Whistler "Air Dome" open to public!

Riders who like to spend more time in the air than on the ground have cause to celebrate with the launch of Whistler Blackcomb's Air Dome to the public slated for the remainder of the summer season, August 12 until October 9, 2006. "Whistler Blackcomb‚s Air Dome is the only mountain bike specific foam pit training facility in the world," says Rob McSkimming, VP of Business Development at Whistler Blackcomb. "Combine the potential our Air Dome with the Whistler Mountain Bike Park and you have the world‚s ultimate arena for progression right here in Whistler." The Air Dome features a massive pit with multiple in-runs filled to the brim with $26,000 worth of foam, a table-top ramp, a quarter-pipe, a half-pipe, and wall rides. Located at Base II and easily accessed by the Magic Chair at the base of Blackcomb Mountain, the Air Dome was first introduced earlier this summer to riders taking part in the Summer Gravity Camps (SGC). "The level of progression that a facility like the Air Dome can drive was really illustrated to us through the achievements of two young local riders that competed in last months Kokanee Crankworx," says McSkimming. "Alex Prochazka and Kyle MacDonald of Whistler were both working on backflips in the Air Dome‚s foam pit prior to competing in the Kokanee Slopestyle. They mastered the move in the dome and then pulled it out in competition to successfully compete against the world‚s best. Fifteen year old Kyle competed in the finals and ranked 17th out of a field of 86 athletes." Public access to the Air Dome will provide the ultimate learning experience for riders looking to take their technical skills to the next level. The Air Dome is a supervised facility and all of the features can be used to learn intricate tricks such as barrel rolls, 360's, tail whips and even double backflips in a safer manner with less potential consequence than what is possible when training on dirt. Basic air awareness and less technical moves can also be learned in the Air Dome. "The Air Dome allowed my campers to progress in a controlled and safe environment," says Andrew Shandro, Director of Summer Gravity Camps. "It is the perfect training facility." www.whistlerbike.com