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- ‘Anything's Possible' for wounded soldiers
Aimed at providing military personnel with an introduction to adaptive sports post-injury, Anything's Possible was created by the Whistler Adaptive Sports Program and Bill and Barbara Norman of the American Friends of Whistler. Based on three- to five-day multi-sport camps, Anything's Possible ran its first camp last year and is slated to run several times per year. The soldiers will be housed in the new Whistler Athletes' Centre. They will be given the opportunity to experience all Whistler has to offer as a premier mountain resort and as a place to explore the possibilities that para-sport presents.
- 007 … Grass, Bent Grass
The Whistler Golf Club installed all new greens for the 2012 season – 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.
- 2010 Winter Games are first true partnership between indigenous people and the Olympic movement
The 2010 Winter Games were held on the traditional territories of the Lil'wat, Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations - known as the Four Host First Nations.
In 2004, the Four Host First Nations entered into a historic Protocol Agreement with the Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee for the 2010 Winter Games - agreeing to coordinate their collective efforts to host and support the 2010 Winter Games. This marked the first time an Organizing Committee has entered into such a partnership with indigenous peoples. In 2006, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recognized the Four Host First Nations as official partners - a first for indigenous peoples in Olympic and Paralympic history.
Whistler sits on what used to be a hunting and travel corridor for the Lil'wat and Squamish Nations. First Nations' dance, art and culture are now permanently celebrated in Whistler as part of the beautiful and evocative new Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre, which opened in June 2008. The integrated role of the Four Host First Nations in the preparations and planning for the 2010 Winter Games helped to facilitate the building of the centre.
- 5 Peaks Trail Running Series
In a province with such incredible backcountry, it's not surprising that many runners have taken to the trails. There are excellent trail runs all across the province, but the highest-profile competitive circuit is the 5 Peaks Trail Running Series, with events slated in various Canadian destinations. In British Columbia, the Whistler event is probably the most alluring; here you'll find the best excuse for a trip into the mountains - not to mention a chance to indulge in sushi dinners and treatments at the spa. The Enduro Race is the most demanding of the categories, with a technical 11-kilometre route on Whistler Mountain that leads past landmarks like Harmony Lake and Symphony Bowl. It's a great race for the fleet of foot and the strong of lung.
- A collection of Olympic first's for Whistler
First time in Winter Games history that the mountain competition venues have been completed two years before the competition dates.
First time in Winter Games history that a community other than the host city has achieved an official designation: Whistler has been designated "Host Mountain Resort" for the 2010 Winter Games.
First time in Winter Games history that nightly medal ceremonies took place outside of the host city; at the specially-built Whistler Medals Plaza.
First time in Winter Games history in which the Closing Ceremony for the Paralympic Winter Games was held outside of the host city; Whistler was the host.
- A Hike for Everyone
As the perfect summer getaway and a popular destination for all ages, Whistler Blackcomb offers countless activities the whole family can enjoy. Guests looking to experience the alpine but do not have the time or ability to embark on a long hike can now enjoy the Spearhead Walk, Whistler Blackcomb’s newest alpine trail. With slight elevation changes, this family-friendly one kilometre walk is located in the alpine on Whistler Mountain and takes guests on a 45 minute loop that features incredible alpine vistas and, when in bloom from late-July to early-August, beautiful alpine wildflowers that accentuate the alpine experience.
- A Sightsee Trip To The Top Of The World
An exciting way to access Whistler Mountain's highest elevation and some of the most iconic hiking trails on either mountain, is via the Peak Express Chairlift for a truly top of the world experience. Open to sightseers throughout the summer and fall, the Peak Express offers an open-air chairlift ride over a snowy glacier to the Whistler Mountain summit, and incredible views of landscape that cannot be seen from Whistler Village. At the top, easy interpretive walking trails provide a chance to take in the unique high alpine topography, climate, soil and vegetation, outstanding 360-degree views of the Coast Mountains, including unmatched views of the legendary Black Tusk, the lava core of an ancient volcano in Garibaldi Provincial Park.
- Aboriginal cuisine showcased at Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre
Located on six forested
acres along Fitzsimmons Creek, the Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre (SLCC)
provides visitors with the unique opportunity to explore the heritage and
living culture of the Squamish and Lil'wat First Nations. Using the finest
local ingredients, many of them inspired by traditional Squamish and Lil'wat
foods, the culinary team creates a spectacular dining experience. Some menu
items include: bannock, wild boar prosciutto, oolichan, venison chili, caribou terrine, soapallallie berry juice, house-smoked salmon, bison carpaccio, pemmichan, herring roe on kelp, Lil'wat honey, sturgeon caviar and Okanagan elk. www.slcc.ca
- Access meant everything for Whistler's Paralympic success
As the Host Mountain Resort for the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games in March 2010 - nearly all the events were held here - access meant everything in Whistler. In the short-term, the municipality has launched the Accessibility Project which focused on upgrades to signage, wayfinding information and physical change, including the construction of a new ramp system at the Breezeway between Village Square and the taxi loop.
Whistler For the Disabled
Long-time local Hugh Tollett created Whistler For the Disabled, Whistler's official travel and information website for people with disabilities. The website's goal is to enhance the lives and experiences of the disabled who are visiting or living in Whistler. The site provides travel information, assistance and support for disabled travelers, seniors or anyone with a temporary disability and their families.
Whistler Adaptive Sports Program (WASP)
Recreational accessibility for all is the mantra of the Whistler Adaptive Sports Program (WASP). This non-profit organization provides the opportunity for hundreds of people with a range of disabilities to take part in sports and recreation programs in Whistler. In winter, WASP and sponsors provide skiing and snowboarding lessons. Rick Hansen, the Man in Motion who wheeled himself around the world, learned to sit-ski on Whistler Blackcomb. In summer, WASP offers kayaking, canoeing, handcycling and hiking. Led by a core group of paid staff, WASP programs are delivered by volunteers from the community. www.whistleradaptive.com
- Adaptive sport part of Whistler's community fabric; new centre for adaptive sport proposed
Adaptive sport is part of the community fabric of Whistler. Several foundations and organizations have stepped up in an attempt to build a major legacy for the Whistler Adaptive Sports Program (WASP). The proposed Jeff Harbers Adaptive Sports Centre at Whistler-Blackcomb is a two story, stand-alone building located at mid-station on Whistler Mountain. Named for the first president of the American Friends of Whistler, which provided significant funding for the centre, it is an open, welcoming, accessible facility that would be used by the participants in the Whistler Adaptive Ski and Snowboard Program, as well as WASP's Hiking and Para-Alpine Ski Racing programs. The new facility will allow for many more years of significant growth by WASP.
- An Olympic first in Whistler - gay athletes had a 'safe space' during the 2010 Winter Games
Canadian athletes at the 2010 Winter Games had Canada House. Russians had Russia House. The Dutch, Holland House. And then, gay and lesbian athletes had Pride House.
Pride House was a special meeting place tailored to gays and lesbians. For the first time in Olympic history, gay and lesbian athletes had a place to go to relax and watch events, and meet friends. Located at the Pan Pacific Whistler Village hotel, the free facility was opened to homosexual athletes, their families, friends and fans. It offered a lounge, television screens and meeting areas.
Pride House was a partnership between GayWhistler and the Pan Pacific Whistler Village hotel. GayWhistler is the body behind Whistler's annual gay ski week, WinterPride. www.gaywhistler.com
- Après ski gives way to après bike during Whistler summers
One of the best things about winter in Whistler is gathering for a drink with friends after skiing -- and in summer, the same can be said for mountain biking. In Whistler, après is a year-round affair with the skis and boards making way for bikes and the Village’s many pubs, cafes and patios bustling with people dressed in bike armour. Whether riders have been ripping it up in the bike park, exploring the many forested cross-country trails, or cruising the scenic Valley Trail – après is where they gather to quench their thirst with a well-deserved cold one while planning for their next epic ride.
People come from all over the world to explore Whistler’s mountain bike park and surrounding cross-country trails and the après scene is almost as dynamic and varied as the biking scene, with dining options sure to please all palates and pocketbooks.
Whether winter or summer; some people consider après the best part of a Whistler vacation.
- Architecture inspired by ancient culture
The Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre is a three-storey, 30,400 square foot complex consisting of three buildings on a 1.76 ha (4.35 acre) site. The center is designed in the forms of a Squamish Bighouse and Lil'wat i´stken (pit house), with pictograph-adorned boulders gracing the walkways along the approach to the carved cedar entry doors. Massive beams and endless glass allow the stunning local scenery to become a backdrop for every work of art. In consultation with the Nations, it has been designed to conform to LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System, to share their cultures with the world.
- Austrian Olympic Committee builds an environmentally friendly 'passive' house
The Whistler community grew to include a piece of Europe during summer of 2009 with the construction of Austria House. Known as a Passive House because of its unique design which essentially allows it to heat, cool and ventilate itself, Austria House served as headquarters for the Austrian Olympic Committee as well as the daily broadcast studio for the Austrian Public Broadcaster ORF during the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. It also was a gathering place for social events during the Games period. Post Games, the Passive House remains in Whistler as a permanent building, providing a day lodge, office and meeting space to be used by the Whistler Off Road Cycling Association (WORCA) and the Whistler Nordics.
A passive house is a building in which a comfortable interior climate can be maintained without active heating and cooling systems. The house heats and cools itself and is therefore ‘passive'. It uses about ten per cent of the energy a traditional Canadian house uses. The technology is based on highly sophisticated concepts for air exchange and circulation, thermal insulation, high efficiency windows and wood structure construction.
Austria House is a partnership between the Austria Passive House Group, the Resort Municipality of Whistler, the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation and Sea to Sky Consulting. Construction of Austria House began in early September and was completed in November, 2009. www.oesterreichhaus.at
- Beyond winter: the summer side of Whistler
While Whistler in the winter is magnificent, Whistler shines as a mountain playground in the summer. In fact, the area first gained notoriety as a summer resort in the 1920s with the opening of a hunting and fishing lodge on Alta Lake (at the time, it took three days to reach the resort from Vancouver via steamboat and pack horse!). It also surprises many to know that the majority of Whistler’s more than two million annual visitors come during the summer. The list of summer offerings is as endless as the fresh alpine air: five lakes, four championship golf courses, one of the world’s largest lift-serviced mountain bike parks, hiking, fly fishing and so much more.
- Bike Park 101
The Whistler Mountain Bike Park website states: “If you were ever curious as to why there are so many bikers crowded around the base of the hill with smiles glued to their faces, it's because biking downhill is incredibly fun.” For some, Whistler’s reputation as home to one of the world’s best mountain bike parks and a healthy population of professional mountain bikers can be intimidating. The flipside to boasting one of the best parks in the world, however, is that we also have some of the best mountain bike instructors. The “Bike Park 101” program has been developed to give the novice a feel for the park. During this two hour lesson, participants are trained on proper stance and body position, elementary downhill bike control, proper park etiquette and even how to load your bike onto a moving gondola before descending to the village starting at Olympic station (1019 m/3346 ft elevation). Participants ride through switchbacks, potholes, roots, bridges, on the eight kilometre descent. The guides keep a close eye on their students and with every obstacle approached, share helpful reminders such as “Look where you WANT to go and your bike will follow.” Frequent stops are made to check comfort levels, give much needed breathers, advise what is coming up around the corner and (the always appreciated) kudos on progress. Upon arrival into the village, students experience such a feeling of accomplishment and (like the website says) ultimately have smiles firmly glued to their face.
