Mountain bikers should find plenty to do this weekend when Panorama Mountain Village opens up its mountain bike park for a special preview on Saturday (June 23) and Sunday (June 24).
“Summer’s here, but school’s not out, so we have lots of visitors looking for activities on the weekend,” said Jamie Hurschler, Panorama’s marketing co-ordinator. “It’s a perfect opportunity for anyone that’s really into experiencing some mountain life to get back up on the slopes now that all the snow is melted.”
This will mark the second consecutive year that the park will be open for a preview weekend and Hurschler said it’s a popular attraction come summer. The park caters to riders of all skill levels and interests, with highly technical downhill mountain biking trails to paved routes for cruising around the village.
“There’s a trail for everyone, it’s not just the the race courses,” Hurschler said. “Anyone who is just looking to get out and ride… there’s trails for the full spectrum, from beginners and novices right up to an advanced rider.”
The main chair lift for the park — the Mile One Quad — will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days, and provides access to the vast majority of trails, including cross-country trails and even footpaths for pedestrians. A few trails may not be open due to ongoing trail maintenance leading up to the grand opening weekend on Friday, June 29, but for the most part the vast majority of trails and features will be available for riders to test out. a brand-new fleet of Norco mountain bikes are available for rent and part of the Panorama Funzone will also be open, featuring a rock climbing wall and mini-golf.
The park will also be hosting professional B.C. and Canada Cup races later in July in what’s shaping up to be a busy summer at Panorama Mountain Village.
“It should be a really fun summer,” said Hurschler. “We’re really looking forward to getting things rolling here again.”
Tickets are available at the gate, and season passes can be purchased by contacting the Panorama reservations office. For more information, visit www.panoramaresort.com/summer.