Mountain Biking Magazine's 1987 Whistler Symposium Brought Industry Pioneers to Cheakamus Lake
In September 1987, approximately 30 prominent figures from the bicycle industry convened in Whistler, British Columbia, a location then relatively unknown for mountain biking. The event, organized in partnership with the Whistler Resort Association and LifeStyles Adventure Company, aimed to facilitate idea sharing and riding experiences. Among the notable participants were Tom Ritchey and Scott Nicol. Leanna Rathkelly, a photographer who relocated to Whistler in 1985, greeted the attendees at a welcome reception at Vancouver International Airport. The following day, the group rode to Cheakamus Lake, where Rathkelly prepared a gourmet picnic. LifeStyles arranged for the transportation of bikes via ski lifts. This journey was featured in the February/March 1988 edition of Mountain Biking, with many photographs attributed to Rathkelly.
Key facts
- Mountain Biking magazine brought about 30 bicycle industry members to Whistler in September 1987
- The gathering was organized with the Whistler Resort Association (now Tourism Whistler) and LifeStyles Adventure Company
- Guests included Tom Ritchey of Ritchey Mountain Bikes and Scott Nicol of Ibis Bicycles
- Representatives came from Marin, Specialized, Raleigh, Scott USA, Kestrel and Tioga
- The group rode to Cheakamus Lake and picnicked on melons, grapes, bread, cheeses and a double-layer chocolate cake
- Bicycles were carried up Whistler Mountain on ski lifts because the lifts had no bike carriers
- The trip became an eight-page feature in the February/March 1988 issue of Mountain Biking
- Richard Kelly and Eric Wight founded Backroads Mountain Bike Adventures in 1985 with 10 Nishiki Bushwacker bikes
- Leanna Rathkelly moved to Whistler in fall 1985 and began working for the Whistler Question in 1986
- Rathkelly recalled the era in an August 2026 interview with the Whistler Museum
Entities
Artists
- Leanna Rathkelly
- Richard Kelly
- Eric Wight
- Tom Ritchey
- Scott Nicol
- Dave House
Institutions
- Mountain Biking magazine
- Whistler Resort Association
- Tourism Whistler
- LifeStyles Adventure Company
- Backroads Mountain Bike Adventures
- Whistler Museum
- Whistler Question
- Ritchey Mountain Bikes
- Ibis Bicycles
- Marin
- Specialized
- Raleigh
- Scott USA
- Kestrel
- Tioga
- Whistler Mountain
Locations
- Whistler
- Canada
- British Columbia
- Cheakamus Lake
- Lost Lake
- Cougar Lake
- Gulf Islands
- Vancouver International Airport
- Vancouver