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June 23, 2009
It is upon us! The Bike Park at Silver Star opens June 25 and I must say, I'm jacked! The snow is off the trails, they're tacky, buffed, and just waiting for the Comet Express Six-Pack to start turning. The Trail Crew are busy putting the finishing touches on all the new sections of trail, including new sections on Rock Star and Double Dog. Once that's done, they're re-walking all the trails to make sure the heavy rain last weekend didn't leave any puddles to get your toes wet. As with every opening there may be the odd muddy spot, but for the most part, it's going to be an amazing weekend!
Blowing the snow off the trails a couple weeks ago gave them time to dry out and allow us to make sure they're in pristine condition. I had the fortunate task of laying my tires into a couple of the new sections of trail and I can say that once they harden up, they're going to be a hit! All it's going to take is one day of people in the park and a couple times down to figure out the line and life will be good! The berm-to-berm transfers on the new sections of Rock Star worked out marvelously. Same for the rhythm of Pipe Dream — it kills. The new pump-track on Double Dog will have you dizzy with excitement.
I will still be buffing the trails Thursday and Friday, so for all you lucky riders that are skipping work, I won't see you in until Saturday. That is, unless you holler a friendly hello as you go racing past!
Cameron Sorensen
Bike Park Director
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June 19, 2009
 End of another hard week, and the Silver Star Bike Park is almost ready to go! There’s a couple of keys spots at the very top of the mountain where the snow is hanging on and we have been busy giving it a little help finding the door. With only 6 days to go until the lift starts rolling we are throwing everything at it. A snow blower is back breaking work but it moves the snow way into the trees. For the deeper sections the Mini Excavator is helping us out. With the recent warm temperatures it’s amazing how there can be any snow left on the mountain!?! Never fear, 97% of the trails are tacky and ready for my tires. One more week of warm weather and the whole mountain will be begging for it!
The crew has everything cleared and ready from the top. Allowing us to focus on the changes to Pipe Dream, Rock Star and Double Dog. The new step up on Pipe Dream is going to be the new trick booter for Silver Star! The hang time you get before putting it into the tranny should allow you to dial in that no footer you’ve been working on! Along with a new rhythm section of mini step ups and step downs this new piece of trail should have us all giggling!
Jason Martin has the Ditch Witch dialled this year! Steve Darby and him are re-working the section of Double Dog that had the pump track last year. As most of you know it did not really work out as planned, so we pulled out all the stops and are making it bigger, faster and with more flow. I am really excited to see what the boys come up with!
All in all I think this could be the best Park opening yet! Having a returning crew and all of them loving their jobs has made the preparations for opening quite enjoyable. We all knew what jobs had to be done and we did them with time to spare. That allowed us a little bit of extra time to give a bit of extra love to the trails.
Speaking of love, remember girls Silver Star is looking after you this year. Mondays in July are 2-for-1 lift tickets for ladies! We know what that means boys, ya that's right…more girls ripping up the mountain!
See you on trails soon!
Later,
Cameron Sorensen
Bike Park Director
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June 10 2009
Well here we go again! We are only a couple of weeks away from the Park being open and we’re shoveling snow! I guess that means it was a great winter season? I know I had a lot of good pow turns in the spring! It is however coming back to bite us in the butt. But don't fret mountain bikers, Silver Star is on it! We are bringing in the mini excavator and shoveling other sections by hand. The nice thing about the Okanagan is it only takes a couple of days for the trails to get nice and tacky after the snow is off.
It is really hard being on trail crew this time of year! When we are walking the runs buffing them to perfection with all the nice moist OK dirt, you constantly hear from one of the crew "I really wish the lift was running. I want to ride this right now!" or "This is my favorite berm! I wish we could ride it today!" It’s true the early season riding up here is so good! The heat has not zapped out the moisture and every turn looks manicured. Maybe it is just that we have missed the park all winter because our park is one of the most manicured parks out there all summer long.