- Callaghan Country promises snow-filled backcountry escapes
For many, winter months means journeying into the backcountry. And when you live in BC, backcountry is bountiful. One favoured escape for the exploration-minded is Callaghan Country - a snow-blessed backdrop boasting stunning views, old growth forests and endless heaps of the white stuff. Situated in the Southern Coast Mountains near Whistler, and right next door to the new Whistler Olympic Park (venue for the Nordic and ski jumping events for the 2010 Winter Games), this scenic slice of wilderness promises plenty of opportunity to play in the snow.
The perfect base? Callaghan Lodge, a mere 45 minute snowmobile ride (or a one-hour trek by snow coach or dog sled) from check-in at the base, is Whistler's only full-service, remote access wilderness ski lodge tucked amid an outdoor playground. Indeed, just mere steps from the lodge's entrance, guests can glide the cross country trails, snowshoe through a forested expanse or simply take in the scene amid a calm, peaceful quiet. And thanks to the lodge's array of winter excursions fashioned for guests, adventures will prove as boundless as the vistas. www.callaghancountry.com
- Celebrity spotting at Whistler Bungee
If you've been to Whistler Bungee lately you may have spotted a few familiar faces. Among the camera crew and the bungee cords, you would have heard the banter between Rick Hansen, Canada's Man in Motion, and CBC host and funny guy Rick Mercer as they prepared to take the plunge. You could have sensed the tension among two Hell's Kitchen contenders as they jumped their nerves away before the Grand Finale. And certainly, you would have felt the hype and energy of the huge production from the number one Korean reality show, or fallen under the spell of Zac Efron's charm and confidence as he back-flipped off the bridge!
There is no doubt these celebrities were all seeking the unique and intense adrenaline experience of a bungee jump topped off with the magnificent surroundings of the Cheakamus River Gorge where Whistler Bungee is located. If you're looking for the ultimate adrenalin rush, Whistler Bungee is definitely for you, and you never know who you might bump into along the way! www.whistlerbungee.com
- Chef Melissa Craig serves up Gold Medal Plates
In an industry traditionally dominated by men, it's a tasty find to discover that one of the country's hottest chefs is breaking the mold. Melissa Craig, Executive Chef of renowned Bearfoot Bistro, is just such a discovery. Not only is she young, inventive, driven and a natural leader, but she's got a whole lotta hardware to back it up. Indeed, Craig has had her spatula in the national spotlight since the inception of her career. Following her education at the renowned Culinary Arts Program of Malaspina University College in British Columbia, Craig went on to win the annual National Apprentice Competition - no small task, considering she was just 20 years old at the time (Craig's win also marked the first time the title was awarded to a female chef). Fast forward a few years and a few apprenticeships later, and Chef Craig added another first to her recipe book, this time when she snatched gold (at the age of 29!) at the 2008 Gold Medal Plates Canadian Culinary Championships in Toronto. Noted as the most prestigious culinary event in Canada, this gruelling three-day contest included a black box competition, a mystery wine pairing, and a grand finale wine-pairing event. Today, Craig commands a team of 20 in the open and electrifying show kitchen of the Bearfoot Bistro, creating thoroughly modern Canadian menus with west coast flair.
- Chefs and farmers collaborate
Whistler's close proximity to Pemberton, a fertile farming valley 25 minutes north, has made it easy for chefs to work with local farmers to create dishes featuring spectacular local ingredients. Executive chef James Walt of Araxi lives in Pemberton and stops by North Arm Farm on most work days in the spring and summer to pick up fresh produce. The farm is owned and operated by Jordan Sturdy - a past production executive in the fashion industry, paramedic, ski patroller at Whistler Blackcomb, former mayor of Pemberton and current MLA for West Vancouver-Sea-to-Sky. Together they hosted the Araxi Longtable @ North Arm Farm, a series of unique culinary events providing guests with a tour of the farm, a five-course dinner with wine pairings, and table guests that include the farmer, chef, winemaker and other local food artisans associated with the meal.
- Church life in Whistler
Skiing and Sunday services are not often lumped together but faith communities in Whistler are bringing church to the mountains through everything from slope side bible studies to Sunday gatherings. For many Whistler residents, involvement in a faith community is as much a part of life as sitting on a chairlift. Since Whistler's humble beginnings, churches have played a role. These places of worship are part of mountain life as residents get married, raise families and live life in the mountains.
- Cocktails & Whistler
A decade ago, thanks to the influence of TV shows like Sex and the City, the cocktail scene was re-introduced to the world. More recently, awareness of the cocktail world has been raised to an entirely new level, again thanks to the world of television, with shows like Mad Men. With the creativity that influences this mountain town, the results have been a delectable delight for patrons. Two Whistler mix-masters that approach their craft with the same flair and attention to ingredients as their colleagues in the kitchen are mixologists Hailey Paskemko and Scot Curry at Alta Bistro. Drawing inspiration from their surroundings and with a focus on fresh, you won’t find any powdered juices or canned syrups at their workstations. What you will find is house-made bitters and infusions, ingredients freshly harvested from rooftop gardens, and fruit that is muddled, squeezed and crushed to order. Whistler summers make the living easy and it’s the perfect time to grab some friends, find the perfect people-watching patio perch and quench your thirst. And in winter, enjoy your favourite custom cocktail in front of the fire at your favourite pub or lounge.
- Comfortably Numb: Whistler mountain bike trail gets Epic status from IMBA
Worldwide, only 43 trails and trail areas have achieved the IMBA (International Mountain Bicycling Association) label of ‘Epic'. One of them is Whistler's Comfortably Numb. Here's how IMBA's website describes it, and Whistler in general:
"The longest and most physically challenging singletrack ride in the Whistler valley. Envisioned, designed and built by Chris Markle (a Whistler trailbuilding legend), Comfortably Numb is a must-do ride for technically advanced cyclists. Long climbs, challenging rock faces, elevated bridges and spectacular views combine for a continually thrilling experience. The trail meanders in and out of old growth primeval Coastal Western Hemlock ecosystems and granite rock gardens, finally plunging into the valley bottom at Lost Lake Park. By itself, the trail is worth the trip. Combined with whole Whistler scene - incredible trail experiences for every rider - it's the perfect icing on the best cake to feed your riding appetite."
- Connected Locally, Reaching Globally
As a world class resort attracting mountain enthusiasts from across the globe, Whistler Blackcomb recognizes the importance of offering a wide variety of unique and high quality on-mountain dining experiences. What better way to resonate with guests from around the world than to introduce them to the finest local and regional ingredients of BC’s South Coast, while focusing on delivering healthy meal options and exciting new flavours? From locally grown Pemberton potatoes to fantastic BC wines straight from the Okanagan Valley, Whistler Blackcomb’s restaurants use local ingredients as much as possible.
- Cornucopia: Whistler's Celebration of Wine & Food
Recognized by Forbes Traveler as one of the Top 10 International Food and Wine Festivals, Cornucopia is the resort's legendary four-day festival of gourmet pleasures featuring gala tasting events, seminars, decadent after-parties and much more. Highlights include accompanying an acclaimed Whistler chef to a Pemberton farm to sample locally grown food and sumptuous winemaker dinners hosted by top wineries from around the world. whistlercornucopia.com
- Crankworx - North America's premier mountain biking festival
Every summer, the biggest names in mountain biking descend upon Whistler to hit the Whistler Mountain Bike Park during one of the world's premier mountain bike festivals, Bud Light Crankworx. Athletes from all over the globe flock to the festival to try their hand at some of the most innovative and challenging courses in the industry, while fans rush to watch the dirt and mud fly as heroes are crowned. Celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2013, the nine-day event will feature ground breaking events, such as the women's only freeride competition and giant slalom, as well as its marquee event, the Slopestyle and Air DH competition. The long daylight hours and hot summer weather mean more time to take in the live music, riding demonstrations and smokin' competition, not to mention a few rip roarin' parties.
www.crankworx.com/
- Deep Winter and Deep Summer Photo Challenge Events
It all began with an idea put forth by the godfather of freeskiing and Whistler local, Mike Douglas back in 2006. What better way to showcase Whistler Blackcomb's deep winter storm cycles than to celebrate them? Whistler Blackcomb is a lot of things, but it ain't no blue-bird days/champagne powder-filled resort in mid-January. It snows here. A lot! So Douglas, together with renowned local pro photographer Paul Morrison, Whistler Blackcomb and Arc'teryx, put their heads together and an event was born (in January 2007).
Whistler Blackcomb's now-legendary photo contest 'Deep Winter' takes place in the depth of winter and celebrates the powerful storm cycles that the Coast Mountains get pounded with, and Whistler skiers and riders revel in. Pro ski and snowboard photographers battle it out in the Photo Challenge, which features slideshows of images captured over three days on Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains. The winner is crowned King/Queen of storms at the end of the inspiring evening.
Building on the popularity of this grassroots winter event, Crankworx developed a sister event called 'Deep Summer', celebrating the hot and dusty days of summer in the Whistler Mountain Bike Park. Similarly, pro mountain bike photographers capture stunning images of dirt/rock/gravity/air meets metal, in a captivating show that has sold out every year since its inception in 2009. Only in a town with such relentless pursuit of passions can such events be so celebrated and anticipated. Mark your calendars.
- Dine, unwind & indulge: Whistler offers more than mountains
In Whistler, the action is just as hot off the slopes as on. With more than 200 shops and stores, a dozen spas, 100 restaurants, and some of the liveliest nightspots in the nation, Whistler is attracting visitors who never even strap on skis or a snowboard.
- Doing things for free in Whistler
What many people don't realize is that Whistler has a huge range of free services and activities. Year-round you can find some amazing freebies throughout the Village including the free shuttle bus throughout the village; free internet access and storytime at the Library; free weekly local papers with all your entertainment listings; free yoga at Lululemon; and numerous free art displays. During winter visitors enjoy a free Fire and Ice show every Sunday night, while children under six ski and access the mountain for free. Dress up as Santa Claus on the closest Saturday to Christmas and the first 100 guests will ski or ride for free or take advantage of Whistler Holiday Experience held over Christmas and New Years offering a free family fun zone with in-door games, jumping castles, kids movies and more. When the weather warms up the free activities keep rolling in with free street entertainment every weekend during summer; a free 18 hole Frisbee disc golf course Lost Lake; and free golf for kids when accompanied by a paying adult at select courses. And don't forget all of the trails, parks, lakes, docks and hikes in and around the village - which are all free!
- Don’t Lug Stuff – Rentals For All Conditions
While many airlines are imposing penalties for heavy baggage, not to mention in some cases charging travellers for all checked baggage, renting ski or snowboard equipment is a great option for Whistler Blackcomb’s visitors.
One of the best benefits to renting ski and snowboard equipment is the option to change out gear to suit the mountain’s conditions. Trading in the high-speed carvers for some fat powder skis the night before a forecasted big dump is no problem, and renters can rest assured they will have the right tools to make the most of each day’s conditions.
