What's New & Noteworthy

What's New & Noteworthy

WHAT'S NEW

Get your Down Dog on: Whistler continues to inspire wellness with world-class yoga events

Renowned for sports tourism – Whistler regularly hosts fitness races including the Whistler GranFondo, Whistler Half Marathon and Tough Mudder. This year, Whistler’s spectacular mountains and glacier fresh air will continue to inspire wellness with two major yoga-centric events. The Whistler Yoga Conference will encourage yoga students to grow and expand with over 40 seminars, workshops and classes from Qi Gong to mediation and aromatherapy May 4-6, 2012. Then, August 23-26, yogis from around the world will arrive in Whistler for a one-of a kind yoga and music festival called Wanderlust Whistler. The festival features the top yoga teachers in the world including Baron Baptiste and Seane Corn, along with musicians Michael Franti and Krishna Das, DJ set by Thievery Corporation, and performance artists Quixotic.

007...Grass, bent grass.

The Whistler Golf Club has just installed all new greens – a year-long process from seed to grass to installation – using a special species of grass known as 007 Bent Grass that’s particularly resistant to snow and ice damage, while also providing a smoother putting surface. This is the resort’s first golf course, designed by Arnold Palmer, which opened in 1983. These new greens replace the original ones installed almost 30 years ago. Course opens mid-May.  

Riding on ‘Top of the World‘: Whistler Bike Park opens the alpine to mountain bikers

Whistler Mountain Bike Park will open their first alpine-specific single track trail in summer of 2012. The new trail – offering 360 degree views of the surrounding glaciers, lakes and peaks – will increase the park’s vertical by 1,091 feet. With over 60 trails and 4,946 feet of vertical, Whistler Mountain Bike Park offers more trails and more vertical feet than any other bike park in North America. The trail will begin at the top of Peak Chair, descending through three climate zones: Alpine Tundra, Mountain Hemlock and Temperate Rainforest. A limit of 100 riders per day will be permitted on the new trail, opening up new terrain to eager advanced riders ready to test their skills on Whistler’s alpine slopes. Riding the Peak Chair will require a separate lift ticket which will cost riders $15 in addition to their Bike Park pass.

FACES OF WHISTLER

Tyler Schramm - From Ski Lift Builder to Master Distiller - Following his dream to create the world’s only certified organic small-batch potato vodka, Tyler Schramm left his career as a ski lift builder in Whistler to complete a Master’s thesis in distilling in Edinburgh, Scotland. He came home with the original recipe for Schramm Vodka and launched Pemberton Distillery with his wife Lorien in 2009. Shortly after, Tyler received international acclaim, winning “Double Gold” and “Spirit of the Year” at the 2010 World Spirit Awards in Austria. Now the virtuosos have broadened their inventory with spirited creations like organic gin, absinthe, bourbon barrel-aged brandy and a series of liqueurs that include sour cherry, raspberry and espresso.

Jordan Sturdy: Fashion executive turned farmer  - Originally from Vancouver, Jordan Sturdy has worn a number of hats throughout his life, including those of butcher, logger, and tree planter. A barrel-chested, bearded man, Jordan typifies the rural farmer and his genial demeanor has made him a very popular local politician. An eclectic sort, Jordan has been a sales and production executive in the fashion and house wares industry, a paramedic for 16 years, a professional ski patroller at Whistler Blackcomb for 17 years and the mayor of Pemberton for the past several terms. Each spring Jordan makes regular trips in his white pickup truck to Whistler from his nearby farm to meet with chefs and discuss plans for planting in the upcoming season.

WHAT'S NOTEWORTHY

The Whistler Insider Prepare for the ultimate Whistler holiday experience by reading Tourism Whistler’s blog, the Whistler Insider. Discover Whistler – one secret at a time – as local writers guide guests through a Whistler journey. Get the scoop on freebies & fun, the inside track on Whistler’s après scene, the best picks for family fun and all things arts and culture. The Whistler Insider is your ticket to the experience that is Whistler. Read the Whistler Insider at http://www.whistler.com/blog/

UPCOMING EVENTS

Whistler Yoga Conference - May 4 - 6, 2012
Join in this journey to the majestic mountains, to the nurture of nature, and the timeless experience of yoga. The Whistler Yoga Conference provides teachers and yoga students of all levels with a supportive meeting place to grow and expand their practice through three days of inspirational learning. The weekend includes approximately 40 seminars, workshops and classes. More information and offers here. 

Whistler Longboard Festival July 13 – 15. 2012
 UNKLE is proud to present the Whistler Longboard Festival at the Whistler Sliding Centre. Rain or shine, more than 100 international top racers will drop 1,000 feet over 1.5 km at daredevil speed along the snaking paved course down the mountain road. www.whistlerlongboard.com 

Crankworx Whistler August 10 - 19, 2012
In less than a decade, Crankworx Whistler has become the authoritative free ride mountain bike festival. A supercharged magnet for the world's best riders and the definitive domestication of dirt in the service of epic endurance, supreme flow, monster air and gravity-fuelled mountain biking. Over 10 fearless days in August, the venues at the Whistler Mountain Bike Park serve as a modern day Colosseum to the world's best mountain bike athletes. www.crankworx.com