shared time and time again. However lately my feelings for you have changed and I think it would be best if we start seeing other people. In fact, I have already met a fresher, much hotter season and we are really hitting things off. If you are in town next November, look me up. Maybe we could go for a warm fireside chat and some hot cocoa. Sorry you had to find out this way. I really think this is for the best right now. All my love.

Despite a 438cm mid mountain snowpack here at Fernie Alpine Resort, Summer love is definitely in the air. Shorts, sandals and crocuses are starting to emerge, the first spring rides are starting to happen out in the South Country…and the Bike Crew is gearing up for another Legendary Summer. We hope to be out on the trails and putting the park together as soon as the over 1000cm of annual snowfall we received melts off the lower mountain. We will try to keep you all in the loop with what we uncover and what the crew is working on via our ongoing weekly Bike Crew Blogs. Until we can get out on the trails, keep checking back with us for information on summer events, tips and tricks, and updates from our Fernie Alpine Resort bike team members. In the meantime, here are a few Summer 2012 bites to feast on:

• New Aerial Park and Rippin’ Zipline coming to Fernie Alpine Resort for summer 2012.
• FAR Bike Park open for summer preview weekend June 23 & 24, 2012
• Open for regular summer operations June 30, 2012.
• Thursday Night Race series continues. First race of the season on Thursday July 5th. Registration available at Guest Services.
• Legendary events make a return this year; Lost Boys Lungbuster, Fernie Bike Festival, Guided hikes with Nature Bob, Camps and Lessons, Wine Tasting at Lost Boys, and more. Watch for events such as the Furious 3 Bike Race and the Trans Rockies to make stops at Fernie Alpine Resort this summer as well!

Check out our slide show from Summer 2011 and get pumped for this season!
View here

Sincerely,
Your Fernie Alpine Resort Bike Crew

The SCOTT Thursday Night Race series has wrapped up for another summer season. The final race was held on Bin Lodgin – a rippin’ fast run with a fun finish. The overall points standings and winners were announced after the race, with some very close gaps in the final results.

Winners received great prizing from SCOTT, along with gift certificates from FAR. In addition, riders who raced in 3 or more Thursday Night races over the summer were entered in a draw for a GoPro helmet cam – congratulations to Jaclyn Arnold who was the lucky winner.

Congratulations to this year’s Thursday Night Race Series winners:

Senior Women (age 18-39)
1st place – Simone Bourassa
2nd place – Michelle Arsenault
3rd place – Tara Prefontaine

Master Women (age 40+)
1st place – Jayne Gregory
2nd place – Kathy Murray

Boys (age 8-12)
1st place – Seth Amundsen
2nd place – Willy Lemoine
3rd place – JJ Goodison
4th place – Sam Goodison

Youth Men (age 13-17)
1st place – Justin Bohn
2nd place – André Volard
3rd place – Morgan Constable
4th place – Nik Dunn
5th place – Riley Mack

Senior Men (age 18-39)
1st place – Tanner Ross
2nd place – Stephen Reed
3rd place – Iain May
4th place – Steve Meyer
5th place – Patrick Fagan

Master Men (age 40+)
1st place – Steve Moye
2nd place – Thomas Dunn

Thanks to SCOTT for their generous support of the race series, and to Kelsey’s Restaurant for the awesome post-race refreshments!

What a weekend! Between the Wam Bam Dirt Jump Jam, the Wapiti Music Festival and the NOS Gravity BikeFest, there wasn’t
one minute of down-time!
The NOS Gravity BikeFest, hosted by Fernie Alpine Resort, was an action-packed weekend with over 100 competitors competing in 3 different gravity-fed races. The bikefest started out with a bang on Friday evening with DJ Maccabi pumping out the tunes at the Dual Slalom event – head to head racing at it’s finest. The action heated up on Saturday with the Enduro Downhill – a gruelling 4.5 mile downhill course from the Lost Boys Café to the base area. On Sunday, we saw the fast & the furious racing in the Classic Downhill Race. Other festivities included the Little Critters Kids Ride, Bike Trials Demos, SCOTT Tire Change Challenge, and live music with Fernie local band Shred Kelly. Fernie Alpine Resort would like to thank all of the racers and spectators for coming out. A special thanks to our event sponsors for their support:

- NOS
- SCOTT
- Kokanee
- Telus
- LG
- Old Dutch
- Starbucks
- Stanford Hotel & Resorts
- McDonald’s
- Fernie Physiotherapy
- Falkins Insurance
- Frozen Laundry
- The Clubhouse Restaurant
- Giv’Er Shirtworks
- Home Building Centre
- Kootenay Communications

Full results are now available on our website – www.skifernie.com/summer

Dual Slalom finish at the NOS Gravity BikeFest

The Timber Chair and Lost Boys Café will be OPEN on FRIDAY, AUGUST 19th as a bonus day for the NOS Gravity BikeFest. The Timber Chair will be open to the public from 10am to 4pm. This bonus day on the Timber side will give an extra opportunity for competitors who are racing in the Enduro Downhill (Saturday) to get some training runs in on the race course.

See you at the NOS Gravity BikeFest this weekend!

Enduro Downhill at the 2010 BikeFest (photo by Nicole Matei)

 Just a reminder that there are only three Fernie Alpine Resort Thursday Night Races to go before the series champs will be crowned. So far this season we have had impressive rain and thunderstorms just before every race leaving the courses tacky and riding great. How many of you caught the triple rainbow before the race on Deer Trail this week? Amazing! Register at Guest Services before 6:30pm on race nights; $5 will get you a race entry plate and a complimentary post-race beverage at Kelsey’s. Did we mention that is is two for one appetizers as well!