The network is coming along quite nicely! Most of the lower mountain has been walked and buffed. Mid mountain is getting the Royal treatment and the upper North aspect trails are having the snow removed. Along with all this trail maintenance we are starting to re-work those sections of Pipe Dream and Rock Star this week! Watch for some photos of us working on that coming down the pipe next week!
If you have not planned your trip to Silver Star yet this year check out the website for some of the great deals management has put together! If you can swing it mid-week there is a 3rd night free! If you can pull this off you are bound to get enough riding in each day to make your hands hurt! With the extra carriers on the lift this year, putting an extra 240 more riders an hour to the top and riding mid week, I don't think you would have to stop until the Saloon called you in for a beer!
I will keep Tim out there snapping great shots and I will update you on the progress leading up to opening day! If you are like any of us working trail crew we can't wait until June 25!
Later,
Cameron Sorensen
Bike Park Director
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May 19, 2009
What a long, strange trip its been. Well it is official, Silver Star Bike Park kicks a%@!! After driving all around Western Canada and visiting more than 90 shops, the consensus is everyone loves riding Silver Star Bike Park!
The bike industry is going strong - all the shops I visited are having a great year. Despite all the doom and gloom the media is portraying about the economy, the mountain bike industry is not being affected. Sales are strong and there is a real appetite to devour the trails throughout B.C. So enjoy the spring and keep in mind there is less than two weeks to get your early bird season pass and qualify to win a GoPro HERO Wide helmet cam
Cameron Sorensen
Bike Park Director
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April 17, 2009
Well winter is over! The season has come to a finish on Silver Star Mountain. The resort closed this week with some of the best conditions of the season! It is a real shame that people lose interest and resorts are forced to close due to lack of interest and not snow quality.
I am looking forward to summer, knowing the mountain bike community never looses its enthusiasm for riding. The park will be running an extra weekend Sept. 12 and 13 for all of us to enjoy! I love riding in September - the heat is turned down and the trails are tacky.
Okay, on to what is happening in the park this summer. I have had a lot of people coming up to me and asking what the park crew is doing next? Well here is the list for the summer:
• For starters, every position that we had open for the crew this year was filled with returning staff. They know what is up and the park will be just that much better this year.
• We all have our favourite runs on Silver Star but maybe there are little things that need tweaking? That's what we are focusing on this year. Pipe Dream is getting a complete rebuild in the middle section. If you've ridden it, you know the spot! It's the only section that does not really flow. The rebuild will make the trail a must-visit for every top end rider from here to Mexico.
• Something very similar is happening with Rock Star. There is a section that was upset from the beetle logging and seemed to fall apart in the Okanagan sun. Rock Star is getting redesigned so you work your bike through a jumping, bermy section with no break bumps.
On top of these projects we will continue to add features to LTG and rebuild a few of the TTF's on Double Dog along with some new features. Lower Shazam will be getting a bunch of work to get around some of those pesky wet spots. The Vault is planned for an overhaul as well.
All and all trail crew has their work cut out for them this year. Which is good for all us riders! Silver Star will continue to grow and become one of the top lift access bike parks in the world. And don't worry about lift lines this year, we have added 33% more chairs and carriers to the Comet. That should kill even the few line-ups we did have on events weekends!
Check back later on our events calendar because Silver Star has lined up a couple big ones you won't want to miss! Stay tuned and see you on the trails!
Cameron Sorensen
Bike Park Director
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Feb. 24, 2009
The 2009 Summer Mountain Biking Season has been confirmed and there is plenty of good news. Ticket prices for season pass holders and single day lift tickets will remain the same as last year. In addition, we will be OPEN AN EXTRA WEEKEND. This year's season runs from June 25 to Sept. 7. Silver Star has decided to open the following weekend after Labour Day. The Bike Park will be open regular hours SEPT. 12 & 13!. Our trail crew expect to be getting ready for the season starting mid-May. So for now, let's enjoy the snow — but let's keep summer in mind.
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Aug. 20, 2008
August has turned out to be the month to ride! Every time we needed rain this month,Mother Natured delivered. The trails are super-tacky and as good as they get!
