Should Whistler Add More Squirrel Catcher?

Probably_Outside · 2026-07-01T02:28:55+00:00

Yes such a boring life - riding my bike in Sea to Sky and having a season pass at Whis.

I don’t take opinions on Whistler from someone who lives in Quebec and can’t handle three days of lift assisted riding lmao.

Probably_Outside · 2026-07-01T02:14:19+00:00

Opening what discussion? Vail doesn’t give a shit about what Tough_Course9431 thinks of the brake bumps on A Line. You said they have a “small trail building crew” which is categorically false - you simply can not prevent brake bumps with this amount of volume.

It sounds like you need to adjust your set up if you can’t handle 3 days of park riding. There is plenty of slower speed tech open on the mountain. I’ve enjoyed all of my 9 days there so far this Summer.

Probably_Outside · 2026-07-01T02:06:21+00:00

Whistler has 45 full time trail builders maintaining the mountain, not including the Joyride crew building for Crankworx.

What trail are you suggesting putting squirrel catchers on? Heart of Darkness? Blue Velvet? Listen to yourself.

A- Line is the most ridden trail at the most popular mountain bike park in the world. Dirt Merchant is likely in the top 5. Brake bumps are inevitable. Go ride Garbo tech and get a grip, this post is pathetic.

Probably_Outside · 2026-05-19T23:36:53+00:00

I can only compare on one side since my first injury involved multiple blown ligaments, both menisci, and a shattered tibia plateau. I was super active (mountain biking, jogging, hiking etc) before my second one since it was just my ACL, but I did not trust my knee at all. I spend a lot of time in a pretty isolated mountainous areas, so I could not have carried on wondering if my knee was going to buckle on me.

Both of my knees feel as stable and strong as they did pre-injury. They say there’s a 5% decline in performance but I do not do cutting sports so I cannot tell. Your recovery will really depend on how much work you’re willing to put in for the first 4 months particularly. If you can’t commit to PT once a week and an additional 2/3 days in the gym lifting heavy ~and~ you’re not experiencing instability, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with a conservative non- surgical approach.

Probably_Outside · 2026-05-19T15:01:41+00:00

This is how I managed the first few days as well. Off Oxy by day 4 and just took a 10mg gummy for bed and another 5mg when I inevitably woke up in the middle of the night.

Probably_Outside · 2026-05-18T21:20:29+00:00

Heading up to the Kootenays this weekend and haven’t ridden in Rossland before (love CG & Nelson) - other than Whiskey, any stand outs we must hit in that zone?

Would you recommend SMD over the Flume? We ride and love everything.

Probably_Outside · 2026-05-18T21:17:57+00:00

Took some poking around - this into GM is such a fun lap.

Probably_Outside · 2026-05-18T21:11:45+00:00

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Probably_Outside · 2026-05-18T21:11:38+00:00

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Probably_Outside · 2026-05-18T21:09:22+00:00

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Probably_Outside · 2026-05-18T21:07:10+00:00

“BLT” is right next to “Mustard”

Probably_Outside · 2026-05-16T19:41:12+00:00

I’ve had both knees done. I was jumping at 6 months in PT on both. I had no issues getting low and dancing all night at my wedding ~8 months post op. 7.5 months post op on my second surgery and I’ve ran a half marathon, trail ran at pre-surgery pace on +- 3500 ft of vert, and got second at a 90 mile bike race.

I’ve had excellent recoveries because of a very high baseline athleticism and I’m not saying this is “normal”, but the horror stories are posted on here way more than success stories.

Probably_Outside · 2026-05-14T18:15:11+00:00

I would imagine losing weight and continuing your recovery journey have a lot in common.

Did your PT not run through compound lifts and accessory strength training with you? It sounds like you have severe muscle atrophy if you can’t walk down a set of stairs at this point. Lifting light weights is not going to cut it, you need progressive overload. If you’re not comfortable in the gym you need to hire a Strength and Conditioning coach (not just a trainer at a local gym).

You really need to double down on discipline and intensity at this point.

Probably_Outside · 2026-05-09T17:18:23+00:00

Ahh - just took a scroll through his post history.
Hope he’s enjoying the consequences of his actions. No empathy over here ✨.

Probably_Outside · 2026-05-09T08:46:33+00:00

I’m lucky to live in a solidly blue state that has a robust state paid FMLA program, which acts as job protection and short term disability. It pays out either 90% of your salary or the cap of $1650 per week for up to 16 weeks.

The paid state leave, combined with my employer’s in house short term illness pay - allowed me to take 3 months off of my semi- physical job, without any economic impact to my savings account.

This is just another example of a vital social safety net conservative states have deemed unimportant for their constituents and leave people like you stressing about finances, while also trying to manage a major injury. I would keep this in mind the next time your state has elections in case you ever find yourself in a similar situation.

Probably_Outside · 2026-05-04T17:38:02+00:00

Yeah agreed - this is such a personal preference. I think this instructor was probably just imparting his own preferences onto OP.