Whistler Blackcomb’s 13 rental locations are located across Whistler Village, Blackcomb’s Upper Village and Creekside Village to service the main hubs of hotel accommodations in Whistler. Online bookings allow guests to save 30 per cent and many rental shops feature secure overnight storage at their slopeside locations. With over 12,000 skis and snowboards, Whistler Blackcomb has the largest and newest selection of rental gear in Whistler.
- Eating in Whistler is sampling the culinary creations of Canada's top chefs
Skiers like to eat, and Whistler boasts some of the best food
artisans within Canada. Although the population of Whistler is only
10,000, the Village has over 90 eateries and is home to some of the best
chefs in the country.
In a profession traditionally dominated by men, Melissa Craig,
the award-winning executive chef of the Bearfoot Bistro, is a rarity. In 2008, at the ripe young age of 29, Craig was named the winner of the
Gold Medal Plates' Canadian Culinary Championships - arguably the most
prestigious culinary event in Canada. Passionate, driven, and undeniably
talented, Craig is a B.C. girl whose career began in the Culinary Arts
Program of Malaspina University College on Vancouver Island. Her menu
features the very finest wild and cultivated products paired with wines
from the Bearfoot's 20,000 bottle wine cellar.
Recognized by Canada's Globe and Mail newspaper as ‘one of the top seven chefs in the country shaping the nation,' James Walt
is executive chef at Araxi Restaurant. Walt creates compelling regional
cuisine based on local, sustainable ingredients. His impressive
culinary career includes stints at some of British Columbia's leading
restaurants, as well as an appointment as executive chef to the Canadian
Embassy in Rome, a post that significantly influenced the way he cooks
today. He has also been invited to cook at the prestigious James
Beard House in New York City three times, the first and only chef in
Whistler to receive such an invitation.
Eren Guryel is the newest addition to the Four Seasons Resort Whistler team and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience with him. Guryel will have to switch out his sandals for ski boots when making the move to Whistler from the scenic warm island of Lanai, HI, USA, where he also served under the Four Seasons brand for more than18 years. Although the switch to a colder climate may seem intimidating, Guryel is not unfamiliar with below freezing temperatures as his culinary career started back on the east coast at Killington ski resort. Designing aircraft as an aeronautical engineer was first in the cards until Guryel found his passion in the kitchen. Since then Guryel has worked all over the world for highly established properties.
Chef/owner of the Rimrock Café, Rolf Gunther is
a long-time Whistlerite. His formal training includes Hotel and
Restaurant Management in Heidelberg, Germany as well as culinary
training in Germany's Black Forest region. His experience has taken him
from Switzerland to Holland to various leading establishments in Canada.
Specializing in fish and game, Rolf Gunther and his team at the Rimrock
have cemented themselves as firm favourites with locals and visitors to
Whistler.
Fairmont Chateau Whistler Executive Chef Isabel Chung began her culinary career in 2001 at the Delta Bow Valley, Calgary, Alberta, holding the roles of Second Cook and First Cook. Expanding her experience internationally, she transferred to the Fairmont Southampton in 2005 as Senior Chef de Partie and then was quickly promoted to Sous Chef. In 2008, Chef Isabel returned to Canada as Sous Chef at Fairmont Chateau Whistler where she was in charge of Banquets and subsequently Restaurants. In 2013, she relocated to the United States as Executive Sous Chef of the AAA Five Diamond Fairmont Olympic Hotel, Seattle.
In her current role as Executive Chef at Fairmont Chateau Whistler since November 15, 2015, Chef Isabel oversees the creative and strategic initiatives of all culinary operations of the 539-room luxury landmark resort including The Grill Room, Whistler's only AAA/CAA Four Diamond rated hotel restaurant; The Wildflower Restaurant; the award-winning Mallard Lounge; Portobello Market & Fresh Bakery; The Chalet, offering alpine cuisine and fondue dining throughout the winter season; and The Clubhouse at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler Golf Club; as well as In Room Dining and Banquets.
Isabel studied Culinary Arts at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology in Calgary, Alberta. She also studied Commerce at Athabasca University in Calgary, Alberta.
- Endless activities, endless summer in Whistler
Aerial maps of Whistler in summer look something like an ant farm, except those ants are cyclists, hikers and kayakers; the valley and surrounding mountains are crisscrossed by trails, hundred of kilometres of trails, with options for just about everyone - hikers, trail runners, dog walkers and, most of all, mountain bikers. One can wander and explore for hours, almost forgetting where you are. Until you reach an opening in the trees that reveals those two massive side-by-side mountains, Whistler Blackcomb.
The stereotypical golfer doesn't exist in Whistler. When you're out on the course here, you see the same community kids that are in the terrain park in the winter, or the barista at the coffee shop, or the yoga instructor from the spa, or the toque-wearing mountain types. Everyone golfs in Whistler.
Water's big here too. Five lakes, with good swimming beaches. Whitewater rafting and kayaking is a culture all its own. Staff of local river tour companies are dedicated and knowledgeable, and they live here for a reason; they're always out on the rivers, rafting or kayaking in their down time, advising and helping each other out. It's a dangerous sport with a tight following.
Then there's mountain biking; Whistler is one of the world's meccas. It's the cool sport, and one that new friends will, if not judge you on, certainly ask you questions about. What kind of bike do you have, what kind of rider are you, what's your favourite trail - Tunnel Vision or Karate Monkey or Comfortably Numb? For the record, ‘I don't own a mountain bike' isn't a great answer. Maybe tell them you're a free rider. That will take you places.... maybe even into the hot parties at the GLC. But you're not allowed to ask what GLC stands for.
- Energy Savings – A BC Hydro Power Smart Company
Whistler Blackcomb is recognized by BC Hydro as one of its top 10 Power Smart Partners, selected from companies across the province. This recognition comes from years of investing in energy saving initiatives across the mountains’ facilities and operations, and working on awareness building and behavioural change programs with employees. Whistler Blackcomb energy conservation projects represented a savings of over 1.3 million kilowatt hours in 2010/11, or the equivalent amount of power it would take to run 74 homes in British Columbia for one year.
In the 2010/11 season Whistler Blackcomb participated in three new energy conservation projects representing over 1.3 million kilowatt hours (kWh) in electrical savings including: a behavioral program in partnership with BC Hydro to reduce energy use in all on-mountain buildings; a Continuous Optimization program at the Roundhouse Lodge to save an estimated seven per cent in energy; and an efficient lighting project in Whistler Blackcomb’s staff housing. Efforts continue into a new season with completion of the lighting project to add occupancy sensors and replace T12 light bulbs (including the upgrading and replacement of fixtures and ballasts where necessary) in remote buildings across the company, thus saving 44,000 kilowatt hours per year and an estimated $35,000 in energy savings.
- Enjoy Two Seasons In One Day
Spring in Whistler is when anything is possible. Longer days leave more time for turns on the slopes because Blackcomb stays open until late May. Followed by a great day outside, be sure to leave time for a relaxed après session at a pub, bar or lounge in the sun. Spring is a season of transition, meaning that both winter and summer activities can be on offer. Guests who visit Whistler in May will quickly realize winter meets summer meaning skiing/ riding, golfing, cycling and water sports can be enjoyed on a single day. GO Fest, Whistler's Great Outdoors Festival is four days of events and activities in May welcoming warmer months and get everyone out and enjoying Whistler’s great outdoors. greatoutdoorsfest.com
- European invasion: riders flock to the Mecca of mountain biking
European operators like Ticket2RideBC and Bear Back Biking offer full mountain bike holiday packages to Whistler, including airport transfers, accommodation, bike park passes, helidrops, and shuttles. Why? Because there is enough star-quality mountain biking in the Whistler region to attract international visitors for weeks on end. Whistlerites often say that we're "living the dream". And when others taste the dream, they want the candy too. That includes biking entrepreneurs like Jonny Lloyd and Mark Knight of Bear Back Biking. Jonny, a qualified industrial designer, and Mark both worked in French resorts before being lured to Whistler where they combined their passion for riding with the ultimate job. They not only provide full-service bike holidays, but act as a liaison for guests with the local community. Both operators have approached Whistler and Pemberton trails associations with offers to get more involved in maintaining the trails they use, and get their guests involved in the community and meeting local riders. Their guests get the chance to go for a ride, then check out a trail maintenance day with the locals. www.bearbackbiking.com www.ticket2ridebc.com
- Ever wonder what a 95-year old canoe looks like?
Whistler has acquired a canoe first purchased in 1916 by Alex and Myrtle Philip. The Philips were one of the original pioneer families of Whistler, operating Rainbow Lodge on the shores of Alta Lake. They bought the canoe for the use of their guests. After the Phillips retired in 1948, the canoe was kept in the Whistler area and used for taking fishermen out on Alta Lake and voyaging down the River of Golden Dreams.
David Lanthier, an expert vintage canoe restorer and member of the Wooden Canoe Heritage Association has restored the 95-year old canoe that is now hanging in the Whistler Public Library. The canoe was purchased by the Whistler Museum and will remain on display as a reminder of Whistler’s heritage.
- Explore Whistler's backcountry and history with a snowshoe tour to the witching tree
Drawing on extensive knowledge of Whistler’s backcountry and local First Nations history, Canadian Wilderness Adventures offers the Medicine Trail snowshoe tour which brings guests to the heart of Whistler’s natural and historic landscape. Walking in the path of our community’s ancestors – the First Nations elders who originally inhabited this land – visitors explore Whistler’s backcountry areas off the beaten path where present day meets ancient nature. Old-growth forest covered in snow and witch’s hair lichen awaits the curious adventurer. Guests are invited to make a wish at the Witching Tree – a one-thousand year-old hollowed Cedar scarred with the witch’s mark – while learning about traditional First Nations remedies from the surrounding flora and fauna. At the end of the trail, guests will warm themselves in the caboose by the wood burning stove … the perfect end to a trip that will take your breath away. canadian01.com
- Family ski vacation: make it huge, fun at unprecendented value
From the tube park to huge discounts on lessons, Whistler is focusing heavily on the family market. The goal? Offer a world-class resort at affordable prices. Early book-by packages offer unprecedented value for families. Whistler's wide range of accommodations provide many options for families of any size and many price points including condo units and hotel suite accommodations with full cooking facilities and living space ideal for longer stays. Whistler's family-friendly pedestrian village, free village shuttle and walking access to most restaurants, shops and lifts allow guests to leave the car at home. Whistler Kid's offers renowned on and off-hill kid's programs, and kids receive up to 50 per cent off most activities like snowmobiling and sleigh rides.
- Family stuff at Whistler Blackcomb
Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains have more than their share of challenging slopes, but they also offer lots of adventures for the whole family, including the little ones.
Magic Castle, Tree Fort. On Blackcomb Mountain there is a Magic Castle waiting to be explored, and over on Whistler Mountain there is a hidden Tree Fort. Adventurers of all ages can take their skies or boards off and come explore one or both of these great outdoor adventure play lands. Grab a mountain atlas or ask a mountain host to show you where these great family zones are located.
Coca-Cola Tube Park. Located in the Base 2 Zone on Blackcomb Mountain, the Coca-Cola Tube Park offers great fun for the whole family. The Tube Park has six to eight lanes varying in difficulty from green to blue to black. Lanes are 1,000 feet long and a state-of-the-art conveyor lift makes traveling to the top a breeze. There is even a mini zone with mini-tubes for younger kids (or adults) looking to join in the fun. The Tube Park is open until 8pm.