The trail crew has been ripping the park lately, trying out all the new features we have been building and trails we are tweeking (like Pipe Dream). Unlike most bike parks, Silver Star does not sit back when we get close to the end of the season. We have put in three more Technical Trail Features on LTG this week. For those of you that rode this trail on the weekend, you probably saw the start of the crazy S-ride — A Silver Star classic taken to the next level. We put three of our famous wooden wall ride together linking it into a giant roller coater of a move! Frank is putting the finishing touches on the suspension bridge this week.This should be ready to go for extended play on Wednesday. Nothing like riding a 45-foot long bridge that is moving under you. No doubt this is going to fun.
Remember there are only a couple more weekends left in this amazing season, so don't miss out. Do what ever you have to to get your tires into a Silver Star berm before it is to late!
Until next time see you all on the trails.
Cameron Sorensen
Bike Park Director
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Aug. 11, 2008
It is taking everything I have to come into the office and do this update right now as the riding is nothing short of amazing. We had more rain last night and everything is tacky and fast!!!! All those dusty spots in the open areas are gone and the park is better than it has been all year and that is saying a lot because it HAS been amazing right from the beginning.
The trail crew has been going off all week and have managed to pack three tons of bricks — yes, I said three tons — and pack them into many high traffic and brake bump areas around the park to rid us all of those nasty break bumps that make our teeth rattle. If you have ridden some of these areas already you will have noticed the buttery smoothness that the bricks give the trails and the berms. I wonder how many bricks it would take to cover the whole park? Can you imagine no more break bumps? I guess it is nice to dream.
Anyway back to reality, the work these guys have put in to the park with recent dry conditions is commendable and so selfless as they bust their butts to keep this place in the best shape possible for our guests.
The other treats that I would like to speak about is LTG and our crazy carpenter “Frank.” He is a one-man army and has single handedly built about eight new wooden structures ranging from fun intermediate to a couple of advanced wooden masterpieces for your riding enjoyment. This trail is quickly becoming the talk of the town as it has been transformed from an old school single track to a circus through the forest with everything from discombobulating teeter totters to “cobs of corn” — yeah that's right, CORN! You will have to get up here to see what I am talking about, and don’t let the fact that this trail is a “blue” scare off you HARD CORES as it is freakin' WICKED. You gotta see it for yourself.
We have three solid weeks left at the SS Bike Park so if you have not had a chance to get up here and ride the best bike park on the planet then you should be planning your trip now. If you have been up here then I am sure you are already planning on coming again as you have only been teased.
That’s all for now, the sun is coming out and I am going to light Blast Off up like a roman candle!
Cheers
Rick Harman
Patrol Director
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Aug. 6, 2008
Silver Star Park is in the BEST shape of the season! The upper sections of Shazam and Pipe Dream are off the hook. Trail Crew enjoyed Extended Play Wednesday night and chased each other around the park. Nothing like five grown men squealing like little girls tire to tire down Pipe Dream at full speed!
Frank Campagna finished his dream move on LTG this week. He has taken MTB teeter totter to the next level! He carved out four full-sized logs, and when I say full-size, I mean big! He turned them into giant bananas and has linked them all together to give you one of the coolest feeling TTF I have ever ridden. If you are on the mountain this week make sure you take a look and remember Frank built it here first. People are going to start trying to copy it — good luck with that. Frank is one of the only guys with this skill set (I know) that can pull some thing like this off.
For all you Norco bike owners, hope you enjoyed VPS Fest is at Silver Star last weekend. Ride Guide was up here filming this weekend as well. Shaums March, Jay Hoots and Darcy Turenne were amongst the pros out there ripping runs and getting warmed up for the film crews.
Until next week, see you on the trails!
Cameron Sorensen
Bike Park Director
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July 24, 2008
With the dry weather B.C. has been experiencing this summer, it has put the province on fire watch early this year. What does this mean for ther Silver Star Bike Park? We have our saws and equipment turned off by 1 p.m. everyday. Don't fear, the Trail Crew is now doing 5 a.m. starts, so we can continue to buff the trail to perfection. We are continuing to work down the trails taking care of those pesky holes that form in the dry weather. For those of you that ride regularly, you can attest to the difference it make to the trails.
