Grouse Mountain Hosts Jaw-Dropping Red Bull Uncorked Course

Some of the world’s top snowboarders gathered at Vancouver’s beautiful Grouse Mountain Resort and joined together to host a week-long innovation session, custom building a stunning new course.

Winter X Games big air and slopestyle gold medalist Mark McMorris and his brother Craig got together with Sebastien Toutant — or “Seb Toots” — to host Red Bull Uncorked. The snowboarders wanted to create a course that would inspire and encourage, focusing on creativity all in front of the incredible backdrop of Vancouver, Canada.

As well as the McMorris brothers and Toutant, the likes of Tyler Nicholson, Scotty James, Mickey Ciccarelli, and Yuki Kadono all came down to have a go on the new customized course. The course has been built on the resort’s signature run called The Cut, which overlooks the city, and took over 260 hours to put together, and came about after a late night brainstorming session.

Tyler Nicholson and Mikey Ciccarelli perform.

Snowmaking machines helped craft the course that features a 10-foot shipping container, two custom-built rails, a rolling knuckle, and two unique jump features before concluding with a long transfer rail.

“Progression in snowboarding really requires unique terrain that challenges your abilities and technical skills,” Mark McMorris said. “Athletes are not seeking the biggest air, but the most dynamic terrain that will force them to step up their game.”

According to Toutant, “The course is meant to focus on technicality over size, which is why we added things like a gap in the takeoff of a jump. A scaled-down version of the Uncorked course is available for the public to experience this season as long as conditions allow.”

Mark McMorris performs at the Red Bull Uncorked course.

Grouse Mountain was actually named by the first recorded hikers to reach the summit. In October 1894, a group of hikers slogged through snow, trekked through dense forest, and scrambled over rock to reach the top. In the late 19th century, such a feat would have taken three or four days, with no bridge across Burrard Inlet and no road at the base. Along their journey, the hikers hunted blue grouse and honored the game bird by naming the peak Grouse Mountain, and by 1929 the Tyee Ski Club was formed, which is now one of the oldest ski clubs in Canada. By the mid-1930s, the mountain had its first rope tow. Since then, organized skiing and ski racing have flourished at Grouse Mountain and since 1990, a little over $25 million in renovations have been undertaken, merging Grouse Mountain’s rich history with the latest in modern recreational technology and convenience.

Craig McMorris performs at Red Bull Uncorked.

Mark McMorris performs at the Red Bull Uncorked.

Set up for Red Bull Uncorked in Vancouver, Canada.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.