Family Adventure Zone (at the base of Blackcomb). Summertime fun, with bungee trampolines, a maze, a luge track, bouncy castles, a human gyroscope, spider climbing cage and an 18 hole mini-putt course makes it feel as if the circus has come to town every day of the week.
- Farm to Fork
In Whistler, farm to fork is not just a catch-phrase; it’s a way of life. Located just 25 minutes north of Whistler is the community of Pemberton. The Pemberton Valley, developed at the turn of the century as a result of forestry and agriculture, is famous for its seed potatoes but with its bounty of rich farmland, Pemberton’s reputation is growing beyond the potato, becoming known as a producer of a number of seasonal produce and organic beef. With such bounty so close at hand, Whistler chefs have developed strong relationships with the farmers of Pemberton that result in menus highlighting local ingredients and garnering attention from around the world. One chef in particular has been at the forefront of the “eat local” movement in Whistler. During the past 4 summers, Whistler’s Araxi Restaurant and Executive Chef James Walt saw overwhelming success when working with event producer Outstanding in the Field. The passion and interest of the attending public inspired them to continue their partnership with the Pemberton farming community to put on amazing farm dinners with the Araxi longtable series @ North Arm Farm. Araxi’s commitment to local ingredients is enforced in its menu year-round.
- Fore love of the game
It's no wonder The Fairmont Chateau Whistler Golf Club has been the recipient of numerous Golf awards, including Canada's #1 Golf Resort. Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. and opened in 1993, the spectacular par 72, 18-hole course offers a golf experience unlike any other. Winding its way through the most dramatic golf terrain in British Columbia, the course provides enough fun, challenge and variety for all abilities. Carved out of the Coast Mountain Range with elevation changes of more than 400 feet, this magnificent course provides incredible natural features such as exposed rock faces, mountain ledges, ravines, waterfalls and wildlife sightings. Additionally, the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary certified The Fairmont Chateau Whistler Golf Club in 1998, recognizing it for its environmentally responsible operation and initiatives. www.fairmont.com/whistler
- From the podium to the peaks: Olympic & Paralympic athletes call Whistler home
Despite being a relatively small community, the Whistler area is home to over 20 former and current Olympic and Paralympic athletes from a wide range of disciplines. That could be because former Olympians need to live among the kind of adventures that Whistler offers. Steve Podborski, one of the ‘Crazy Canucks', and who won a downhill bronze at the Lake Placid Olympics in 1980 and the first North American to win the overall World Cup alpine title in 1981-82, lives here. So does Shannon Smith, a bronze medal winner in the pool at the 1976 Summer Olympics. Dr. Hugh Fisher lives and practices medicine in nearby Pemberton; he won gold and bronze medals in pairs canoeing at the 1984 Olympics (and set a world record in the process). Phil Chew, a three-time Paralympic skier, lives here. There are lots more Olympians around; the Whistler lifestyle has prompted these top-level athletes to move from the podium to the peaks. Ross Rebagliati, who won the first-ever Olympic gold medal for snowboarding at the Nagano Olympics in 1998, lived and trained here, and a local park bears his name.
- Gaper Day – celebrating the end-of-season
From the first day of ski season Whistler locals appreciate every run they get in. Throughout the season you often hear the locals bragging about their number of days on the mountains. May’s arrival signifies the season’s finale is near, however instead of lamenting the end of the beloved winter, Whistler-ites honour it. “Gaper Day” marks the last day of the season in Whistler – skiers and riders flock to the mountains dressed in outlandish costumes (a favourite being the one-piece ski suit circa 1970) to make the most of this last day. Whether shredding, skiing or pond-skimming – Gaper Day is the cherry on yet another epic winter season.
- Gastronomically Speaking
Whistler has earned an international reputation for delivering exceptional culinary experiences. More and more of the resort's award winning restaurants are working hand-in-hand with local farmers to deliver the freshest food options paired with some of the best wines in the world (which, by the way are right here in British Columbia). The annual Slow Food Cycle Sunday in Pemberton, held every August is a unique back-to-the-land bike ride through the nearby farm community of Pemberton where riders engage with local producers and taste the best of what the land has to offer. Feast of the Mountains, also held in August, is a wandering gourmet picnic providing visitors the unique chance to mingle with some of B.C.'s great chefs, vintners, brewer's farmers and food artisans.
- Getting a handle on Whistler Blackcomb’s terrain
Whistler Blackcomb is a big place, but to help people get a handle on it, former ski patrollers Brian Finestone and Kevin Hodder came up with the Ski & Snowboard Guide to Whistler Blackcomb - Intermediate edition. Baby sister to 2004's Advanced/Expert version, this pocket-sized guide gives more detail than even Whistler Blackcomb's colourful and free trail maps can, with special icons summarizing each run. Finestone, who now works as terrain park manager at Whistler Blackcomb, and Hodder, who was a special adviser to the TV series Survivor, reveal secret runs and trails that locals seem to know. Another and more social way to get your bearings in the 8000-plus hectares (over 27 square miles) of ski area is to take a free tour with the Mountain Host program. Running daily on both mountains, staffed by local volunteers who are impassioned skiers, and offered at green, blue and black ability levels, it's a great first-day orientation.
- Getting cultural while driving the Sea to Sky Highway
The Sea-to-Sky Highway is regarded as one of the most beautiful
drives in the world. Centuries ago, it was an isolated wilderness frequented
only by the Lil’wat and Squamish First Nations as a waypoint for trading.
Recently the Highway was designated The Cultural Journey to celebrate the
area's First Nations heritage. As you wind your way north between mountains and
ocean, stopping at pullouts is a must-do. Breathtaking vistas provide backdrop
to information shelters placed at areas of cultural signifance along the route.
This travel-through-time-history-lesson (disguised as the ultimate family day
drive!) culminates 7200 feet elevation atop Whistler Mountain at the Salish
Welcome Figure carved by local master carver, Xwalacktun (Rick Harry).
- Golf’s top course designers make Whistler much more than a winter destination
Even as one of the world's top ski and snowboard resorts, Whistler actually receives more visitors in summer than in winter, and golf is a big reason why. Whistler features four award-winning golf courses, each offering a unique playing experience with breathtaking mountain views.
• Located steps from Whistler Village, the Arnold Palmer-designed Whistler Golf Club features spectacular mountain views, and a relaxed atmosphere with rolling fairways winding around lakes, creeks and old-growth forest, home to black bear, coyote, beaver and an abundance of bird life.
• The Fairmont Chateau Whistler Golf Club offers mountain golf at its finest. Carved from the side of Blackcomb Mountain, this Robert Trent Jones Jr. design features an elevation change of more than 400 feet. Natural features such as exposed rock faces, mountain ledges, wildlife, ravines and waterfalls are the highlights of this classic mountain gem.
• Nicklaus North features a captivating location surrounded by mountains with impeccably manicured greens. Challenging par threes and distinctive Nicklaus bunkering are hallmarks of this par 71 championship course. This Jack Nicklaus Signature Design is the only golf course in the world to which Jack has been inspired to add his name.
• Big Sky Golf Club lies just 25 minutes north of Whistler at the base of the massive, snow-capped Mount Currie in the fertile Pemberton valley, offering a peaceful and serene setting for an outstanding round of golf. An award-winning design by Robert Cupp, Big Sky features bent grass from tee to green and Ravensdale sand bunkers to provide the finest in golf course conditioning.
Whistler's range of accommodations, restaurants and amenities and endless variety of family activities and mountain adventures make it a summer destination for golfers and their families.
- Golfers have the Masters: free-riding mountain bikers have Crankworx
For golfers, it's Augusta National, where the Masters is played in April. For tennis players, it's the All England Club in June for Wimbledon. And for freeriding mountain bikers, it's the Whistler Mountain Bike Park in August and Crankworx. Crankworx has cemented Whistler's prominence in the mountain-bike universe. There are some 20 competitions on the international free-riding circuit and Crankworx is the season's pinnacle, with thousands of people attending the nine days of events. Free-riding is the term for the big-air, stunt-driven genre of mountain biking that came out of Vancouver's North Shore mountains in the 1990s and then grew in popularity around the world. The Whistler Bike Park took the sport to a new level by providing lift-accessed terrain and machine-made trails. Crankworx and the Whistler Mountain Bike Park have made Whistler the number one place in the world to come and ride your bike. www.crankworx.com
- Gravity and ice combine to fuel Olympic sports of bobsleigh, luge and skeleton
The Olympic sports of bobsleigh, luge and skeleton took place at the Whistler Sliding Centre, perched on Blackcomb Mountain just above Whistler Village and one of only 15 competition tracks in the world. A total of eight medal events took place here in February 2010. This track, completed in 2007 and built specifically for these Olympics, is officially the fastest of them all. World Cup competitions in February 2009 reached top speeds of 153.937 km/h (95 miles per hour). The Sliding Centre is open for public tours. Post-Games the Sliding Centre operates as a development facility for high-performance athletes, as well as provides recreational programming for clubs and youth. It also offers passenger rides and tours: you can go down the course in a bobsleigh - with a driver!
- Green Machines are more than a passing fad
Both the Municipality and Whistler Blackcomb have tested and integrated various "green" and sustainable fuel technologies in their fleets of vehicles. The municipal fleet now includes battery electric, hybrid electric, propane and biodiesel vehicles. Among its other green machines, Whistler Blackcomb's new snow-grooming fleet, which grooms more than 1,200 acres per night during winter, adheres to emissions standard CK SP Euromot 2 (among the strictest emissions standards in the world). These new snow-grooming machines use 18 per cent less fuel and produce fewer emissions than snowcats Whistler Blackcomb used ten years ago. Other businesses within Whistler have also begun adopting environmentally friendly modes of transportation. The Westin Resort and Spa is now using a hybrid vehicle and pedi cabs to shuttle guests in and around the Village.
- Growing Up Whistler
What happens when you grow up with North America's top ranked ski resort in the winter, and arguably the world's best mountain bike park in the summer, on your doorstep? You grow up to be a world-class athlete, naturally.
Case in point – Ashleigh McIvor, first-ever gold medalist in the sport of Ski Cross at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Ashleigh first hit the snow at age two and spent her early competitive years as an alpine ski racer. Eventually, Whistler Blackcomb's siren song of fresh powder, slaying big lines and launching off cliffs stole her heart and she left the race circuit. Ashleigh's big mountain skills and fearless style combined with her technical racing experience led her to discover the sport of Ski Cross in 2003. Ashleigh began competing in events like the US Freeskiing Open, X-Games and the World Cup circuit, eventually leading her to the Games, on home soil, where she dominated to take the gold!
Over on the summer side, local slopestyle mountain biker Brandon Semenuk has cemented his place in the history books of the sport as the first ever to claim the Red Bull Joyride title three times; he won in 2011, 2013 and most recently in 2014.
