Destination: Panorama Mountain Village
words jon_e fotos courtesy of panorama mountain village

With the World Cup circus heading towards Calgary this coming weekend, we thought we give you a little taster of a fast developing mountain bike resort resonably close to Calgary.

The terrain between Calgary and Vancouver in the west, hosts some of the sickest riding areas in the world...heck it's the friggin' Rocky Mountains after all. With names like Fernie, Kamloops, Whistler and Squamish all virtually household names you can bet your bottom dollar that these areas will be stacked with Robbie Burdon wannabes during the warmer months of the year.

So what do you do if you're looking for something a little different? Head east towards Alberta and just before you get there hook a right and head for Panorama.

Bryon Grey

Drop In's Byron Grey designed and built some of Panorama's best downhill mountain biking terrain during the summer of 2003. With sections like the Crazy Train, a North Shore Style stunt trail, into the bike park or onto the permanent Bikercross course all built and design by Bryon. Byron also runs the Purcell Mountain Bike School with his partner Becca a non-profit mountain biking school.

So with the influence's from some Canada's sick top free riders you can all expect some of the sickest trails at Panorama to keep you amused.

The range of trails is great, as the hill has what is labeled as expert and intermediate/beginner trails all accessible from the quad chairlift, the expert trails are all on the right side of the chair has you rise uo from the resort. With names like 7-insanity, Look Out!, Crazy Train, Quadzilla and Mercy me.

There of course is the Bikecross course and a stunts park with loads of stunts to help your North Shore technique develop with drops ranging from 1 feet right up to 8 feet monsters in the drop park.

Accommodation at the resort is second to none with everything from top class hotels to self catering lodges and with plenty of other activities around it's definitely looks like a place to visit. Heck! Why not base yourself there as you tour the local areas surrounding Panorama like Golden, Fernie, Calgary, Invermore and the rest of the easter Rockies.

For more info check out: www.panoramaresort.com