Three and a half decades after it came into existence, the Whistler Off Road Cycling Association (WORCA) continues to roll on.
The organization's greatest accomplishment this year was completing the Far Out/Flashback trail construction project. This undertaking added 10 kilometres of new trails to the Cheakamus network, enjoyable for beginners through to advanced bikers.
"Overall, 2024 was a great year for WORCA," said executive director Trevor Ferrao. "[Far Out/Flashback] was a huge community project with thousands of hours of volunteer work during our trail days and trail nights over the past five years, as well as paid trail crew work.
"It is also the first trail that WORCA has built that is suitable for adaptive mountain bikers. We just have one section of the Flashback trail that still needs to be modified to make it suitable for adaptive mountain bikes and we have been applying for grants to fund that additional work."
Every ounce of effort
Speaking of the fiscal side, WORCA received $282,450 in Fee For Service funding from the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW), all of which went towards trail maintenance. WORCA's trail crew was composed of 10 builders who laboured on a variety of assignments throughout the whole network.
Each of the projects conducted throughout every season help keep Whistler's trails resilient. Features like rock armouring, grade reversals and drainage ditches help them to withstand various weather conditions, including winter cold and snow.
"All good things must come to an end, and what a good thing our trail days have been all season long—with our last trail night an especially great time," wrote WORCA trails director Ben Hryciw in a newsletter. "Between our regular volunteers, WORCA’s trail crew, and special guests from sponsor Chromag Bikes, there were more than 40 people out in the fading light of the No Flow Zone to finish capping the Creamsicle Rainbow/Up Shit Creek lower extension.
"Big thanks to all of the trail night sponsors: this wouldn't happen without your support. I would also like to extend a huge thank you to all of the volunteers who came out to help build trails this season. Whether you could join us for one night, or if you had a perfect attendance record—Craig Mackenzie, I’m looking in your direction—every ounce of your effort makes a big difference."
'We all have the same desire'
Official WORCA events have likewise stood the test of time.
The organization put on 15 trail nights in 2024, with nearly all of them reaching full capacity with 30 volunteers each.
Sixteen in-person Toonie rides (which cost $2 each with a prepaid membership and season pass) garnered 2,200 total registrations, not to mention 18 additional virtual Toonie rides which allowed participants to experience certain trails at their own leisure within a given week.
The fourth edition of the Back Forty race, which operated on June 8, was its most successful to date. Three hundred riders signed up, a considerable increase from the 126 that took part in 2021. With three timed cross-country segments encompassing 28 kilometres—including 1.3 kilometres of climbing—the Back Forty is one of WORCA's grandest annual races.
The Witsend women's enduro returned for a second year as well. Its 80 registrants responded well to a novel course setup throughout Westside and Cheakamus. In terms of scope, the Witsend's full-length trail covers 29 kilometres of length and elevation gain to the tune of 1.3 kilometres.
"We are fortunate to have such a passionate community of mountain bikers in Whistler that are WORCA members," said Ferrao. "They understand the importance of WORCA’s work and their membership dollars allow us to run our operations and to secure funding for trail maintenance and new trail construction work.
"In addition to that, the amount of volunteer work is incredible and the new Far Out and Flashback trails in Cheakamus are a great example of this. The enthusiasm of WORCA members for events like our trail nights and Toonie rides creates a really strong sense of community. We all have the same desire to have continued access to world-class trails throughout Whistler."
Ferrao went on to thank WORCA's sponsors—the largest of which include the RMOW, the Government of British Columbia and Whistler Blackcomb—for their vital support. While details are forthcoming, he promises Sea to Sky denizens can expect a full slate of WORCA programming in 2025: a well-staffed trail crew, volunteer trail days, Toonie Rides, the Back Forty, the Witsend, youth camps and more.
Learn more at worca.com.