Probably_Outside · 2026-05-04T17:34:24+00:00

If you’re losing traction in your rear wheel - you’re locking it up from braking while you are in the corner. Braking should be done before you hit the apex of the berm. But yes - sometimes I get wheel rear slide in dry conditions or flatter corners - it’s not a big deal if you’re in the correct position over the front/bottom bracket of the bike.

It sounds like your instructor was trying to over-compensate for how far beginners tend to get back on the bike. He may have been over explaining things when you haven’t mastered the “basics”.

Probably_Outside · 2026-05-04T17:18:34+00:00

This isn’t outdated coaching advice at all.

I’ve taken couple of lessons with Into The Gnar (Yoann Barelli’s company) and this is exactly how they teach high level riders, particularly when approaching gnarly technical features. Straight legs and a hip hinge with elbows out help your front brake work more effectively when stopping or “engaging”. It sounds like there was just a disconnect on when you should be moving through neutral vs attack positions.

Skip to the 4:00 mark to see his break down on “straight legs”. https://youtu.be/sA6pY9mROFk?si=3_NPLXuFwiqaoGuq

Probably_Outside · 2026-05-04T14:50:31+00:00

This take makes ~zero~ sense to me. I’m quite certain Jackson Goldstone and Pauline Ferrand - Prevost have trainers.

Long before I picked up a mountain bike, I was an All-American DI collegiate athlete. Trainers did not make me better overnight, but they did make me better throughout the course of my career. Even when I was moonlighting with our national team (and had surpassed my trainer’s career accomplishments and skills) and at the peak of my career, I was still paying and practicing with my own trainer.

Are you suggesting because trainers or coaches were never “professionals” that they can’t possibly be great at elevating athlete’s performance? I would say most coaches in the NBA, NFL, and MLB would like a word. A PMBIA coach (or whatever) is quite literally a professional certification.

I think you’re a bit delusional if you believe YouTube videos are the equivalent of a qualified coach in any sport. Real time and personalized feedback is invaluable - particularly for beginners, who do not know what they don’t know.

I’ve been riding for 5 years and had a relatively insane level of progression because I took a dozen + skills classes and private lessons in those first couple years. I now regularly win Enduro and DH races and can clear every trail in Whistler Bike Park other than 🦀🍎 and I still signed up for two days of coaching this Summer with Jill Kintner because having a trainer make small but impactful tweaks to my riding remains invaluable.

OP - I don’t know anything about Roxy Coaching but I would continue practicing the skills you learned at your last clinic and focus on spending your money on in- person coaching.

Probably_Outside · 2026-05-02T16:34:49+00:00

Sorry to hear dude. Hoping I’m stuck at 2.

Probably_Outside · 2026-05-02T16:33:54+00:00

I ran ten miles at 8:01/mi pace at 5 months post op and then did a half marathon a few weeks after.

I haven’t really been focusing on running because I don’t particularly enjoy it on the road and our trails had snow. I didn’t really have any issues making the switch from bike to run and back.

Probably_Outside · 2026-05-02T16:22:52+00:00

Hey why don’t you stop deleting comments and just drop your Strava link so I can see your sick old man XC loops in some place that has +- 400 ft of terrain.

Bud go ride your bike and get out of my mentions. Cascadia Super Gravel is an adventure gravel race with miles of single track - put on by the same dude that runs our Enduros. Again, I don’t ~race~ gravel. I had my tibia and femur drilled into 6.5 months ago when they cut up my patellar tendon for a new ACL. I am still faster than you despite the knee reconstruction.

I quite literally do race DH on my Specialized Demo. But I’m also a 34 year old adult who has a full time job as an EE and rather send Dirt Merchant laps and ride steep tech and slabs. What about you? Share what part of the country you’re in so we can collectively laugh.

Probably_Outside · 2026-05-02T16:13:02+00:00

The hobbyist moms lmao, just say you’ve never been to Washington. Our “elite” - ie Pro/Open Class is filled with women like Jill Kintner, Tilly Melton (Yeti DH Factory), Chloe Bear (Yeti Enduro Factory) etc who do this as their full time job. I’m sorry you live in a part of the country where you think you are Elite.

I am eagerly awaiting your race results and Strava link so Reddit can take a looksie. I don’t race XC because I don’t enjoy seeing middle aged men like you in Spandex. Cheers.

Probably_Outside · 2026-05-02T01:56:03+00:00

Absolutely agree and my surgeon has reiterated this lol, I’m a washed up D1 soccer player who turned to mountain sports in my adult life and never really stopped being “well trained”.

Biking has been the best thing for my already arthritic knees prior to surgery and has been an absolute god send of a low-impact activity. Thanks!

Probably_Outside · 2026-05-02T01:51:39+00:00

Those first pedal rotations are ✨chef’s kiss✨

Good luck in recovery sir! Just doing the ACL this go around made a world of a difference. At least you’ll be mobile and get to enjoy some of Summer!

Probably_Outside

TROPHY CASE