- Hell's Kitchen hopefuls vie for position at Araxi in Whistler
During summer 2009 another HOT reality series chose to showcase Whistler, British Columbia. The resort and its popular award-winning Araxi Restaurant featured on FOX'S "HELL'S KITCHEN" starring Chef Gordon Ramsay. The famous Chef paid a secret visit to Whistler in January 2009 to film a teaser for this season's grand prize: the opportunity to receive a Head Chef position at Araxi in Whistler, joining Executive Chef James Walt in welcoming the world during the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. In October, Araxi hosted the final four contestants at a season finale viewing party where Dave Levey was named the winner. Dave commenced working in the Araxi kitchen in January 2010.
The airing of Hell's Kitchen follows another popular reality series, The Bachelorette, which aired a two-hour Whistler episode in June 2009 to nearly 11 million viewers.
www.araxi.com
- How green is our valley? Whistler's focus on sustainability
In 2005, Whistler was declared one of the most liveable communities in the world and the best in the world in planning for the future at the International Awards for Liveable Communities in La Coruna, Spain. The LivCom awards, endorsed by the United Nations Environmental Program, identified the community’s groundbreaking vision and sustainability plan, Whistler 2020 – Moving Toward a Sustainable Future, as an international, best practice planning model that can be used by any sized community in the world. This legacy of environmental stewardship continues with Whistler’s contribution to sustainability as one of the central pillars of the 2010 Winter Games. As one of the many significant lasting legacies of the Games, improved environmental policies and practices developed in Whistler will, in turn, lead to increased environmental awareness around the world.
- Iconic Toad Hall photo captures Whistler's colourful past
It was the early 70's, but the spirit of the 60's lingered. Whistler was not yet the world destination resort it would be a decade later. Its patrons were mostly day skiers from Vancouver. Squatters and 'ski bums' formed a significant segment of the local population. At the north end of Green Lake a group of young people leased the small cabins of the former Soo Valley Lumber Company for $75.00 a year. It was a transient, fluid group. Parties were legendary. Rumours of drunken orgies had the Alta Lake Housing Authority concerned. As a result, the buildings were scheduled to be demolished at the end of the summer in 1973. Perhaps the photographer sensed the passing of an era when he assembled the residents for a photo in front of a building identified as Toad Hall. They were all naked but for the occasional pair of ski boots. What had started as a lark became the Naked Truth Poster Company. Its first offering was a run of posters from the original Toad Hall photo. Initial sales from Dusty's pub were brisk. Eventually the company's sphere widened to include other ski areas in BC and even in Europe. The poster is an icon of a bygone era when Whistler was young and rowdy. www.whistlermuseum.org
- Integrating arts into the fabric of the community - Whistler Arts Council
Perhaps it's a combination of its relaxed lifestyle and inspirational natural surroundings, but Whistler attracts more than its share of highly creative artists and artisans, writers, musicians, filmmakers, photographers and fashion designers. The resort is home to a vibrant and thriving arts and culture scene with numerous art galleries, studios and eclectic events that celebrate Whistler's unique local talents. In fact, Whistler was designated a Cultural Capital of Canada in 2009. The Whistler Arts Council is the umbrella organization that oversees the strategies and events that integrate arts into the fabric of the community, including the Children's Arts Festival, ARTrageous, annual performance series, art walks, theatre and street entertainment. www.whistlerartscouncil.com
- It takes an entire village to raise a cyclist - WORCA
The Whistler Off Road Cycling Association (WORCA) was born in 1989 when a group of committed riders joined forces to fight the pending closure of trails they loved in Garibaldi Provincial Park. (They won.) Now mountain biking is at the heart of the experience of visiting or living in Whistler. Instead of fighting WORCA, now government, landowners and developers work with them so that access to mountain bike trails is protected. Now 20 years on, WORCA has over 1,500 members and has evolved into an integral part of the Whistler mountain biking scene. When they're not riding, the people at WORCA:
- sanction the community Toonie Rides - possibly the largest weekly mountain bike race on the continent; along with 'Phat and PhaSt Wednesday' freeride series
- help to maintain hundreds of kilometres of trails to the highest environmental standards through member fees and volunteer efforts
- foster the evolution of the sport through its youth programs and clinics, teaching safety, etiquette and technique to cyclists
www.worca.com
- Keeping locals local - The Whistler Housing Authority
In the early 1970s, procuring affordable local housing in Whistler sometimes meant building a shack and claiming squatter's rights. But since 1979, the community has pursued a variety of innovative initiatives to ensure that locals (people who live and work full-time in Whistler) have ample access to affordable housing for purchase or for rent. The Whistler Housing Authority (formed in 1997) oversees these efforts, managing a progressive housing program with homes in 55 different locations throughout Whistler where "resident restricted" housing is available either for sale or for lease. Currently over 5,000 permanent and seasonal Whistler residents live in "employee restricted" housing that they either own (houses, townhouses and condominiums) or rent (townhouses and apartments) at controlled rates. Several new resident restricted housing developments are currently under construction including Cheakamus Crossing (Whistler Athletes' Village), the Rainbow Development and Fitzsimmons Walk which will result in an additional 500 new units of affordable housing to Whistler residents. Whistler's price and occupancy restricted housing for locals is scattered throughout the valley, integrated into the community's many neighborhoods, and often located shoulder-to-shoulder with non-restricted residences. Whistler has a community goal of housing at least 75% of their employees within Whistler. Currently 79% of the resorts' employees reside within municipal boundaries, with one in three employees living in resident restricted housing. www.whistlerhousing.ca
- Kid stuff in Whistler: it’s all on this site
For a great resource on what to do with kids in Whistler, check out Whistler resident Janet Pashleigh's website whistler4kids.com. This is the ultimate insider's guide to celebrating family life in and around Whistler. Janet was inspired to create this website by that milestone of life known as parenthood.
whistler4kids.com
- Kids Play Golf Free
In an effort to inspire a new generation of golfers, all three village-based courses in Whistler - Nicklaus North, Fairmont Chateau Whistler, and the Whistler Golf Club - offer free golf for kids aged 10-18 when accompanied by a paying adult. So, no excuses to leave the little tykes at home. Should members of the clan crave additional adventures, there's plenty more on the roster at the popular Family Adventure Zone at the base of Blackcomb. Kids can tee up for a round of mini golf, try out the Westcoast Luge, jump on the balloon slide and bouncy castle plus so much more. Grab the clubs and slather on the sunscreen...just don't forget it's BYOK (bring your own kids).
- La Niña
This tropical storm is the sister of El Niño but it occurs less frequently (only 4 times in the past 20 years).
La Niña and El Niño are phases of the climate cycle called the El Niño/Southern Oscillation which describes the ocean and atmospheric patterns occurring in and over the equatorial Pacific Ocean. El Niño and La Niña are often seen as opposite ends of the spectrum. Western Canada often experiences mild winters during an El Niño episode, while La Niña episodes mark colder-than-normal winter temperatures with heavier precipitation.
Although unpredictable, La Niña has been generally good for Whistler Blackcomb. Past La Niña years have resulted in an average snowfall of 1110cm, almost 100cm more than the total average since records began. La Niña has also accounted for the highest total snowfall ever in a single season as we recorded 1693cm of snow in 1998/1999. Another positive out of the La Niña storm is the colder temperatures. Even in years where the snow may be below average on the mountain, the colder temperatures help to ensure more snow at lower elevations helping to preserve more of the mountains for longer.
- Learn To Ski/Ride Program Enables the Disabled To Get On The Slopes
The Whistler Adaptive Ski and Scotiabank Learn To Ride Program caters to skiers and snowboarders from beginner to advanced, assisting those with physical or cognitive disabilities to access the slopes of Whistler Blackcomb every day. Trained and certified instructors, guides, and assistants help guests to participate in and experience outdoor activity in a safe, friendly, and FUN way.
- Mountain Personalities
Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains face each other. Their physical connection at the base, and the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola forever bind them together, but every skier and rider who has explored these mighty mountains know these brothers have little in common.
To the north, Blackcomb Mountain’s crest is seen from the village while Whistler Mountain’s peak is hidden from view. The tree-covered knoll that appears to be Whistler’s peak is actually only about a third of the way up the mountain.
As the senior of the two mountains, Whistler’s design feels organic because the trails were built and developed over time. Meandering trails and endless bowls spread across the alpine and just like an old man with his favourite fishing hole, Whistler will only share its secrets with you when it gets to know you. Blackcomb Mountain is big and bold, a brash teenager in comparison, who shows you all it has and dares you to take it on. Which is the best? There’s only one way to find out. Get out there and explore!
- New interactive technology launched at Whistler sporting events
Visitors to Whistler can now become directly involved in sporting events following the launch of Whistler's Mobile MUSE. Developed by the University of British Columbia MUSE (Multi-screen Urban Shared Experience) aims to provide a fun, interactive environment using mobile phones and Blackberries. Spectators can add personal contributions, such as pictures and messages, directly on to interactive screens live at venues. MUSE encourages spectator interaction and involvement as well as cultural expression. The technology has the ability to revolutionize spectator experiences at sporting events not only in Whistler but all around North America.
- New Olympic exhibit opens in refurbished Whistler Museum
Did you know that Whistler was actually born for the 2010 Winter Games? Franz Wilhelmson, the man who opened Whistler for skiing in the 1960s, did so in hopes of hosting the Olympics. It's just one of many interesting facts in Whistler's history. Whistler has a unique story and the Whistler Museum & Archives Society is sharing this story with the world through a new Olympic exhibit, Whistler Olympic Journey.
The rich and varied history of Whistler comes alive in this new and dynamic interactive exhibit - specially designed to celebrate Whistler's journey to the 2010 Winter Games. Whistler's Olympic Journey chronicles the story and artifacts of Whistler's passionate visionaries that dreamed big - and worked together as a community to make it all happen. The museum also provides an insight into what makes Whistler the place it is today, chronicling its journey from its grassroots beginnings to one of the world's leading year-round destinations. www.whistlermuseum.org
- On a mushroom hunt with the Whistler Naturalists Society
The forests of Whistler are filled with over 350 different mushroom species, many edible, some poisonous and all identifiable by volunteers who make up the Whistler Naturalists Society. Volunteers commit their time to offer natural history education; running the annual Whistler BioBlitz and the upcoming Fungus Among Us Mushroom Festival. As residents of Whistler explore the forest floor for edible treats to accompany their next meal, this little mushroom festival is beginning to get noticed. The two day festival takes place annually in October and includes presentations, guided walks by experts in the field, gourmet wild mushroom cooking classes and tastings seminars. http://www.whistlernaturalists.ca
- On The Shoulders Of Giants
A landscape as big as Whistler Blackcomb's demands a different way of thinking.
It inspires a level of innovation, of interaction, of performance, that's beyond the ordinary.
Whistler Blackcomb presents "On the Shoulders of Giants," a story of how visionaries, athletes, and innovators have been inspired since the beginning to step up to the challenge of Whistler Blackcomb's terrain, and move progression a notch ahead again and again.
Some of Whistler's most beloved and well-known trailblazers including former resort chief Hugh Smythe, big mountain skier Eric Pehota, godfather of newschool Mike Douglas, and the legendary Jim McConkey share their experiences of living in the ultimate testing ground, and how it inspired them to conceive the inconceivable. The backdrop to their stories are some of the most powerful images of Whistler ever captured on film, ranging from the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola's gargantuan feats of construction to sweeping aerial views of the majestic Coast Mountain Range.
