What is WORCA?
WORCA is Whistler's mountain bike advocacy group, working with local and regional governments, First Nations, developers, utility operators, private landowners, the community forest and other stakeholders to keep our non-motorized trails open and accessible.
Our Vision.
A passionate community connected by sustainable trails and pedal powered good times.
Our Mission.
To foster mountain bike experiences and deliver world-class trails.
WORCA is grateful to operate on the shared, unceded territory of the Sk̲wx̲wú7mesh Úxumixw (Squamish Nation) and L̓il̓wat7úl (Lil'wat Nation).
WORCA’s purpose
Construct and maintain public mountain bike trails in the Whistler area.
Educate cyclists and others in the safe and responsible use of mountain bikes and of public lands.
Represent the interests of mountain bikers to governments, business, industry and the news media.
Provide competitions, training, workshops, courses and other services and activities.
Undertake activities ancillary and incidental to the attainment of the above purposes.
Whistler Off Road Cycling Association (WORCA) was founded in 1989 to lobby against the pending closure of bike trails in Garibaldi Provincial Park.
WORCA has evolved over the years to become an integral part of Whistler. Today it has a ten-member board of directors that represents and serves the community and more than 2,300 members.
By working with government, landowners and developers, WORCA continues to ensure mountain bike trail access while providing a wide range of other services to the mountain bike community:
WORCA sanctions the weekly Toonie Ride series and PHAT Wednesday series, as well as special events like the The Back Forty;
WORCA fosters the evolution of the sport through its youth programs, teaching safety, etiquette and technique to cyclists;
WORCA maintains hundreds of kilometres of trails to the highest environmental standards through donations, member fees, volunteer efforts, and a Fee for Service from the RMOW.
WORCA is an incorporated non-profit Society as defined by the Societies Act, WORCA’s constitution and bylaws can be downloaded here.
Support your local trails
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With a growing membership, WORCA can increase trail maintenance and rehabilitation projects around Whistler.
The History of WORCA
An Alpine Passion
It started in the 1980’s, with recreation enthusiasts coming to Whistler for the love of skiing and the mountains; seeking the true mountain experience of starting in the thick forest of the valley bottom and travelling upward through increasingly sparse vegetation, finally breaking tree line and taking in the breathtaking expanse and awe-inspiring vistas of the high alpine. The love of the alpine experience pushed these Whistler mountain bike pioneers to develop a new pastime, creating a lasting summer recreation experience and forever changing Whistler’s culture. In the spring when the snow melted and locals put their skis away, they now pulled out and tuned up their mountain bikes, eager for a warm-weather version of the exhilaration that skiers have moved to Whistler for decades to pursue.
A pedal powered pursuit of alpine adventure, good times, and grand vistas.
After the ski resort turned its lifts off and closed its doors for the summer, access roads sat empty. Cyclists rode the 1500m+ vertical to the alpine in the Whistler spirit of healthy living and fun.
Photo: Courtesy of the Whistler Museum & Archives
They climbed to some of the best views around Whistler. In those days, the classic rides in Whistler were up Blackcomb Mountain to the 7th Heaven south side and the Singing Pass – Musical Bumps loop back to Whistler. Mountain bikes increased in popularity as the distances required to get to the Alpine were shortened and the return trip was made more exciting, with an adrenaline rush akin to skiing. The goals were similar, fresh air and expansive views, the feeling of escape in the alpine environment.
As people flocked to Whistler and the Sea to Sky corridor got busier, mountain biking as a new and unknown sport caused some conflict with trail users, which in turn led governments to take measures to control access to the alpine trails, which were not yet designed or maintained for bike traffic. Local visionaries created WORCA in 1989 as a lobby for continued access for mountain bikers and to establish and legitimize the fledgling sport’s presence in the valley. In 1990, citing these user conflicts, BC Parks excluded mountain bikers from alpine areas of Garibaldi Provincial Park, including Singing Pass and Musical Bumps trails. Access was then restricted to the valley bottom Cheakamus Lake trail.
Courtesy of the Whistler Museum & Archives
As the ski resort grew, it discouraged the use of its access routes due to concern for potential accidents within its controlled recreation area. Mountain bikers were left to discreetly access the resort via a few undeveloped routes such as Highway 86 on Whistler to access the Khyber Pass and Ride Don’t Slide trails. On Whistler, the bike trails featured limited alpine scenery and were too technical to be marketed to the visitors coming for cross country riding.
With alpine access revoked, WORCA focused its energy on maintaining the local Whistler valley bottom trail network, in addition to promoting the sport through weekly rides, trail maintenance days, youth camps and other events. WORCA grew substantially in the ensuing years, and now boasts an annual membership of over 1,700 cyclists. In its 30+ years of operation, WORCA has become one of the largest cycling advocacy groups in North America, if not the world. The club now hires and manages some of the best trail builders in the Sea to Sky corridor, oversees a world-class trail maintenance program including volunteer trail days, and is the driving force in the local trail community, maintaining trails for local residents and the tens of thousands of trail loving visitors to our town every year.
Courtesy of the Whistler Museum & Archives
Over the years, local, regional, and provincial governments have recognized the significant role that mountain biking continues to play in enhancing our local economy. While Whistler has unquestionably become a mountain bike Mecca.
Building, maintaining, and protecting the trails we love.
At every opportunity WORCA opens lines of communication with potential partners and looks at ways to help better manage mountain biking and trail use in the Whistler area. WORCA believes in the concept of well designed, well-maintained sustainable trails that are suitable for all non-motorized users.
The skills and passion the club has developed since its inception make it a valuable partner for all stakeholders. WORCA helps manage and improve Whistler’s trail resources. Non-motorized trail users share the same values, including majestic landscapes, well-maintained trails, and the great social experiences that help tie us to our community, and to the land, which we all believe in protecting for future generations.
+1.9k
Volunteer
hours
Thank you to everyone that comes out to spend their free time working on our trails.
1,811
Toonie
Registrations
Thanks to the chillers and the thrillers. Toonie rides bring our community together.
373
Dirt camp registrants
Dirt Camps are the root of our effort to foster a strong riding community.