Frank "the magician with a chain saw" is working on his dream stunt. This new TTF will be coming very soon to a Silver Star trail near you. Keep posted as Frank has been dreaming this one up for a few years and is very excited about it. I don't even know what it is yet! All I can tell you is I can't wait to be the second rider with my tires on it, after Frank, of course.
LTG is coming along nicely. There are now four new moves on this trail; Tequila Sun Rise (the 230' long skinny with a couple tetter-totters in the middle to test your balance), Cannonball Run (a multi-option log ride), Ewalk Village ( a series of log-rides that twist and turn through the forest) and Triple Jr. (this is a three-stage drop — the is a smaller version of the one on Double Dog). The trail itself is burning in nicely and is really starting to flow!
Until next time see you on the trails and do the rain dance!
Later, Cam
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July 10th - LTG Taking Shape
Up here at the mountain we are getting some nice cool weather which is perfect for riding. All of the snow has melted and the trails are great for riding. The trail crew has been working really hard and all of the trails are in great shape. Of particular notice is LTG formerly known as Pooh Corners. This year the trail is being transformed into a new trail riddled with skinnies and fun log rides. The latest feature to be completed is called Tequila Sunrise and it is super fun. It starts out with about a 6 inch bucked log for about 20 feet and merges into a boardwalk which takes to the first teeter tooter and onto more boardwalk until you get to the next teeter totter. This is a really flowy stunt and great for learning on with nothing getting too far off the ground. Check out some of the photos and definitely give this stunt a try when you’re up here next!
Ian Galbraith
July 3, 2008
As far as our trail network goes, we're 99.9 per cent open now that we are opening Super Star. The popular blue run needed a little more love and attention from our trail crew and Mother Nature, and thankfully, it's ready to go. Combined with the fact we are installing the first of many technical trail features on LTG, it's shaping up to be a great summer.
The TTF will see a log ride progressing to a skinny, then to a teeter-totter, and finishing on a flow-go.
Frank, Silver Star's resident chainsaw carpenter is building non-stop, so expect to see new features pop- up on LTG.
That means only a small section of Double Dog remains to open at the top. Great news considering the spring we had.
The anticipated opening of Shazam is just around the corner.We'll give you a heads-up on an exact date later next week.
And for anyone looking for a great time to ride, check out Extended Play every Wednesday until 7:30 p.m. It's the perfect time as it tends to be cooler in the evening at Silver Star.
I can't say enough about the sweet rental fleet of Giant mountain bikes we have this year. Just out of the box, the Glory 1 handles the rough terrain exceptionally well. Intermediate riders will love the Trance 2. Their worth a try!
Thanks,
Cam Sorensen, Bike Park Director
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June 30, 2008
If you like winning free stuff, enter our DAKINE PHOTO CHALLENGE this summer. Simply click on the button on the home page for complete details. There are a ton of great prizes to be had.
Just to get the ball rolling, I entered a photo. Mountain bike photography can be a lot trickier than shooting in the snow. In the winter, you have to compensate for all the white snow. It can throw your camera off. In the summer, and especially if you are trying to shoot the wooden features, its the dark shadows. A flash always helps, but you would be surprised how much light you can you lose in the trees. Experiment with your camera and sometimes, it's good to think in black and white. Have fun and enter soon.
Tim Fitzgerald, communications manager, Silver Star
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June 27, 2008
It's opening weekend and it's happy trails for all the mountain bikers.
If you happen to see Cam Sorensen out riding this weekend, give him (and his crew) a
BIG THANK YOU for all the hard work in getting the bike park ready for the season. The unusually cold and wet spring made preparing for the season much more difficult. Cam and his team put in countless hours repairing trails in order to get the park to the great condition it's in. Good work Cam and team!
