Whistler has a distinct vibe. It’s an exhilarating and magnetic resort destination that’s known for its big mountain skiing, trailblazing biking scene, and stunning alpine vistas. And a lot of people will tell you they came here for these things, BUT, if you dig a bit, they’ll usually tell you that the reason they stayed is because they found a deeper connection, a sense of community.
And that doesn’t always happen by accident. There are people, organizations and businesses that deliberately cultivate community, and that’s who we want to showcase in this series.
Join our host, Mike Douglas, a member-at-large of Protect Our Winters Canada, pro skier, enviro nerd and Whistler local, as he shines a light on how Whistler cultivates its unique sense of community.
In video #1, we headed out on Whistler’s bike trails with Dale Mikkelsen, the President of the Whistler Off Road Cycling Association, known locally as WORCA. He chatted with Mike about becoming a hub of social connection and how, in advocacy work, we can care for something together.
What is WORCA?
WORCA stands for Whistler Off-Road Cycling Association; it’s Whistler’s mountain bike advocacy group. We work with local and regional governments, First Nations, developers, utility operators, private landowners, the community forest and other stakeholders to keep Whistler’s non-motorized trails open and accessible.
WORCA has led the stewardship of mountain biking trails in the Whistler Valley for over 35 years (it was founded in 1989).
Every year, we sanction events that bring the mountain biking community together, foster the evolution of the sport through youth programs, and employ experienced trail builders and staff to construct, maintain, and advocate for Whistler’s mountain bike trails.
Today, we have a ten-member board of directors that represents and serves the community, and around 1,900 members. Anyone can become a member, and it’s a great way to support the trails.
What’s a Toonie Ride?
WORCA has been running the Toonie Rides for 35 years! They are race/ride nights held on Thursdays. The format varies from ride to ride, but most are point-to-point style cross-country rides on different Whistler trails.
The purpose of the Toonie Rides is to bring our community together to ride and celebrate the sport we love. Some riders come for the thrill, looking to best the competition. Others come to chill, to socialize, get some exercise, and explore Whistler’s trails. That’s why there’s a race start and a rolling start. The first 20 riders or so are going to blast off the line, making it feel like a race. The remaining people are going to go out and have a good, social ride with all their friends. The goal at the end is that we all end up at an après party.
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If you register in advance for the Toonie Season’s Pass, each ride costs two Canadian dollars, a toonie, hence the name. The money raised covers insuring the event, with every other cent going back into maintaining Whistler’s exceptional network of bike trails.
The rides are open to everyone, locals and visitors, young and old, and of all biking abilities; you just need a WORCA membership.
What other events does WORCA offer?
WORCA sanctions the weekly Toonie Ride series as well as special events like The Back Forty, The Witsend and The Hillman races.
We also run kids’ bike camps in the summer. Our camps are not just about developing solid bike skills, but cultivating a positive mountain bike experience, fostering a love for adventure, recreating responsibly and creating a sense of community.
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You can also volunteer for our Trail Nights. They’re actually a great place to meet new people who are passionate about biking. Whistler’s trail system, which ranges from smooth double-track to technical single track, is a great resource for the local community and the tourism industry.
Without ongoing maintenance, repairs and protection, we risk losing this incredible amenity to erosion, degradation and in some cases competing land use.
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Each year, we set priorities and assign funding to a range of trail projects, which are carried out by a combination of paid trail crew employees and enthusiastic community volunteers. Trail nights are usually three to four hours, and tools or trail maintenance experience is not required.
Local businesses sponsor the trail nights so we can provide food and drinks, and volunteers are rewarded with a Whistler Mountain Bike Park ticket for every three trail nights completed, thanks to Whistler Blackcomb and the Vail Resorts EpicPromise Program!
How does WORCA add to Whistler’s overall sense of community?
We try to be so much more than an advocacy group for the trails. We really want to be the social hub of mountain biking in the Whistler community. Whether you’re a first-time rider, you just moved to Whistler, you’re visiting, or have a young family, we want to make sure that mountain biking feels like it’s open to anyone who wants to join.
When we bring people together like this, it turns the trails we ride together into a common ground, where we can connect and care for something together.
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How can I get involved and support WORCA?
Becoming a member is the first step. All the funds raised from memberships go back into our trails and into our riding community through advocacy, events, programs, and making sure the trails we love are kept open and in great shape. We have memberships for adults, seniors, youth, children, and families, as well as corporate memberships, super supporters and even memberships for runners (they use the trails too!).
Membership makes you eligible to join our WORCA-hosted events, access to discounts from our partners and, with more than 2,000 members, WORCA is a great way to meet riders around the valley. You can also donate, join a trail night or become a sponsor of one of WORCA’s events.
This interview and video are part of a series on how Whistler cultivates community, so check back for the latest. If you’re after more bike content, click this link.
