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Stevie Smith’s 1199 trail makes its debut highlighting Enduro World Series’ return to Whistler

Course released for first EWS in Canada since 2019

EWS Whistler 2017. Image: Enduro World Series Photo by: Image: Enduro World Series

Crankworx – and the Enduro World Series – are back in Whistler for the first time since 2019. To mark the big day, Whistler Bike Park is kicking off the week with the opening of a long-awaited new trail. The 1199 track, in honour of Steve Smith, will be the centerpiece of the Crankworx EWS course.

Steve Smith Mont-Sainte-Anne World Cup 2013
Steve Smith racing the Downhill World Cup in Mont Sainte Anne, Canada on August 11, 2013. Photo: Sven Martin/Red Bull Content Pool

1199: showpiece debut for Steve Smith trail

When the EWS course was announced on Saturday, it was a surprise not to see Top of the World, the iconic summit-to-village epic stage, on the course map. In it’s place, 1199 kicks off the weekend’s special Pro Stage.

1199 was originally announced in 2018 as a tribute to iconic late-Canadian downhill racer Steve Smith. It was originally intended to bring a proper, international-level downhill track to Whistler Bike Park. The name, 1199, comes from Smith’s winning points tally from his 2013 World Cup overall title. Since the announcement, WBP has been mostly mum about the trails development.

Now, 1199 is the centerpiece of the Enduro World Series stop in Whistler. The Pro Stage, Stage 5, will start on the top section of 1199 before rolling into Duffman, World Cup Single Track, Ho Chi Min, Longhorn and, finally, Monkey Hands to finish in Whistler Village. At this point, only the upper section of 1199 is going to be ready to ride. It will, for now at least, only be open for the EWS (and not until Friday’s practice day).

As the weekend’s final stage, Stage 5 could be decisive in determining the weekend’s winners.

Whistler Enduro World Series course map

EWS Whistler Course

The 2022 Whistler EWS will range from Blackcomb singletrack to WBP favourites. Stage 1, Microclimate, and Stage 2, Golden Boner, are both in the pedal-accessed Blackcomb network. Raw, technical stingletrack to get the body working hard early in the day.

Stage three moves over into the bike park with a big lift bump up to the day’s highest point. Riders drop into No Joke, Miss Fire, Delayed Fuse and South Park, the weekend’s Queen Stage worth bonus points. After a pedal back up, it’s Ride Don’t Slide, Cirque Du Soil and back into Ride Don’t Slide for more tech. Finally, the 1199 start for Stage 5 to finish off the weekend.

All in, it is 38.9-km of riding. In that distance, riders will gain and lose 2,750 metres of elevation.

You can check out the full course on Trailforks.