Bike
Bike
Coast Gravity Park sets the bar for Canadian parks
This fantastic bike park is open year-round and demands a visit at the earliest opportunity.
In our new 'Best Bike Parks' series, we visit Coast Gravity Park, British Columbia, Canada.
On a mission to find out if it really is the best bike park terrain and experience in all of Canada – yes, the same country that is home to the legendary Whistler Bike Park. But unlike Whistler, Coast Gravity Park never closes – you can access trails carved through pristine low-elevation, ocean-front forest all year-round.
Jump after jump after jump: Matty Miles
© Dylan Dunkerton
Coast Gravity Park is a true rider’s bike park — built by riders, for the riders, without any fluff
- Brandon Semenuk, Red Bull Joyride three-time champion.
With an endorsement from a living legend like Semenuk, we needed to find out why this remote, private bike park off Canada's west coast, and accessible only by ferry or float plane, is held in such high regard by the many international pro riders who visit each year.
Below are 11 reasons to visit Coast Gravity Park:
Tuck No Hander from Paul Genovese
© Dylan Dunkerton
1. Less riders; more airtime
Coast Gravity Park limits the amount of riders on their 12 trails each day, so you're guaranteed to enjoy the experience rather than standing in lines and dodging riders of varied skill levels typically found at public bike parks.
Scenic Coast Gravity Park: Sechelt Inlet
© Dylan Dunkerton
2. It's beautiful
Getting to Coast Gravity Park requires an incredibly beautiful ferry ride from West Vancouver – or a float plane, if you're so inclined. Once you get there, the views don't stop, including the emerald green vistas of the park itself.
3. Perfect berms
Coast Gravity Park is full of them; around every corner, another corner sculpted to perfection, full of poetry and classic, coastal hero dirt. This is what heaven looks like to the average bike park rider.
Watch: POV ride behind Brandon Semenuk on CGP's Red Dragon jump trail in the video above.
Coast Gravity Park perfect berms: Coastal cruise
© Dylan Dunkerton
Coast Gravity Park founders: Curtis, Kyle & Dylan
© Dylan Dunkerton
4. The right heritage
Coast Gravity Park's biggest draw from day one has been the simple fact that it was concepted, built and owned by the famous Coastal Crew. Collectively, Curtis Robinson, Kyle "Norbs" Norbraten and Dylan Dunkerton have built and filmed some of the most famous trails in B.C. When guys like this build a bike park, people tend to get excited. When they build 12 private trails accessed by a rad old truck, people lose their minds.
Coast Gravity Park: Aggy Backflip
© Dylan Dunkerton
5. (Famous) people watching
It's not rare to catch a glimpse of the world's best freeriders and racers at Coast Gravity Park. Whistler, Squamish, the North Shore and Vancouver Island are all within easy striking distance, ensuring Canada's best mountain bikers are frequenting Coast Gravity Park regularly. Here, Kamloops wild child Graham Agassiz throws his trademark corked flip while Ontario's golden boy Brett Rheeder watches.
Uniquely Coastal
© Dylan Dunkerton
6. It's different
No chairlifts, no corporate vibe and few rules, Coast Gravity Park rides a fine balance between quality and rootsy authenticity. The trails are world class but the transportation is still down to earth, literally. Visit CGP for the very fact that no one else is doing it like these guys, and no one ever could.
Waiting in Style: Evan "Intern" Young
© Dylan Dunkerton
7. The best base area ever
Coast Gravity Park boasts a base area that doubles as a slopestyle training facility. Beat your buddies down the trail? No problem. Just take the time to work on your sweet flatties until you can do them like Evan "Intern" Young.
When The Intern graduates
© Dylan Dunkerton
8. The man behind the shovel
Evan "Inty" Young first rose to prominence after serving under Brandon Semenuk's reign in the "Life Behind Bars" video series. He's since graduated and become an integral fixture of the trail crew at CGP. Remember, who builds your trails is more important than who rides them.
Brendan Howey whips through the trees
© Dylan Dunkerton
9. Shhh, I'm hunting whips
Sechelt, B.C., is a far cry from the craziness of most resort towns. From the quiet seaside town to the solitude of CGP's trails, a trip here is a low-key affair. Brendan Howey finds some silence in the trees.
Machine Built. Handcrafted
© Dylan Dunkerton
10. Machine built. Handcrafted.
The passionate trail crew at CGP takes huge pride in their work and doesn't mind putting in a night shift or two if it means better riding for you. Plus, less tyres on the trails means less ruts. Giddy up.
Bottom line: The trails at Coast Gravity Park are perfect. The locale is gorgeous. The vibe is low key. The right people built it. And it's open year-round – welcome to heaven.
