Life in Whistler: Joe Patterson
Joe Patterson is one of the few Canadians that I actually met in Whistler. In a town flooded by Aussies, Brits, Saffas and so on – sometimes it can feel as though the Canadians left Whistler a long time ago. Not Joe though – he’s made it abundantly clear that Whistler is the absolute best place to live in Canada and has vowed never to leave.
Plain and simple, Joe moved to Whistler to ride bikes. I met Joe while we were mountain bike guides for the Whistler Bike Park, and straight up – it is his dream job. Joe can ride bikes like a champ but is a gun on his snowboard too.
I hope you enjoy reading about Joe Patterson in this latest Life in Whistler Rider Profile.
Joe Patterson loving the Whistler mountain life
Name: Joe Patterson
Age: 23
Hometown: Sutton, Ontario, Canada
Time in Whistler: 2.5 Years
Job: Whistler Mountain Bike Park Guide and Coach
Bikes: Commencal Supreme DH V3, Commencal Meta AM, Commencal Absolute SX
What was your motivation for moving to Whistler? How did you hear about this place?
When I was 14, I bought the Drop-In Season 1 DVD and was blown away by all the towns and spots they rode, I knew immediately that I wanted to move to B.C. one day. The Whistler episode was unreal, I had no idea what a bike park was until then but I knew I wanted to check it out. Every year in high school I tried to plan trips for me and my buddies to shred there but being a kid, it was easier said then done.
After high school I felt like a fish out of water, all of my riding buddies went to school, got apprenticeships or just stopped riding, it was weird. I tried to drive to meet up with friends from other towns but I felt like I was driving more than riding. Then the guys from Dobermann Bikes had an open spot in their van to Crankworx in 2007 and I immediately jumped on the opportunity.
Long story short, instead of staying for Crankworx, I moved to Whistler for the rest of the 2007 season and it was a dream come true! After a short break (from having surgery on my wrist) I moved back on February 6, 2010 and I have no plans to ever leave.
Joe Patterson riding Samurai Pizza Cat in the Whistler Bike Park
How does your lifestyle in Whistler compare to your life at home?
My lifestyle here is so much better! The worst day here is better than the best day back home! Every day I wake up in a place that most people visit on vacation, I bike all summer and snowboard all winter, if you add in the Bungee jumping, frisbee golf, hiking, rafting, snowmobiling and just hanging out with friends there is never a shortage of things to keep you busy. The people I have met here have changed my life – truly some of the best people I have ever met.
The best part is that Whistler is one of the most beautiful and perfect places I have ever been – you can look towards the horizon in any direction and make a post card out of it. I have accepted that I will probably never be rich, however I LOVE every day of my life!
How long have you been riding bikes for? What type of riding did you do at home?
I have been riding for about 11 years off and on, I took a few breaks to concentrate on hockey but I always came back to riding my bike. Growing up in Ontario I rode a lot of street, skateparks and dirt jumps. As I got older I began to compete in a few 4x races.
Joe hitting a gap on the Sunshine Coast
Has riding in Whistler changed your style or ability?
Anyone that has been to Whistler will tell you they became a better rider, it is impossible not to with the variety of trails, terrain and features we have to ride. On top of that though, I am lucky enough to be a MTB Guide for Whistler Blackcomb. This may have been the best thing I could have ever done for my own riding, as it has allowed me to break down my riding and really concentrate on what I am doing on the trail and how I do it. It also introduced me to some of the best coaches in the industry who have helped me along the way.
I have grown more as a rider throughout these last 2 seasons than I have in all of my past seasons combined.
Joe getting steezy in the Whistler Bike Park
What is your favourite riding in Whistler?
I could not pick just one thing with the variety of riding we have here. Of course I love the Whistler Bike Park, all of it, there is not a single trail I don’t like.
The valley is full of riding that I am just starting to explore, then there is Alta Vista pump track, the dirt jumps that are built for us by the town for Whistler! No way could I choose just one thing I love about riding here!
If I had to pick one run to ride forever it would be: Original Sin > Goat’s Gully > Blue Velvet > In Deep > D1 > Angry Pirate > Crab Apple Hits > Samurai Pizza Cat > Crack Addict > Heart of Darkness or Canadian Open.
Like any good Whistler local, Joe still rides on the muddy days
Is there anything I have missed that you’d like to add about life or riding in Whistler? Anyone you would like to thank?
I want to thank my Mom and Dad, without them I would have never made it back here. They are my biggest supporters, biggest fans and are always helping me in anyway they can.
Anna Boyd and Tom Radke for giving me the opportunity to live a dream and ride my bike for a living, Joe Park from Park Freestyle Clothing for the fresh threads (I can finally retire some of the shirts I bought when I was 15), Sean and Dan from Commencal Canada (I love my bikes!) and James Barrett from The Fix Bicycle Products for being one hell of a guy, keeping my bikes running and getting it done with little to no notice – if your in Whistler and your bike explodes, take it to him!
IF YOU WANT TO MOVE HERE, JUST DO IT! YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE!
Big thanks to Logan Swayze from Bike Park Photos and Dom Wrapson for the photos in this post.
Good on ya joe! I remember a summer in new k that although it was fun, what a waste of time haha. I’ll look you up when I make my way back
Hey joe! Glad to see how far you have actually made it. I remember our days of non stop riding and seeing who could go the biggest and best! As your ontario best friend lol I’m proud of you man, alway thought I’d be out there with ya growing up but as you said it very well work came into play. Keep up the good work man and come visit me soon buddy!
Hey Jase! I stumbled across your blog today in a totally random way…Did you know that if you search Kali Avatar on google, your blog post is #1? Cool eh?! Any way, awesome blog man, don’t know if you even remember me, I’m one of the guides at the BP. Really looking forward to getting back up there for the summer. I reside in Van from sept – june. I love telling people that every summer I take a “work holiday” in whistler. I see that you’re back in Aus, hope life is good for you.
Keep the posts coming, there aren’t very many decent mtn bike blogs out there and yours seems pretty good. Cheers from Vancouver!
Hey Kris, stoked on the page rank! I for sure remember you – just followed you on Twitter so we can keep in touch. Seems we have more in common than just bikes.