Media Releases

Wednesday, March 20, 2019

World Ski & Snowboard Festival returns to Whistler April 10 – 14

Whistler, B.C. – The World Ski &Snowboard Festival (WSSF) returns to Whistler April 10 – 14. Known as North America’s largest festival of snow sports, music, and arts, WSSF celebrates Whistler’s unique mountain culture through a five-day schedule of non-stop events and action on and off the slopes.

As Whistler’s legendary spring vibe arrives in the valley, WSSF provides guests with the perfect send off to the winter season through its action-packed schedule. The must-attend festival of the season, WSSF returns with high-energy and its crowd-favourite events ready to thrill guests and athletes alike. Festival highlights include:

Pro Photographer Showdown – April 11
In an aw-inspiring showdown, guests will watch as four invited photographers and one wildcard entry share their all-time favourite images of sport, culture, and the human spirit. The event will bring together some of the world’s best action sport and lifestyle photographers.

Swatch 72hr Filmmaker Showdown – April 12
Guests will get the chance to watch short films, in which filmmakers were given only 72 hours to shoot, edit, and produce. A must-see event and festival favourite, the event rewards attendees with raw originality, skills, and talent on the big screen. 

Saudan Couloir Race Extreme – April 12 & 13
Known as the steepest ski race in the world, the race will take skiers and snowboarders down the double black Saudan Couloir run on Blackcomb Mountain. A festival highlight after its resurrection last year, guests can expect to experience this high-energy event on mountain in order to take in all the action and cheer on competitors.

Big Air – April 13 & 14
For guests eager to witness incredible skill and creativity, the Sp'akwus Ski Invitational and Halaw Snowboard Invitational Big Air competitions are must-attend events as skiers and riders send themselves off a giant jump at the base of Whistler Mountain. New this year, both competitions will take place from 4 PM – 6 PM, providing spectators with the perfect entertainment to accompany their après fun.

The WSSF outdoor concert series will be announced in the coming weeks. The complete schedule can be viewed at www.whistler.com/events/world-ski-snowboard-festival.

As the festival descends, so do long sunny days as spring begins to arrive in Whistler. Festival guests can take advantage of spring deals on accommodation with rooms from $139 CAD/$104 USD. A free $20 après voucher is also included when guests stay two or more night with an arrival between March 1 and April 30. BC and Washington State residents can save even more as Whistler Rewards members, which provides members with monthly perks and saving on accommodation, activities, and events.

Multi-sport days and longer après sessions on sunlit patios await in Whistler this spring. Book a getaway in Whistler with confidence at www.whistler.com. With the best price guarantee, Whistler.com, the official central reservations for Whistler, offers one-stop shopping with the largest selection and no booking fee for accommodation or activities. Travel consultants at Whistler.com are based in Whistler, with the call centre located in the heart of Whistler Village. Call 1.800.944.7853 to request a no-obligation quote or visit whistler.com for more details and offers.

  -30- 

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 Whistler is 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.

Media can visit whistler.com/media for Whistler facts, media releases, story starters, local personality profiles and access to images and B-roll.

Broadcasters: Whistler now has the capability to take you live with our enhanced fibre network. The significantly expanded network of more than 200 kilometres of fibre optic cabling throughout the resort allows instant transmission of HD signals to any location at any time. Details on how to access, and book the fibre are available on our media site.

Media Contacts

Tourism Whistler

Michelle Fernandes
Coordinator, Communications
T: 604.938.2726
E: mfernandes@tourismwhistler.com

Bree Eagles
Coordinator, Travel Media
T: 604.938.2718
E: beagles@tourismwhistler.com

W: www.whistler.com/media
T: www.twitter.com/mediaTWhistler
F: www.facebook.com/GoWhistler