Not-so happy trails so far this mountain bike season

For far too many stretches this summer, it’s been rain instead of riders hitting WinSport’s mountain bike trails. 

A three-day delay to open the season turned out to be a sign of things to come, as wet conditions have unfortunately resulted in multiple closures to the summer hill’s expansive trail network. 

In fact, the 2025 mountain bike season at WinSport is now projected to be one of the rainiest on record. 

“We haven’t had this kind of rain and trail closures in over 10 years – I think 2013 was the last time we saw this much rain when the floods happened,” said Ian Newcombe, Senior Manager, Outside Operations. “On average, we usually shut down around five days per season due to rain or lightning. This year, we’ve almost tripled it about halfway through the season.” 

With just over 30 operating days currently remaining on the calendar, WinSport (as well as riders alike) maintains an undeniable urgency for the trails to both be open and stay open. 

“It’s hugely disappointing,” Newcombe says regarding Calgary’s ‘summer’ weather as we reach the end of July. “The trail crew is heartbroken, and they like to ride just as much as our guests. They put a lot of work into getting these trails ready every year, and to see so many closures is hard.” 

It is important to note that one key factor is always considered above the rest whenever the conditions require the organization to consider a temporary closure. 

“The biggest thing is safety, and whether a bike can get down our trails from the top of the lift back to the bottom of the lift in a safe manner,” says Newcombe, who has been with WinSport for 23 years. “That includes how slippery the trails are and if the tires are going to get mud caught in the tread, which no longer allows the bike to safely travel down the hill.” 

Newcombe offers a simple scenario to illustrate WinSport’s decision-making process. 

“Say we’ve got five millimetres of rain,” Newcombe begins. “How long do we need sunny, windy conditions for our trails to dry out? On some occasions, it will rain just a little bit and we’ll be able to open the trails within a couple of hours. Other times, like when it rains for a 24-hour period, it’s going to take 24-48 hours to get those trails back to where we need them.” 

WinSport’s summer hill features two types of trails. Most are manmade, which better cater to riders looking for specific features but also take longer for moisture to dissipate.   

“We have a lot of freeride trails,” explains Newcombe. “Those are trails where we’ve imported materials to make larger jumps and berms. Those take a longer time to dry out and have a bigger surface area compared to technical trails you’ll find in the mountains…more natural, rooty, narrow trails which dry faster with more shade canopies from leaves. I’d say 80% of our trails are the freeride style.” 

Those who maintain many of the other nearest mountain bike trails, including in the Fernie and Bragg Creek regions, have likewise experienced the same closures and been perplexed by the excess puddles.  

Plus, WinSport’s summer camp participants have regularly shifted more of their time to the Mountain Bike Skills Centre. Located on the west side of Canada Olympic Park and specific to camps and programs, it is better equipped for rain but off-limits to the public. 

With a consistent commitment to providing the best possible guest experience, WinSport is pleased to have come up with a plan to give back riders some lost time. 

Effective immediately and still weather permitting, the summer hill trails will be open on every Monday for the rest of the mountain bike season. 

“We really appreciate your patience and understanding that the weather this year has just been unpredictable,” Newcombe expresses in a message to season passholders and day ticket purchasers alike. “It’s not normally like this. Usually it’s the opposite, where it’s really dry and dusty. We ask you to hang in there and know that we’re doing everything that we can to get it open as soon as we can.”