Media Releases

Thursday, November 5, 2015

Tough Mudder Whistler family expands with new event added to roster in 2016

Suggested tweet: #Whistler will welcome a new Tough Mudder event in 2016; Tough Mudder Half joins Tough Mudder and Mudderella

Whistler, B.C. – The Tough Mudder Whistler family is set to expand in 2016 with the addition of a new event.

Taking place a week after the annual Tough Mudder event, the Tough Mudder Half is scheduled for June 25, 2016 – also at Whistler Olympic Park. Tough Mudder Half is a five-mile version of Tough Mudder events, which are obstacle course challenges designed to test physical strength, mental grit and camaraderie. Tough Mudder Half delivers all the thrills of Tough Mudder events, which are typically 10-12 miles, in half the distance. Organizers expect between 4,000 – 6,000 participants.

Whistler welcomed its first Tough Mudder event in 2012 and added the Mudderella event in 2015. During its inaugural year, Tough Mudder drew nearly 16,000 participants and helped to increase occupancy in the resort. Since that time, Tough Mudder has continued to grow, peaking at nearly 25,000 in participants in 2013, and driving occupancy during what might otherwise be a slower time for Whistler.

“In addition to boosting room nights, our research confirms that festivals and events have a positive influence on visitors’ overall experience in Whistler,” said Louise Walker, Tourism Whistler’s Vice President of Marketing.

Occupancy during Tough Mudder events has exceeded the rates seen on the same dates in years prior to the event being held in Whistler, with some years seeing occupancy at levels previously only recorded during peak summer months of July and August.

“Whistler has a robust events calendar throughout the year and we know that particularly with shoulder-season periods and non-peak months, festivals and events are a significant economic driver for the resort,” Walker said. “It is critical that we not only continue to build upon the existing events that make up Whistler’s busy event calendar, but that we also foster new events that align with Whistler’s brand and help to build our reputation as a world-class events destination,” she said. “We have enjoyed a good working relationship with the organizers of Tough Mudder and are pleased that they’ve chosen Whistler as a location for this new event.”

Tough Mudder organizers say the new event will attract new participants – those people who might be interested in Tough Mudder, but for various reasons prefer a shorter-distance format. Tough Mudder Half gives people an opportunity to be part of an event that tests teamwork and provides a true sense of personal accomplishment.

“Tough Mudder is thrilled to return to Whistler once again and bring Tough Mudder Half to new participants for the first time,” said Ben Johnson, Director of Communications for Tough Mudder. “Our partnership with the community of Whistler was key in the success of past years’ events, and we look forward to building on that success once again, providing a new experience for participants, as well as providing a positive economic impact on the region, as Mudders travel near and far to see what’s in store for 2016.”

For more information about the Tough Mudder Half event, visit:
http://www.whistler.com/events/tough-mudder-half/
For more information about the Tough Mudder Whistler event, visit:
http://www.whistler.com/events/tough-mudder/
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Whistler is Canada's premier year-round leisure and meeting destination located in the Coast Mountains 120 kilometres (75 miles) north of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Consistently rated the top ski resort in North America, Whistler was the Host Mountain Resort of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The resort offers an extensive range of accommodations totaling 10,000 bedrooms among 24 hotels as well as townhomes, condos, B&Bs and chalets. Whistler also boasts more than 100 restaurants and bars, 200 retail shops, 25 spas and countless activity options from world-renowned skiing and snowboarding, mountain biking and golf, to hiking, rock climbing, and watersports. The Resort Municipality of Whistler is home to a diverse community of more than 10,000 permanent residents.

Tourism Whistleris the member-based marketing and sales organization representing Whistler, operating the Whistler Conference Centre, Whistler Golf Club, Whistler Visitor Centre, as well as 1.800.944.7853 and whistler.com - Whistler's official source for visitor bookings and information. As the convention and visitors bureau for the Resort Municipality of Whistler, Tourism Whistler represents more than 7,000 members who own, manage and operate properties or businesses on resort lands including hotels, restaurants, activity operators and retail shops.

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Media Contact

Patricia Westerholm
Manager, Communications
T: 604.938.2748
E: pwesterholm@tourismwhistler.com

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