Current 2011 season standings are:

Big Kids (Male ages 13-17)

1- Justin Bohn

2-Andre Volard

3-Morgan Constable

Old Kids (Male ages 18-39)

1-Stephen Reed

2-Tanner Ross

3-Iain May

Old Kids (Female ages 18-39)

1-Simone Bourassa

2-Michelle Arsenault

3-Deanne Hollingshead

 For more race results or registration information visit http://www.skifernie.com/summer/things-to-do/mountain-biking/thurs-night.aspx . The next race is on Thursday August 18 and will be on Trac II to Honey Bee. See you then!

 Your Fernie Alpine Resort Bike Crew

FAR Race Nights. photos Nicole Matei

Want to be involved in the Gravity BikeFest? It’s a great way to see some exciting mountain bike action!

Volunteers are needed for the following positions:
- Competitor Registration
- Race Course Marshals
- Event set up and take down (base area and race courses)
- Race course preparation (in advance of the event)

All volunteers will receive an event t-shirt, lunch and an event goodie bag as a thank you for helping out!

If you would like to help out, please contact the Events Department at 250-423-2454 or kpepper@skifernie.com

If you are new to downhill biking or have never been to Fernie Alpine Resort (F.A.R.) we have put together a few tips to ensure you have a legendary time.

Get the Gear
Downhill mountain biking is quite different than riding the road or cross country trails in your neighborhood. At F.A.R. you should expect to encounter rough terrain with rocks, roots, and loose surfaces. We recommend that all guests riding at Fernie Alpine Resort have full suspension bikes with at least five inches of travel to reduce the ‘bumps’ you may experience along the way. In a properly sized bike, you should be able to stand over your bike with a few inches of space between yourself and the frame. In addition, you should be able to reach the brake levers easily with one or two fingers. While some of our trails have short climbs, MOST of our trails are all downhill; that means that you will need extra-strong brakes that can handle constant use. We strongly recommend that all mountain users have properly functioning disc brakes and that you are familiar with their use. You MUST check your bike before every ride, that includes brakes, quick releases on the wheels and other moving parts. Every guest is encouraged to wear safety gear which includes a properly fitting full face bike helmet, arm and leg pads, bike gloves and eye protection such as goggles or sun glasses. Helmets are mandatory for all bike park users at F.A.R.

Know Where To Go
While there are no easy trails at Fernie Alpine Resort we do have a little something for everyone. Know your ability level and ensure you are confident in your skills before attempting a more difficult trail.

Cross Country Trails: These trails are generally flat with no substantial elevation gain or loss. Expect smooth surfaces with occasional loose rock, sticks or leaves. Try Double Creek, Far Out or Silk/Manchuria.

Green: These are the easiest downhill biking options we have at Fernie. You can expect some wide road type riding that is generally smooth or a good introduction to downhill single track riding that winds gently through forest. There are sections that may have roots, small rocks, gentle berms and bumps. Start with Boom Trail to Cedar Trail then progress to Eville, Honey Bee and Ben’s Big Rig. If you want to advance your skills try Deer Trail for an introduction to gentle technical single track riding.

Blue Trails: Intermediate or Blue trails introduce sustained downhills, undulating terrain, optional technical terrain features such as bridges, ladders, or log rides, and small drops. All features are no higher than one foot off the ground and will always have an easier ride around option. You can also expect some mixed or variable surface conditions such as loose rocks. Try Mr. Berms, Top Gun or Hollow Tree.

Black Trails: These advanced trails are for expert riders only. You can expect a variety of conditions and technical terrain features such as elevated bridges, wall rides, loose terrain, rock slabs, and sustained steep or challenging sections. Always take slow inspection run to ensure you are aware of what is coming up ahead of you on trail. Options include Power Carve, Trac II and Phat Larry’s on the Elk side.

Get There
The Elk Chair offers a wide variety of riding for all abilties and is open Thursday – Sunday. The Timber Chair is for expert riders only and is open on weekends and Holidays. At Fernie, we use hooks on the backs of the lift chairs to hold your bikes as they travel up mountain. While it may appear challenging, it is quite easy to load your own bike on the lift. If this is your first time loading your own bike, watch a few people do it first, ask for assistance from the Lift Operator if you are unsure and give it a try yourself. Once your bike reaches the top of the lift, the Lift Operators will unload it for you and place it to the side for you to grab and bike away! Remember: for everyone’s safety we do not allow uphill biking or hiking on our trails or mountain roads from the base area.

Fernie Alpine Resort staff are on hand at all times to assist you with any questions, comments or concerns. Just look for someone with a nametag and we will ensure you are forwarded on to the right specialist on our crew.

For on mountain emergencies you can contact our Patrol at 250-430-7778

Only 16 days until the NOS Gravity BikeFest at Fernie Alpine Resort! This year’s bike races are sanctioned by Cycling BC, and on-line registration will open this week. The weekend will be action-packed, so don’t miss it!

Weekend highlights include:

FRIDAY, AUGUST 19TH
· Dual Slalom Race
· Live DJ pumping out the tunes

SATURDAY, AUGUST 20TH
· Little Critters Bike Decorating and Ride
· Enduro Downhill Race
· Live Music with Shred Kelly in the afternoon
· Kokanee Beer Gardens

SUNDAY, AUGUST 21ST
· Classic Downhill Race

ALL WEEKEND
· Bike Trials Demos
· Bike Skills Clinics
· Bike Maintenance Clinics & Challenges
· Sponsor demo tents

Trials Demo at the 2010 MTB Festival