Watch the Documentary »
- Ongoing Training Means Learning From The Best
With over 1,000 instructors teaching as many as 250,000 lessons in a season, the Whistler Blackcomb Snow School is regarded as one of the best ski and snowboard schools in North America. Each instructor is fully certified by the Canadian Ski Instructors Alliance or the equivalent international certification, and all have undergone extensive training in the latest and most innovative teaching techniques in the world. Whistler Blackcomb invests over $250,000 in instructor training each year.
- Original pro snowboarder teaches tricks and turns on Blackcomb glacier all summer
In most resorts when summer arrives the skis and snowboards are packed away until winter hits again. Not in Whistler. High up on Blackcomb Mountain on the Hortsman Glacier is the world's largest private terrain park where the top skiers and snowboarders of tomorrow are hard at work all summer long. For six weeks every summer Whistler is home to the Camp of Champions, a summer camp offered to anyone who wants to improve their skiing or snowboarding skills.
Owner and director of Camp of Champions Ken Achenbach has been teaching aspiring young skiers and snowboarders the best tricks and turns in the business since 1989. Many of his students have gone on to become professional riders.
Achenbach is a key figure on the Canadian snowboarding scene playing the role of rider, shop owner, inventor, photographer and contest organizer over the years. Selling snowboards out of his family basement in 1980, he accidentally created the first exclusive snowboard store in the world. Then in 1983, Achenbach was named the vice world champion in halfpipe, becoming the first Canadian pro rider. He moved to Whistler in 1988 and created the Camp of Champions - employing his pro-rider shop team and friends as coaches. Achenbach also co-invented the Twin-tip, which spawned a whole new realm of snowboarding and skiing tricks. He is one of snowboarding's true pioneers. www.campofchampions.com
- PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola Iconic Views Accessible To All
Wheelchair access is an important feature of Whistler Blackcomb's landmark project and one of Canada's iconic tourism attractions, the record-breaking PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola. Gondola cabins are each equipped with a spot for one wheelchair (with the exception of the glass bottom cabins), enabling mobility challenged visitors from all over the world to get into the high alpine to experience the awe-inspiring scenic vistas of endless mountain peaks and ancient glaciers.
whistlerblackcomb.com/peaktopeak »
- PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola Named one of Canada’s Signature Experiences
Since its opening in 2008, the Peak 2 Peak Gondola has attracted tourists from all over the globe who want to experience its breath-taking views and revel in its world-record breaking engineering. The Canadian Tourism Commission has introduced the Signature Experience Collection to promote once-in-a-lifetime travel experiences found across Canada, and Whistler’s own PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola has made the list.
Whether riding the PEAK 2 PEAK in the winter to explore all the skiable terrain Whistler Blackcomb has to offer, or checking out the spectacular views of the valley during summer sightseeing, the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola is sure to impress. The gondola shatters three world records, including: longest unsupported span, highest lift of its kind, and longest continuous lift system on the globe. This is the inaugural summer for the Peak 2 Peak as a part of the Signature Experience Collection and the perfect time to find out for yourself why the Peak 2 Peak has received this honour.
- Peak 2 Peak Receives Guinness World Record Recognition
The impressive PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola spanning between Whistler and Blackcomb mountains has received world-wide recognition after Guinness World Records included the engineering masterpiece in its 2015 edition of the Guinness World Records Book. The PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola was recognized as the record-holder for “highest cable car above ground” (436 metres) and “longest unsupported span between two cable car towers” (3.024 kilometres).
Since its opening in 2008, the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola has hosted guests from across the globe as they make the scenic journey between the two mountains. The record-breaking PEAK 2 PEAK is located 436 metres above Whistler’s Valley floor and is a 4.4 kilometre, 11 minute journey allowing guests of all ages and levels of mobility to access a unique alpine experience.
- Pemberton's annual Slow Food Cycle Sunday
The Pemberton Valley's Slow Food Cycle Sunday is a unique back-to-the-land bike ride through the beautiful Pemberton Meadows farmland. Riders meet local growers and sample fresh produce with the successful formula of pedaling, snacking, socializing and slowing down. Maps collected at the Pemberton Community Centre will guide cyclists to prime locations along a 26-kilometre (16-mile) stretch (one-way): bite into juicy beef burgers at Pemberton Natural Beef, marvel at the potato creations at Helmer's Organic farm, nibble ice cream sandwiches at Shaw Creek farms and sip award-winning organic Pemberton potato Schramm vodka at Across the Creek Organic Farm (tip: bring your bike or rent your ride in town).
The Worldwatch Institute reports that the average food item eaten in North America has traveled 2500-4000km from farm to table, but this 50 km bike ride will take riders straight to the farm-gate. Whichever path you choose, you're bound to fill your boots...along with your panniers, bike baskets and milk crates. www.slowfoodcyclesunday.com
- Pemberton's organic potato vodka distillery
In the lush Pemberton Valley just north of Whistler, home-grown wonders don't just flourish in the fields. Here's a taste: add ice to a short glass and pour Pemberton Distillery's maiden production, Schramm Vodka. The region's first and only ultra-premium potato vodka crafted from Across the Creek Organics farm produce, the spirit splashes into glasses, courtesy of the Schramm brothers - Tyler, Jonathan and Jake. For the brothers, two local ingredients proved key to bottling this liquid treasure: premium potatoes from farmland dubbed "Spud Valley" and the endless stream of glacial waters sourced from mountain creeks. It was Tyler, armed with a Masters in Brewing and Distilling from the prestigious Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland, that hand-distilled the Schramm's first crop of potatoes in early 2009; family members followed by hand-bottling Pemberton Distillery's first robust taste of the valley. The result? A smooth mouth-feel and a richness characterized by the area's raw ingredients. And with the operation's own tasting room slated to open onsite this fall, visitors and locals alike can settle in for a taste that is distinctly spirited. schrammvodka.com
- Pet hospitality in Whistler gets five stars
Whistler is the "dog-friendly" capital of Canada with dog treats at the local bank and five-star canine hospitality. Whistler loves dogs and organizations like Whistler Animals Galore (WAG) serve as a safety net for animals without a home. It's not unusual to see four-legged friends tagging along with the locals. Many of these matches were made with the WAG Matchmaker program. It is one of many services WAG provides to Whistler's furry friends. www.thewagway.com
- Phil Chew - a champion for grassroots disabled skiing in British Columbia
Whistler's Phil Chew is one of those people who excels at everything he does. Chew is the Head Coach for the BC Disabled Alpine Ski Team. For the past 18 years, Chew has been dedicated to grassroots disabled skiing and helped raise the profile of disabled skiing in British Columbia. During his tenure, Chew helped 20 British Columbia skiers onto the national team.
He's a three-time Paralympian in alpine skiing, as well as the toughest mountain biker you'll ever meet. Chew's an icon for able bodied and disabled athletes alike. During the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games, you found Chew hitting warp speed on the downhill course on Whistler Mountain as the forerunner for the Downhill race.
- Poets partner with Resort Municipality of Whistler to embed poetry into public art
Whistler earned itself an unofficial poet laureate when the municipality, in conjunction with sculptor Joan Baron, embarked on a novel public art project that would embed poetry into sculpture. Pam Barnsley, a local mystery novelist and one-time screenwriter for The Beachcombers, has had two of her poems become part of Whistler's landscape. The poetry sculpture is called Poet's Pause and it's located by the Alta Lake Station House, on Alta Lake. These are interactive sculptures - one of two huge armchairs, and one of a series of chimes - and people can sit in the chairs or ring the chimes. Fellow poet Mary MacDonald also contributed a poem. Each year, Kevin McFarland, a bureacrat with poetic sympathies, issues a call for entries for new poems to be incorporated into the sculpture, receiving submissions from around the world.
- Public art scattered throughout the Whistler Valley
Beyond the natural beauty of our surroundings, Whistler also boasts an array of public art pieces scattered throughout the Whistler Valley. The Resort Municipality of Whistler's Public Art Committee - founded in 1996 - regularly commissions pieces by local, regional and national artists with the help of other resort partners to be constructed and built into the Whistler environment. So far, over 20 pieces have been installed including everything from metal sculptures and wood carvings to murals and collaborative ceramics. These art pieces include:
- Three Ravens installed by Crabapple Creek created by James Smith in 2009 using recycled materials including bike tires
- the red cedar sculpture, Running with Spirit, installed in the Olympic and Paralympic Village Whistler, created by Johnnie Abraham and Jonathan Joe of the Lil'wat Nation and commissioned by VANOC
- the Storyteller's Chair inscribed with "Once Upon a Time" in numerous languages by Carlos Basanta installed in Village Park West
- the metal sculpture, Whisky Jack Balance, created by Douglas Taylor in Whistler Creek and commissioned by Intrawest.
A full list of pieces and the intimate stories behind all of the art can be found here.
- Rainbow Park Interpretive Panels
Whistler Museum is pleased to announce that new interpretive panels have been installed in the historic cabins at Rainbow Park. The panels depict Whistler's early days, including the lives of Myrtle and Alex Philip and the experiences of visitors to Alta Lake's renowned Rainbow Lodge This outdoor display is the latest example of the Museum's ongoing efforts to promote awareness of Whistler's heritage among locals and visitors alike.
- RBC GranFondo – The ‘Big Ride’
The RBC GranFondo Whistler, otherwise known as the ‘Big Ride’, sure is living up to its’ name. Over seven thousand road cyclists from around the world hit the pavement on the Sea to Sky highway in an event that just seems to keep growing in size. Casual rest areas along the way offer recreational cyclists a chance to sip on BC wines and taste local food, while the competitive field continues the 122km ride. The ride ends in Whistler with entertainment throughout the afternoon and well into the evening. There is no doubt the RBC GranFondo is quickly placing itself on the long list of must see (or do) events of the year in Whistler. www.rbcgranfondowhistler.com
- Regeneration at its best
The Aboriginal Youth Ambassador Program was created to develop the skills and capacity of the talented youth of the Squamish Nation and Lil'wat Nation. The program teaches hands-on aspects of the cultures including canoeing, drum making, paddle making, cedar bark weaving, and carving. The youth have also gained entrepreneurial skills to be utilized for visitor information and cultural demonstrations about BC Aboriginal culture.
- Remembering the Games forever: Whistler Olympic Plaza becomes permanent public gathering space
The 2010 Winter Games came and they went, but the people of Whistler want to remember them forever. The Whistler Medals Plaza has been transformed into the Whistler Olympic Plaza, a public space for picnics, outdoor concerts and performances. Completed in the summer of 2011, the landscaped area includes a children's playground, terraced seating and public art, along with sculptures, information plaques and the Olympic Legacy Cauldron serves as ongoing reminder for locals and visitors of the Games. Whistler Olympic Plaza will become a key social gathering place for Whistler and a way to remember that we welcomed the world in February and March 2010.
