Mountain bike season arrived early in Whistler this year. With tacky trails, fresh berms and long stretches of sunshine, riders have been logging some serious mileage through the Whistler Valley.
So, if you’re feeling strong in the saddle and your bike is dialled, there’s no shortage of opportunities to put that early-season riding to the test. From community-centred race nights to world-class competitions, here are some of the mountain bike events rolling through Whistler this season.
WB Phat Wednesdays
The rowdiest evening in the Whistler Bike Park happens to be on Wednesdays. From May 20 to July 15, 2026, Phat Wednesdays combine DH racing with après, prizes and the antics expected with this breed of biker. Competition can be fierce with pro riders and local hotshots, but the atmosphere is welcoming, exciting and open to all.
Dates: Every Wednesday from May 20 to July 15, 2026 (except June 17 and July 1)
Cost: $8.57 per race (Whistler Mountain Bike Park Pass needed)
Trail Difficulty: Varies from Intermediate to Advanced (blue and black trails)
WORCA Toonie Rides
WORCA’s Toonie Rides bring the community together through a shared love of bikes, free food and friendly competition. With familiar faces each week, this is one of Whistler’s most community-focused bike events.
Courses change weekly to offer different trail networks, difficulty and riding disciplines. Expect a mix of XC and enduro style riding across trails ranging from Green to Black.
Local businesses sponsor each ride with a delicious, complimentary meal, drinks and prizes. Registering online is recommended, especially if you want a spot at the very popular après.
Dates: Every Thursday from May 28 to August 13, 2026 (except July 30)
Cost: $7.5 adults, $2 kids
Trail Difficulty: Beginner to Advanced
Back Forty
The OneUp Back Forty returns for its sixth year as Whistler’s toughest endurance race. Inspired by the legacy of the NIMBY Fifty, this Marathon XC event features three timed stages connected by untimed transfers. Riders can expect gruelling climbs, technical descents and a well-earned après.
The course stretches from Cheakamus, over to Westside and finally into Alpine. The course links a mix of blue and black singletrack trails and clocks over 1,400 metres of climbing. Registration is capped at 200 riders, and it’s known to sell out.
Date: June 13, 2026
Cost: $100 (WORCA membership required)
Trail Difficulty: Intermediate to Advanced
Event Difficulty: Intense!
Distance: 40+ KM (28 KM of trail, 10+ KM road)
Crankworx Whistler
The world’s largest mountain bike festival, Crankworx, hits Whistler from July 24 to August 2, 2026. While spectators pack Whistler Village for downhill, pump track and slopestyle events, there’s a handful of open races riders can register for.
Crankworx Whistler Air DH (Amateur): Race down the famous A-Line trail
Canadian Open Enduro: A brutal multi-stage race testing endurance and bike handling. Expect a mix of Whistler Bike Park trails and spicy local valley trails.
OG Canadian Open DH: Held on the classic Canadian Open trail, this race tests riders on technical, rocky and rooty lines.
Canadian Open DH: Whistler’s most demanding DH race set on the purpose-built proline of 1199. Expect an aggressive, high-speed and high-consequence course featuring massive drops, big roots, steep chutes and technical wooden features.
Registration closes July 19, 2026.
RBC GranFondo
While much of Whistler’s bike culture revolves around dirt, the RBC GranFondo has become the region’s biggest road cycling event. The ride takes cyclists from Vancouver to Whistler along the breathtaking Sea to Sky Highway, covering more than 120 kilometres and over 2,000 metres of climbing.
As the largest GranFondo in North America, the event attracts riders from around the world.
Dates: September 12, 2026
Cost: $300 – $1000 (Tier Dependent)
Event Difficulty: An Uphill Epic
The Witsend
This one’s ferda girls. Crafted to celebrate the huge development of women’s riding in the Sea to Sky corridor, The Witsend mixes enduro racing with a supportive atmosphere. A Short and Long course exists for intermediate and advanced riders, with the end goal of creating a welcoming event bringing female riders together. Read about its origin here.
Dates: September 19, 2026
Cost: $100 – adults, $80 U – 20 (WORCA membership required)
Distance: Short –19 KM, Long – 23 KM
Trail Difficulty: Intermediate to Advanced
The Hillman
Held the day after The Witsend on the same course, The Hillman is open to everyone. There are short and long courses suitable for intermediate to advanced riders, and as the last local race of the season, it’s a great way to round out a summer of riding.
Dates: September 20, 2026
Cost: $100 – adults, $80 U – 20 (WORCA membership required)
Distance: Short –19 KM, Long – 23 KM
Trail Difficulty: Intermediate to Advanced
Whistler X Tri
Adding to the already packed September race weekend, Whistler X Tri is an off-road triathlon centred around Lost Lake. There are two distances, a sprint and a championship, that take you from swimming to blue-level XC biking and trail running. Another option is to enter a team, and there are kids’ triathlon options too!
Date: September 19 & 20, 2026
Cost: $70 – $300+ (format dependant)
Trail Difficulty: Intermediate
Event Difficulty: Intermediate to Advanced
Ride, Race or Spectate
From community race nights to the international stage of Crankworx, Whistler’s summer bike calendar offers something to satisfy nearly every type of rider. And even if racing isn’t your thing, they’re fun to watch, and the energy is contagious.
At the end of the day, though, it’s about more than who sets the fastest time. It’s about a pastime that fosters friendships, thrills and support. Whether your kids are figuring out their first push bike or you’re spending your golden years cruising the Sea to Sky Trail, there is no better way to spend a day than pedalling through the mountains. How lucky we are.
