Snow Falls On Whistler As World's Best Downhillers Come To Town
The world’s best downhill mountain bikers are flocking to Whistler this weekend for an elite weekend of racing. Starting Saturday, September 25, 2026, the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup Downhill will make its Whistler Mountain Bike Park debut on the legendary 1199 trail.
While Whistler is one of the most iconic spots in mountain biking and has hosted numerous events, the bike park has never hosted a UCI World Cup Downhill Race. The race will take advantage of one of Whistler’s most technical and steep trails, named after the 1,199 World Cup points that racer Stevie Smith earned during the 2013 series, earning him the overall title.
Photo: Sara Kempner/Getty Images
The Whistler Bike Park has raised some of the best DH racers in the sport. This weekend, Gracey Hemstreet, Jackson Goldstone, and Finn Iles will all race on home turf. Hemstreet came in second overall at the 2025 UCI DH World Cup, behind Austrian rider, Valentina Höll. Hemstreet is currently in 7th place in the overall standings, but still has the chance to deliver a great performance at her home bike park this weekend.
Jackson Goldstone cleaned up on the UCI DH World Cup circuit last season and took home the overall title in a nail-biting finale. Goldstone is currently in fifth place overall, and with only two races left in the season, a repeat title might be a stretch. However, he took the top spot in Val Di Sole this year and is no doubt a favorite for the Whistler Race this weekend.
Lastly, Finn Iles is currently sitting in third place overall, and only 62 points behind Asa Vermette. Whistler will mark Iles’ first race back after fracturing his ankle and missing Les Gets and the DH World Championships. If Iles wins his third World Cup victory of the season in Whistler this weekend, the overall title could come down to the wire at the final race of the year at Lake Placid, New York, on October 4.
In any case, flakes falling in Whistler are a sure sign winter is on its way. North America’s largest ski resort plans to open for the season on November 20, 2026, conditions permitting. The Creekside and Garbo zones of the bike park are closed for the season, and the Fitzsimmons zone remains open until October 12.
Training for the UCI Downhill World Cup race starts on Friday, September 25, on 1199, and Qualifier round one kicks off at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 26, with the Elite Women’s field. Finals take place on Sunday, September 27, starting at 11:30 a.m. with Junior Women’s.
The full schedule of events is available on Whistler Blackcomb’s website.
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