Another BIG THANK YOU goes out to Rick Harmon and the Bike Patrol Team. Not only do they keep you safe while you're riding, they do an amazing job leading up to the opening.
The Summer Shaker goes off at The Saloon Saturday starting at 5 p.m. The event features FREE APPIES until 6 p.m. and Olympia Sport and Cycle is presenting two movies, The Collective “Seasons” and Kranked “7”. This is a FREE event, so don't miss out.
Don't forget to bring your camera and enter the DAKINE PHOTO CHALLENGE this summer. Click on the button on the home page for complete details. There are a ton of great prizes to be had.
It should be a busy weekend as the warm weather is supposed to stay with us. Don't forget your sunscreen, drink lots of liquids and ride with care.
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June 25, 2008
Only one more sleep before we open Silver Star Bike Park! The Comet Express Six Pack opens at 10 a.m.
Cam Sorensen, our esteemed bike park director, and his crew are busy putting the final touches on the trails. The recent spat of warm weather has helped both melt the remaining snow at the top of the mountain as well dry up some of the muddier patches.
Don't forget this season we are offering EXTENDED PLAY every Wednesday.
Come up after work and ride until 7:30 p.m.
Season Pass Holders can pick up their 2008 passes at the TICKET OFFICE starting
a half-an-hour earlier than normal at 9 a.m. (for opening weekend only) If you need a new photo, get here early!
Thursday's weather sounds perfect for mountain biking, cloudy with a high of 16 C. This weekend the sun is coming out, with highs reaching 24 C.
Have fun and ride safe!
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June 20, 2008
Silver Star trail crew have been busy preparing for opening day and expect premium conditions for most of the mountain come opening day, June 26.
However, the very top section of the trails is still recovering from an unusually cold, wet spring.
"Riders should be prepared for muddy, snowy conditions on the top section of the mountain," said Cam Sorensen, bike park director. "The rest of the way down riders can expect premium, tacky trails."
Sorensen estimates the top sixth of the mountain is simply still trying to recover from an unusually cold spring. All riders will have to use Paradise trail, a green run, to get to the junction of World Cup, Rock Star, Pipe Dream, Shazam, Super Star and LTG before they can head down the mountain.
"For all you winter folk, that's the top of Far Out."
The trail crew are working to move snow from the top, said Sorensen, but can only do so much.
Cross your fingers for some warm weather.
On another note, you may have noticed that if you already bought your SUMMER SEASON'S PASS, it hasn't arrived in the mail yet. Before you call Canada Post wondering why they've lost your mail, or our Ticket Office for forgetting you, there's a simple explanation.
Silver Star has implemented a new software system for tickets and season's passes. So while that new system was put in place, we were unable to print our passes for the 2008 summer season and get them in the mail to you in time. We thought it would be best to just let you pick them up on June 26.
Your passes can be picked up at the Ticket Office on opening day. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.
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June 18, 2008
It sure took it's sweet time getting here, but it looks like the warm weather is here to stay (keep your fingers and toes crossed).
The snow is starting to go and trail crew is casing up the mountain. The lower mountain is buffed to perfection and just waiting for the season to start.
The middle section of our renowned Double Dog has undergone a facelift, due to the mountain pine beetle. We have added a new pump track that will hopefully be turned into a dual slalom later in the summer. While there is little good news to come out of the pine beetle infestation, it has allowed us to utilize this new-found space to our advantage. It's going to be a great section, trust me.
World Cup is getting its annual re-build at the bottom, this time under the Comet Express chair. Our tired yet tireless trail crew has opted to push it into the tree island this year for added shade and flow. You may not get to see your buddy from the chair this year but you will be hearing the squeals of all the fun on those new berms. It's a fair trade.
With the new grade reversal on Easy Street, even the newest of mountain bikers will enjoy their ride to the bottom. The once steep grade on the green trail leading from the village to the Comet has been re-routed to a fun, wide section of trail that wouldn't even intimidate your grandma.
Looking forward to seeing you all on opening weekend.
Cameron Sorensen
Bike Park Director.
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