- Renewable power project at Whistler Blackcomb offsets mountain's annual energy consumption
Whistler Blackcomb continues to prove that it is not only one of the world's leading ski resorts but a proven leader in environmental sustainability. The latest project by Whistler Blackcomb produces enough renewable energy to power the entire resort. The Fitzsimmons Creek Hydro Project, located within Whistler Blackcomb's operating area, produces 33.5 gigawatt hours of hydro electricity per year - the equivalent of powering the ski resort's winter and summer operations including 37 lifts, 17 restaurants, 269 snowguns and countless other buildings and services. The Fitzsimmons Creek area provides the ultimate conditions for a successful small hydro electric project. The creek has an abundance of water, the necessary vertical drop, it is not a major fish-bearing stream, nor is the creek used recreationally within the project area. Keeping with the green theme, electricity lines are buried underground in previously disturbed areas and much of the area that needs to be developed runs along already existing access roads.
- Reweaving the stories
Northwest indigenous people were historically called the Weavers of the Pacific Northwest. The Salish Weaving Program has revived the weaving practice by identifying the accomplished weavers of the Squamish and Lil'wat nations, reviewing historical blankets and other weavings, and training a new generation of weavers. The weavers are creating contemporary designs, as well as traditional ones. Among the Lil'wat people, under the auspices of the Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre, the fine art of basket weaving is being brought back from the brink of extinction by identifying the remaining master weavers, and providing a venue for them to pass on their considerable knowledge to a new generation.
- Riding on ‘Top of the World ‘: Whistler Bike Park opens the alpine to mountain bikers
Riding on ‘Top of the World‘: Whistler Mountain Bike Park opened their first alpine-specific single track trail in summer of 2012. Constructed by Whistler’s own Gravity Logic, the new trail will offer 360 degree views of the spectacular glaciers, lakes and peaks surrounding Whistler. With over 60 trails and 4,946 feet of vertical, Whistler Mountain Bike Park now offers more trails and more vertical feet than any other bike park in North America. The trail begins at the top of Peak Chair, descending through the sub-alpine forest and leading back to Garbanzo Zone. A limit of 100 riders per day is permitted on the new trail, opening up new terrain to eager intermediate/advanced riders ready to test their skills on Whistler’s alpine slopes.
More information about the new Top of the World trail can be found at http://www.whistlerbike.com/index.htm
- Rob Gosse - a love of skiing discovered in Whistler
"Skiing takes your disability out of the picture," said Rob Gosse, a skier since 2007. "I love that I ski as an equal with both able-bodied and adaptive skiers. It gives me a whole new freedom." Injured in the summer of 2006, Rob came out of a Vancouver rehabilitation facility twelve weeks later eager to get going with his new life. He tried everything from basketball to athletics to waterskiing but, says Rob, it was skiing that "just stuck. I'd always been an active guy and coming from a sports-oriented background, people at the rehab centre were telling me I was a perfect candidate for many disabled sports, which I laughed off at first," remembers Rob. "But going to a bunch of different events, I realized that the disabled sports community is a small one, and really helped to connect me throughout the sports network." With that willingness to try something new, Rob joined a group of skiers heading up to Whistler with the Whistler Adaptive Sports Program. He fell in love with the rush of skiing and entered the competitive program almost immediately. He was named to B.C.'s Para-Alpine Development Ski Team in 2007, and by the end of his first season he had collected two silver medals and a bronze.
- Santa hits the slopes as Whistler prepares for holiday season
Tweet this: #Whistler holiday schedule is jam-packed with events and activities on and off the slopes
Whistler, B.C. – In Whistler, you can ski, skate or simply visit with Santa this holiday season.
The winter season at Whistler is off to a strong start, with both mountains open, a robust events calendar and an appearance (or two) by Santa expected between now and Christmas.
Dress Like Santa Day brings many versions of Santa and Mrs. Claus to the slopes on December 17 with free lift tickets awarded to the fist 100 people to arrive at the Garibaldi Lift Company in full Santa or Mrs. Claus attire. And the fun just continues from there.
The Made in Whistler Winter Artisan Market runs at the Westin Resort & Spa every Saturday from noon until 6 p.m. with additional holiday markets on December 23, 26 and 30th.
Holiday programming at the Audain Art Museum features a Walk and Talk Series, yoga, Kids Konnect tours, family studio events and much more, while the Whistler Public Library hosts holiday crafternoons and the Whistler Olympic Plaza features Family Après from 3 – 6 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays from December 19 – March 29. Everyone is welcome to this free family event which features a variety of outdoor winter activities and entertainment. Whistler Olympic Plaza will also host a Santa Skate from 3 – 5 p.m. on December 18.
The legendary Fire and Ice Show takes place Sundays starting December 18 (no show on December 25) with Whistler’s top skiers and riders spinning and twisting through burning hoops at the base of the mountain in Skier’s Plaza and the Whistler Holiday Experience entertains families from December 16 – 30. The indoor family fun zone at the Whistler Conference Centre provides entertainment and activities for kids with a putting course, table games, bouncy castles, crafts and video games. There is a relaxing lounge area for parents to take a load off while the kids play. Photos with Santa are available by donation on December 17 and 18; the Whistler Holiday Experience will be closed December 25.
And what better way to ring in the New Year than with Whistler Presents: New Year’s Eve Celebrations at various locations throughout the Village from 6 p.m. until midnight on December 31. The Whistler New Year’s Eve venues are recommended for children age 3-12, with a teen dance for ages 13-17. Arts and crafts, performances and entertainment will all be on the menu and, starting at 11:30 p.m. in Skier’s Plaza, there will be a special edition Fire & Ice show plus fireworks.
For a full list of holiday events, visit www.whistler.com/events and read up on the Insider's guide to the holidays here.
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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.
About the FE&A program
Celebration is an essential aspect of Whistler culture. This was highlighted during the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games when the community presented the most outstanding display of sport, entertainment and culture the resort had ever seen. The Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) and resort partners continue to build on that momentum through the Festivals, Events and Animation (FE&A) program to develop and attract a wide range of high-quality, year-round programming, including an exciting line-up of festivals, events and entertainment for all ages and audiences.
The FE&A program is funded by the Province of British Columbia’s Resort Municipality Initiative (RMI), which invests in programs and projects to build tourism throughout BC. The FE&A program is overseen by the FE&A Oversight Committee comprised of staff from the RMOW and Tourism Whistler, a community member at large and a Whistler council representative. Learn more about the FE&A program.
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 Contact
Marion Young
Coordinator, Communications
T: 604.938.2726
E: myoung@tourismwhistler.com
W: www.whistler.com/media
T: www.twitter.com/mediaTWhistler
F: www.facebook.com/GoWhistler
- Sea to Sky Highway construction inspires children's picture book - Mountain Machines
The six-year, $600 million Sea to Sky Highway Improvement Project didn't just inspire the thousands of travelers who make the trip each day between Squamish and Whistler. It also inspired the fascination of children and a brand new children's picture book. Whistler author Sara Leach boned up on her heavy machinery vocabulary during the construction years, turning her son Ben into a two-year-old who knew the difference between a front-end-loader, a grader, and a dump truck. The elementary school teacher and author who grew up skiing Whistler has since turned that knowledge into a rhyming counting picture book for children, called Mountain Machines. Released in October 2009, the book, illustrated by California artist Steven Corvelo, is full of rhyming text about groomers, pipe dragons, gondolas and other ski hill machinery.
- Sea to Sky Highway improvement project makes Whistler more accessible than ever
Most people who come to Whistler arrive by the Sea to Sky Highway, which links communities from West Vancouver to Whistler. Views of Howe Sound, the Coast Mountains, the Squamish Chief, and the Cheakamus River make the two-hour journey an unforgettable panorama of West Coast beauty. Prior to the winning Games bid, British Columbia's provincial government identified that the scenic Sea to Sky Highway needed major upgrades, and that was partly Whistler's doing. The incredible success, popularity and growth of the resort meant that the road's safety, reliability and capacity needed to be improved. The $600 million improvement project included widening and straightening the highway, improving safety and travel times. The project was completed in November 2009. People who have been driving to Whistler since the 1960s, when much of the road was gravel, love the sleek new highway. The provincial government estimates that 6,000 new jobs will be created throughout the province as a result of economic activity generated along the corridor, and that the highway will increase provincial GDP increased by $300 million from 2010 to 2025.
- Secrets of a Hell’s Kitchen revealed in new Araxi cookbook
The secrets of Araxi's award-winning kitchen are revealed in executive chef James Walt's new cookbook, Araxi: Seasonal Recipes from the Celebrated Whistler Restaurant. The Gordon Ramsay-acclaimed book, published by Douglas & McIntyre, shares over 100 recipes from the 20-year-old multi-award winning restaurant. The book also takes readers on a tour of the Pemberton Valley, where Chef Walt and his colleagues pastry chef Aaron Heath and sous-chef John Ferris all live, the better to source local organic produce. The winner of the 2009 season of Hell's Kitchen reality TV show was awarded a head chef position under Chef Walt during the 2010 Winter Games.
www.araxi.com
- Ski school instructors – the stories behind the pros
Canada Ski Council stats consistently indicate that ski instructors are the highest-rated service personnel for "Guest Satisfaction". Tourism Whistler's resort surveys bear it out - guests who take a ski lesson rate their holiday experience as off the charts. And there are as many kinds of instructors as there are skiers out there. Whistler veteran sixtysomething ski pro Stu Armstrong is a former social worker who used to work on the streets of Saskatoon and Vancouver, rides horses in the summer, and has been awarded Most Valuable Pro more times than he can count. Aussie ski pro Suzie Black has been linking back-to-back winters (Canadian with Australian) for over ten years. And if off-piste is what you want, Extremely Canadian's crew of freeskiers can take you to the hidden power stashes. Guide Derek Foose has also parlayed his passion into the Whistler Freeride Team, a youth skiing clinic every weekend throughout the winter that offers an alternative to ski racing as a method of ongoing skill development and competition. His athletes, still in high school, are already notching podium finishes at freeskiing contests across the country.
- Ski, golf, bike in one day: a Whistler triathlon
Triathlon takes on a different meaning in Whistler in May, June and July. During those months, the Whistler triathlon - skiing, golfing and biking in one day - is an option for people who want to experience all three activities back to back to back. In all of North America, only in Whistler is the ski season long enough that can you spend the morning skiing or riding, the afternoon golfing on one of four championship courses and the evening bike riding. Since Whistler's mountains top out at just about a mile high, spring arrives to Whistler valley long before it reaches the peaks. The valley greens up while the glacier on Blackcomb Mountain stays open for skiing and riding into late July. That means in May, June, and into late July, you can ski in the morning, golf in the afternoon, and spend the evening cycling the trails or in the Whistler Mountain Bike Park. Ski-golf-bike - the Whistler triathlon. Experience the Whistler triathlon by visiting the following link.
Whistler triathlon
- Slide with an Olympian Bobsleigh Tour
The Whistler Sliding Centre is celebrating the fifth anniversary of the 2010 Winter Games with a special offer: Slide with an Olympian. This experience includes one bobsleigh ride with an Olympic athlete such as silver medallists Helen Upperton, Chris Spring, Justin Kripps or bronze medallist Lyndon Rush. After your ride, participants will receive a souvenir video and a photo certificate signed by their Olympic pilot as well as the opportunity to mingle with the Olympians over canapés and non-alcoholic beverages in the Thunderbird Pavilion.
