There are moments in mountain culture that feel like a homecoming, even if they’ve never happened here before. That’s the vibe in Whistler right now as the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Mountain Bike Downhill World Cup announced its debut in the resort, happening September 25 to 27, 2026.
This isn’t just another race weekend; it’s the culmination of decades of dirt, dreamers and determination.
The Dreamers Behind the Dirt
Whistler has long been a proving ground for mountain biking, but a World Cup stop required something special: a trail built to test the world’s best while staying true to Whistler’s raw, technical roots. Years of vision, advocacy, and tireless trail-building went into creating the purpose-built downhill course that now threads through Whistler’s forests. Its name is 1199.
The 2.4-kilometre trail, with 489 metres of descent, balances speed and precision, gnarly rock gardens and big-air moments: exactly the kind of terrain that puts riders and bikes to the ultimate test.
“The fastest athletes are completing it in just over three minutes,” explains Omer Dagan, a senior analyst in business development at Whistler Blackcomb. “The 1199’s signature features include two drops, the Stevie Smith and Fallaway Drop. The Sea to Sky is famous for its rock slabs, and the trail features two really big ones as well as a steep rock garden.”
Dagan went on to explain that the trail is distinctly British Columbian. The old-growth forests with their towering pines, stunningly green moss, dominating rock slabs and huge berms are markers that make this trail memorable for riders and spectators alike.
But it took vision and patience to build this trail. Rob McSkimming, the former VP of Business Development at Whistler Blackcomb and co-founder of the Crankworx Mountain Bike Festival, and Brian Finestone, the former Whistler Bike Park Manager, both played pivotal roles in developing the Creekside Zone, where the 1199 trail is located.
“The international World Cup was a bit of an enigma,” explains Brian Finestone, who was the Bike Park Manager from 2008 to 2019. “They didn’t tell you what they wanted, it was a bit cryptic, but we had this vision that if we built something big, bad-ass and gnarly, and made it long enough, then they’d come knocking on our door one day.”
So, they started the groundwork for a trail that they wanted to become the most notorious course on the World Cup circuit. And now, McSkimming and Finestone get to see their dream become reality.
“I’m super excited,” says Finestone. “That it’s actually happening proves our vision, and the trail, was worthy. It’s been like a torch relay. We started the race, but others on the team have got it across the finish line.”
Wendy Robinson, senior manager of planning and business development at Whistler Blackcomb, is one of those finishers.
“The trail had to be built by local builders,” says Robinson. “They have the passion, not to mention the expertise, but it’s the passion that’s the driving force. They’re solid bikers themselves and follow the pros, so they were told – go look for a place to put this track.”
Pat Labrosse, the trail crew supervisor at the time, started wandering the forest. He found a line he thought could work, flagged it and did some brush cutting so the wider team could walk it. After the trail crew gave it their nod of approval, they asked the pro riders to take a look.
Bring in the Riders
Bernard Kerr, Claire Buchar, and Mick Hannah (all decorated World Cup racers) walked the line during Crankworx 2018 and added their rider-based expertise to the mix. Over the next couple of years, more riders like the UK’s Danny Hart, and Switzerland’s Camille Balanche and Emilie Siegenthaler all had their say.
The 1199 trail was conceived by builders AND riders, which has made it, arguably, the best downhill track in the world.
“I might be biased,” laughs Dagan. “But the track has been utilized for three years for racing, training and product development, and the feedback from athletes and teams has been universally positive.”
The trail starts near the top of the Creekside Gondola and finishes on the timing flats just above Creekside Village. Notably and auspiciously, that’s the same finishing line as the Olympic Dave Murray Downhill ski run. The dream became a reality, the World Cup came knocking, and Whistler was ready to open the door.
INSIDER TIP: 1199 is open for special events only with controlled access. Some of the professional lines and features (double black diamond/pro standard trail) are closed and only open during races.
Why It’s Such a Big Deal
Downhill World Cups are the pinnacle of the sport. They’re fast, fierce, and globally followed. The world’s eyes will be on Whistler, not just for the festival vibe, but for the sheer calibre of the terrain. With the Sea to Sky corridor serving as a breeding ground for world-class downhill talent, it cements Whistler’s place as more than just a freeride mecca; it’s now on the official racing stage.
