The Whistler Mountain Bike Park is widely considered the most iconic lift-access bike park in the world. Every summer riders travel from across North America and beyond to experience its legendary trails.

For many riders, however, the first day in the park can feel overwhelming.

The scale of the terrain, the speed of the trails, and the technical features are very different from typical trail riding. That’s why many riders choose to start their Whistler trip with mountain bike lessons or skills coaching.

Every summer thousands of riders arrive in Whistler with the same goal: ride the Whistler Mountain Bike Park. For many riders it’s a bucket-list experience. The scale, speed, and progression of the park is unlike anywhere else in the world.

But what surprises many riders is that the biggest improvement they make during their trip often comes from something simple:

Taking a mountain bike lesson.