Here's to an incredible year

2023 was a truly memorable year.

We want to take the time to look back and celebrate all of the amazing things that you and the community achieved!

It began with a bang

All the way back in January, the latest official video dropped and the event saw record signups for the month. In those 31 days, nearly 1000 of you cast your eyes ahead and set a goal to conquer the 14th RBC GranFondo Whistler, showcasing as you did so your courage, determination and ambition to make 2023 a year to be proud of.

We also launched the new discount program for groups of 5+ riders registering together. Speaking of records, an all-time high 272 teams signed up either for fun, with their company or in the St. Regis Race!

Since then we've been testing out new ways to show how you stack up against your teammates! Thanks to Startline Timing, you can now see team reports on last year's Gran Fondo category (Medio and Forte will be added for this year!)

Clinics and Camp Fondo set you up for success

In May, Camp Fondo in Penticton was an absolute treat. A two day season-opener for both road and gravel riding, it was an awesome weekend with excellent people sharing stories, toasts and (of course) riding under the tutelage of Canadian Tour de France pro Svein Tuft.

With the 3rd edition of the all-terrain XFondo Whistler taking place exactly 6 months from now, we're busy cooking up brand new gravel bootcamps and pre-rides for 2024 so that you have a top tier season (or get into all-terrain for the first time! - spoiler alert: it's addictive...)

Watch this space!

On the Fondo Clinics side, hundreds of you joined forces with our incredible coaches either through the in-person or virtual options and took the 12 week supported journey to get you ready for September's start line.

Fondo Clinic riders choose from a range of skill and fitness level options, gaining not only cycling improvements but also a community of new friends and connections. There were options all across the Lower Mainland, and for 2024 we'll be bringing in new locations even further afield!

Clinics 2024 opening date

We're stoked to let you know that Fondo Clinic signups will be open January 3rd - a lot earlier than in 2023. Keep your eyes peeled - we'll be emailing you as soon as registration goes live.

This means you can start your year strong, knowing you'll have a great plan in place to make 2024 a year worth shouting about.

Zero waste - the results!

A big focus that we as a community have all been working on is to reduce the environmental impact of events. Since 2018, we have teamed up with AWARE Whistler to bring in better waste practices and provide tips on how we can all do our part to reduce landfill contributions.

Now, after becoming a signee of the World Cycling Sustainable Event project, we are delighted to share with you that the 2023 edition officially achieved Zero Waste status in the Whistler event grounds.

There is still work to be done. We want to sustain this level over the coming years, as well as improve the impact of the course itself. Here however the signs are good too, with a 16% better diversion rate than 2022 and 27% better than 2019.

A huge round of applause and special mention of thanks for all your efforts!

XFondo brought the stoke this June

After a test outing in 2022, XFondo officially turned two this year and spoiled us with sun, stoke and a mega community atmosphere.

Highlights included a Friday RMU happy hour outside of package pickup in Whistler village, surprise rest stop shot-skis and a swag giveaway culminating in a 3+ minute plank challenge (you lot aren't competitive much are you?!).

The good news is that planning is well underway for the 3rd XFondo Whistler on Sat June 15, and we'll be cooking up ideas for new features including team prizing, more trails and possibly even a second location.

For now, registration is ripping ahead of last year so make sure you bag a place as part of the 250 strong field before time runs out!

Did you have a good time, or did you have a good time!?

Holy smokes. RBC GranFondo Whistler 2023 sure made it into the list of our all-time favourite years, and we hope it did yours too.

Whether it was the PrimaFondo brewery parties, pre-ride build up and new educational content, the waffles and cream station and new setup at Britannia Beach, bike and vacation giveaways, an abundance of swag or merely the... you know... bea-u-tiful day sailing up the sunshine soaked Sea to Sky course (totally traffic free) with 5000 others, 2023 was big time one for the books.

Surprise! New photo albums dropping on Facebook

Between now and end of the year, we'll be taking to Facebook and sharing the photos you haven't seen before from our in-house photographer team!

These photos are different from the Marathon Photos shots that are available for purchase and were emailed to all riders. Our in-house team are tasked with capturing creative, artsy angles and basically making you look even more beautiful than you knew possible!

Keep checking back for more uploads, see if you can spot yourselves and get sharing / tagging!

It's like a photo advent calendar, if you're into those sorts of things...

Meanwhile, lets take a moment to give a special shoutout to Bill Howard and his travelling supporters from Missouri City, Texas.

Determined to come home in front of the sweep vehicle after training on much flatter land than here in BC, Bill jumped on the mic at the finish line for a little impromptu ceremony with MC Josh Visser.

Bill's highlights? "Riding past all the beautiful water - the ocean, lakes and waterfalls - and the scenery in general on the course". Josh cheekily asked if Bill had stopped to hike the Stawamus Chief in Squamish to which our tourist friend Bill claimed he was tempted but hadn't!

We can't wait to host you again, Bill and family.

You've still got time!

A reminder that it's not too late to get a full or partial gift entry for your loved ones!

It's also not too late to bag your own savings on registration before prices go up Jan 31st.

New this Fall we've launched gift contributions in addition to gift entry.

This lets you subsidize a portion of an entry if you'd rather not purchase the whole thing and send it to those in your life who'd love the gift of the 'Fondo. Skin in the game as well as affordability, you could say!

You'll get a code that'll be sent instantly at checkout, making it the easiest gift to give ever.

Heads up! RBC GranFondo Whistler 2024 prices go up Jan 31 at 23:59 PT. Don't miss out...

We acknowledge the land on which we gather is the unceded territory of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.

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