55,000 spectators are expected at Mont-Sainte-Anne for the World Cup this year, so the team at Whistler Blackcomb are gearing up to expect the same, if not more. Spectators will be able to watch all the action as it happens, with free access to walking paths along the whole stretch of the course. The favourite spots will likely be the rock garden and the drops, but the atmosphere at the finish will also be electric.
For local kids growing up in the Whistler Mountain Bike Park, seeing their heroes racing the same dirt they ride daily is nothing short of transformative.
“We’re at a unique moment in time, where kids that have come through the bike programs at the Whistler Mountain Bike Park, like DFX, are now racing on the tour,” exclaims Robinson. “They would have watched the 1199 trail being built. Sea to Sky athletes will be able to sleep in their own beds before racing where they grew up. Our hopes are to see Canadian’s and local athletes on the top step next year, that would be really something special.”
Local Whistler Heroes: Jackson Goldstone & Gracey Hemstreet
Speaking of local kids, how about one who grew up to be the reigning UCI Mountain Bike World Champion? Whistler’s very own Jackson Goldstone holds the current title and is currently in second place for the Overall title.
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From grom edits that went viral to standing on the sport’s biggest podiums, Jackson embodies Whistler’s progression on two wheels. His runs are electric, his style unmistakable, and his story pure hometown pride.
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Gracey Hemstreet is from Sechelt on the Sunshine Coast. She makes high-risk, technical terrain look fluid, leaning into steep drops or muddy, root-laced runs with a calm, precise style. Her background riding Coast Gravity Park shaped her aerial awareness and control, letting her toss whips, command jumps, and handle tight lines with finesse.
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Both Jackson and Hemstreet hold the second-place positions in the UCI DHI World Cup Elite Overall Standings, with only two more events to go in the series.
Riders to Watch
Beyond Jackson, expect the heavy hitters: world champions, World Cup veterans, and the sport’s rising stars. From Europe’s speed demons like Loïc Bruni, Valentia Höll and Andreas Kolb to North America’s technical specialists, the field will be stacked.
Whistler will be cheering on all the athletes, but local rider Finn Iles, one of Canada’s top elite downhill athletes, will definitely stir the crowd, as will Johnathan Helly, just coming off his 2025 Canadian Elite Men’s Downhill Championship win at Sun Peaks. Also at Sun Peaks, Adréane Lanthier Nadeau claimed the national title at the 2025 Canadian Downhill (DH) Mountain Bike Championships, with Emmy Lan taking the bronze.
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The UCI Mountain Bike Downhill World Cup in Whistler in 2026 will be where reputations are made, points are earned, and the sport’s legends are written.
A Trail with a Heartbeat
This course isn’t just dirt and tape; it’s a dedication. The trail is named in honour of Stevie Smith, Canada’s greatest downhill racer, whose life and career were tragically cut short. Known as the “Canadian Chainsaw,” Stevie brought grit, humour, and heart to the sport.
“One of our long-standing trail crew members, Matt Hoskin, went to school with Stevie,” says Robinson. “Matt is a wood specialist, so the little details you might see on the course, like the chainsaw blade carvings, that’s something that he and the trail crew put in to celebrate the legacy of their friend and fellow rider.”
The number 1199 refers to the 1199 World Cup points Smith earned when he won the 2013 UCI World Cup overall title, making him the first Canadian to achieve this feat. The trail itself was designed as a tribute to his legacy and to bring a World Cup-level technical challenge to the Whistler Mountain Bike Park, featuring significant drops and challenging terrain.
His spirit is felt in the roar of chainsaws in the crowd, a tradition carried forward at races worldwide. Now, with Whistler’s World Cup track carrying his name, every run is a tribute to his legacy.
More Than a Race
Whistler doesn’t just host events; it celebrates them. Expect a festival atmosphere: crowds ringing cowbells (and chainsaws), kids with wide eyes pressed to the tape, and the kind of electric energy that only a mountain town can generate.
“There isn’t a mountain biker in the region that hasn’t thought, wouldn’t it be great if Whistler hosted a World Cup?” explains Dagan. “The groundswell of support from the community as a whole has been huge and shows us it was the right decision. It’s going to be a busy weekend in Creekside next September, that’s for sure.”
This is more than a weekend of racing. It’s a cultural milestone, a recognition of where Whistler’s been, and a vision of where Whistler’s going. And, we don’t know their names yet, but the future of mountain biking will be watching.
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