During the Sept. 30 weekend, Sprockids hosted the fourth annual cross-country freeride camp for the generations in Whistler.The concept behind the camp is to bring teenagers and their parents together for a weekend of mountain biking and other activities. For many of the teenagers and parents, this camp represents the highlight of their riding season. The weather at this time can be very unpredictable; this year the weather gods wreaked havoc with our emotions. A week before the camp, the weather report called for snow. Two days before the camp, rain was in the forecast. But neither rain, sleet nor snow would dampen the spirits of this hardy band of bikers.As the group of riders drove up the Sea to Sky corridor, the weather cleared and the sun shone through the clouds. Once in Whistler, riders checked in to Whistler/Blackcomb staff housing and headed off to the Old Spaghetti Factory to load up on carbs for a weekend of intense riding. The next day there was a little rain, but after breakfast the clouds opened up to beautiful sunshine.The trails were in excellent condition and the group was pumped and ready to ride some of Whistler's finest single track.After a demanding four hours of riding, it was off to Alpha Park for lunch. From there it was back to staff housing for showers and a chance to rest. But just as everyone was starting to settle into their relaxation mode, it was off to Spruce Grove Park for a barbecue and softball game. After some gourmet burgers and some major league play, the sun set behind the mountains and bats and gloves were traded for glow-in-the-dark Frisbee. The crew split into two teams for a game of ultimate in the dark using the illuminated Frisbee. Ultimate is a very demanding game; when you play it in the dark there is a whole new set of challenges to contend with.The next morning brought cloudy skies, but no rain.The weather gods must be Sprockids because they certainly were on the riders' side. After breakfast, riders suited up in body armour, full face helmets and big squishy downhill bikes. After meeting with the guides, riders headed up the chair lift to ride the world famous Whistler Mountain Bike Park. For many of the high school students and their parents, this was their first time in the park. Many of them were a tad nervous about what the experience might entail. When you stand at the base of Whistler and watch the riders launching themselves off natural and man-made stunts, you can easily be intimidated. But once you start riding the trails, you quickly realize how much fun this whole freeride style of riding really is. After a morning of exploring the park, the group loaded their bikes and themselves into the gondola and headed for the top of Whistler. When they reached the top and stepped out of the gondola, it was apparent they had landed in another world. There was snow everywhere, the temperature was below freezing, and there even was a slight dusting of snow.After a hardy lunch and a few photos, riders suited up and headed down. It was quite the experience starting in snow and ending up in mud. During the afternoon, they kicked it up a notch and riders started to really showcase their talents. A couple of riders definitely stepped out of their comfort zone and took to the air. The results were some pretty spectacular crashes accompanied by some equally astonishing recoveries, resulting in a few minor bumps and bruises. Before they knew it, the time on the mountain had come to an end and it was time to head into the Garibaldi Lift Company for nachos, drinks and awards. As we sat safely inside, the storm clouds rolled in and it began to rain. The weather gods had staved off the precipitation until we out from the exposure of Mother Nature.The journey back to the Sunshine Coast was a wet one, but as the stories swirled around the table it was obvious everyone took something special back with them from this adventure.