- Son of Whistler freeskiing pioneer challenges slopes that took his father's life
Whistler's Trevor Petersen helped shape the sport of extreme skiing before he was killed in an avalanche in Chamonix's Exit Couloir in 1996. His son Kye was then six years old; growing up in Whistler, Kye became an accomplished freeskier himself. In 2005, then just 15 years old, Kye went with a group of the world's top freeskiers to Chamonix to challenge some of the last lines his father ever skied. The expedition is chronicled in William A. Kerig's book The Edge of Never, and the documentary film of Kye's journey, also called The Edge of Never, premiered in North America in late 2009.
- Stephen Vogler’s naked history of Whistler too raunchy for public places
Whistler's Stephen Vogler spent 34 years researching his new book, Only in Whistler, an exhilarating trip through Whistler's hippie history that was deemed too naughty upon its release in October 2009 to be stocked by BC Ferries, owing to the actual ski bums on the cover. Vogler's insights into ski-bum culture from the 1970s through to present-day Whistler make him the ideal guide for a tour of Whistler's ‘clothing-optional' culture.
- Summer Snow And Gold Medal Coaching
Once summer hits, most skiers and riders have to travel south for their snow fix. Not so in Whistler where summer snow can be found until late July, making Whistler Blackcomb’s ski season the longest in North America.
Blackcomb Mountain’s Horstman Glacier attracts some of the best ski and snowboard athletes in the world to train on its snowy summer slopes, not to mention an army of filmers and photographers hoping to document the next big thing. The glacier teems with jumps, spines, rails, giant air bags, a halfpipe, moguls and race gates as ski and snowboard athletes learn new tricks and train for winter.
Everyone is welcome to witness the progression and try summer glacier skiing if they can ski at an intermediate or above level. There are several lanes and a small terrain park open to the public. Access the Horstman Glacier by uploading the Wizard Express chairlift from the base of Blackcomb Mountain, followed by the Solar Coaster chairlift. From there, take a short shuttle bus to the base of 7th Heaven chairlift and then head up the chair. There are two t-bars accessing the glacier.
- SUP
There’s a new breed of water sport enthusiast gently stroking their way through the calm waters of local lakes, rising above the fluid floor below. Stand up paddleboarding (SUP) is quickly becoming a popular summer activity in Whistler. With origins in the Hawaiian Islands, SUP offers an alternative to surfing and is gaining popularity in warm climates around the globe. Easy to learn and accessible to all ages and abilities with minimal equipment required, SUP offers an amazing view of the surroundings and provides a solid workout, developing arm and core strength. River stand-up paddleboarding is gaining popularity as well, although requires a bit more skill and agility. Guests to Whistler can book SUP lessons and board rentals through a number of local operators, or opt for a self-guided excursion. For yoga enthusiasts, lessons combined SUP and yoga, building even greater balance and strength.
- Take a podcast stroll through Whistler
Taking a stroll is a perfect way to explore one's surroundings. To make the exploration easier and more enjoyable, the Resort Municipality of Whistler, in collaboration with community partners, produced a suite of self-guided audio podcast tours, downloadable from the web. The podcasts orient visitors, help them locate key destinations, tell Whistler stories to inform and entertain, and tailor the information for each visitor's needs, whether that requires a different language, barrier-free route or visual assistance. Visitors can download the podcast and supporting tools at whistler.ca.
- Taste Whistler - Private Wine Tastings
Taste Whistler, started by Sommelier Eric Blouin, is a private wine tasting service. These guided personalized wine tastings are professional yet provide a fresh and dynamic approach to wine. At your home, suite, condo or office, Taste Whistler will create and deliver a personal experience for friends, family or colleagues, in a fun and interactive setting. Blouin can guide participants through set tastings such as The Best of BC, Old World vs. New World or the delights of Champagne and everything sparkling. Or guests can work with Blouin to choose a wine region, style or grape variety and Taste Whistler will do the rest. They shop, they set up, they uncork. All guests have to do is raise a glass, relax and unwind. tastewhistler.com
- Taste Whistler with Eric Blouin
Eric Blouin believes that wine should be enjoyed and shared, sipped and savoured - without fuss or pretension. A passionate sommelier, who spent many years managing the Bearfoot Bistro’s impressive cellar, Blouin loves nothing better than to open up the wonderful world of wine to others in a relaxed, fun environment.
Whether hosting a private party or corporate event, Blouin will create a personalized wine tasting event to suit, be it at a private home, team-building in the office or hotel suite. Blouin will guide participants through an introduction to the world’s classic wines, the delights of Champagne and everything sparkling, or guests can pick a favourite grape variety and Blouin will drill down through all its glories.
Fancy adding a gently competitive edge? Pick a blind tasting and see how your nose stacks up against those of friends, family or colleagues. Guests provide the time and the place – Taste Whistler will do the rest. They shop, they set up, they uncork. All you have to do is raise your glass, relax and unwind.
- Teaching your kids the fine art of après
What's better than gathering together at the day's end, to share tales of your adventures over a much-needed snack and drinks? Whistler is famed for its après ski scene, but contrary to popular belief, it's not for adults only. For parents, the chance to wet your whistle while hanging with the kids is an added holiday bonus. Whistler Blackcomb recognized several years ago that families want this opportunity as much as adult friends do, so now their après bars - Merlin's, the GLC and Dusty's - are all child-friendly until 8pm, allowing the younger skiers and snowboarders to discover how much fun it is to share a big plate of nachos after a great day on the hill.
- Terrain Parks Become Training Grounds For Elite Athletes
This winter the terrain parks at Whistler Blackcomb will be the training grounds for six medaling events at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi; Ski Cross, Snowboard Cross, Ski Halfpipe, Snowboard Halfpipe, Ski Slopestyle and Snowboard Slopestyle.
A renewed Snow Cross Track on Blackcomb offers training and organized competitive event opportunities through Whistler Blackcomb's event department. The 22-foot Olympic Size Half Pipe on Blackcomb Mountain is groomed daily and will be ready for the next pipe slayer while a 14-foot half pipe on Blackcomb sets the stage for skiers and riders looking to progress into the 22-foot feature. Finally, on the right side of the Nintendo Terrain Park on Blackcomb a full slopestyle course with X-Games sized features will emulate the flow of an actual Olympic Slopestyle course: rail, rail, rail, jump, jump, jump, jump. While the flow order will remain the same, the terrain park rangers will continuously change up the style of features to create dynamic training opportunities.
- The ‘20cm Rule’
The Whistler Blackcomb Snow Phone morning alert beats an alarm clock any day and it works particularity well when a heavy overnight snowfall has enacted the ‘20 cm Rule’. When the mountain receives more than 20 centimeters overnight the Whistler Village stops in time. This rule is followed by most businesses, giving employees a chance to get some early morning turns before work must begin. Many storefront signs read ‘20 cm Rule - we’re riding powder and you should be too! Back at 10:00 am’.
With an annual average snowfall of over 39 feet a year, Whistler has seen the rule in effect enough times to make most of the 9 to 5 world jealous on a constant basis. Snow – it’s what makes Whistler tick. When the snow flies this town embraces the ‘20 cm Rule’, giving everyone a little time to rejoice in the spirit of Whistler!
- The coolest club in town, and probably the biggest weekly bike race in North America?
Every Thursday night throughout the summer, hundreds of Whistlerites line up for the ‘Toonie Ride'. For two bucks, mountain bike riders compete in a friendly race on one of the many trails around Whistler. With snacks and chilled beverages as the finish line reward. Half of the entry fee goes into the Whistler Off Road Cycling Association's (WORCA) trail maintenance fund and insurance, and the other half goes into a pot for the top riders -- usually locals who are training for national championships or even the World Cup, and they can use every cent they get. The large majority of riders are people of all ages and abilities just out to have fun, explore the trails, get a bit of exercise, push themselves a little, and socialize with members of the coolest club in town. Each week, a local business sponsors the race, and is responsible for setting the course, marshalling, and supplying the post-race refreshments. If there's a bigger weekly bike race in North America, we haven't found it. www.worca.com
- The creation of the Cheakamus Community Forest
The Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) and the Lil'wat and Squamish Nations are in the forestry business because who better to be the stewards of the surrounding forests than the community itself? The three governments are partners in the Cheakamus Community Forest Society, an arms-length corporation, which manages 30,000 hectares of forestland surrounding Whistler. For Whistler, the community forest means that watersheds and viewscapes are managed in an ecologically, socially and economically sustainable manner. www.whistler.ca
- The First Nations connection to the Whistler Sliding Centre
What many people don't realize is that the Whistler Sliding Centre has a direct connection to the local First Nations people. Located on the southeast flanks of Blackcomb Mountain, the Whistler Sliding Centre was built on the shared traditional territories of the Squamish and Lil'wat First Nations, in an area designated as a Spirited Place - a special, sacred place that has a long and rich history among the indigenous people of this land. Every athlete who competes at the Whistler Sliding Centre is on a journey. For those who compete on it, the track isn't just 1,450 meters of ice - it is a rite of passage that will help shape their character and their future life path. Like the First Nations traditions that preceded it, this is a place to learn, where one must build on the lessons of those who came before, in order to succeed. Faster, steeper and more intense than any track in history, the Whistler Sliding Centre will be the ultimate test of body, mind and spirit for the world's top sliders. www.whistlerslidingcentre.com
- The Four Seasons Whistler raises the roof in sustainability
In a busy hotel, it's not uncommon to reconfigure spaces to ensure every inch is utilized. But at Four Seasons Whistler, Executive Chef Scott Thomas Dolbee took such resourcefulness to a new level...the second level of the Resort to be exact. Wanting to bring fresh ingredients closer to the kitchen, Dolbee had a 2,700 sq. ft. garden planted on the roof above the main ballroom. Accessible only through a guest room, the garden includes 30 varieties of produce and herbs - from carrots and tomatoes to purple dragon tongue beans - all maintained by the Resort's team of chefs. In addition to ensuring the ingredients served in Fifty-Two 80 Bistro are the freshest available, the roof-top garden has inspired even more creativity when it comes to how spaces are used in the hotel. www.fourseasons.com/whistler
- The Fresh Tracks Secret
Another not-to-be-missed tradition in Whistler is the Fresh Tracks Breakfast on Whistler Mountain. Peek out of your hotel room into Skiers Plaza to observe a line-up of over-zealous powder hounds waiting to load the gondola as early as 6:45am. Ask any local and get the tip of the trip: on big powder days, head up to the Roundhouse Lodge for a hearty “Fresh Tracks” breakfast, then hit the mountain first to claim all that untouched powder for your own. When it’s not a powder day, nothing beats a crisp clear morning with the sun rising over the mountain peaks, and miles of fresh corduroy to carve up first.
The Fresh Tracks Breakfast features an awesome Breakfast Buffet, fresh corduroy or pristine powder, with first-up privileges on the Whistler Village Gondola to the Roundhouse Lodge. Fresh Tracks runs December through April with uploading starting at 7:15 a.m. Tickets are available at any Guest Relations desk. Buy your ticket the day before and arrive early to line up; Fresh Tracks capacity is 600 and tickets do sell out. You’ve been warned.
- The playground crawl of Whistler
While child-free Whistler visitors might keep busy doing a pub crawl through the resort, kids have parents occupied on a different kind of tour - the Playground Crawl of Whistler.
Coffee playground - This wood-carved jungle gym is usually crawling with younger kids. Its prime location near a host of cafes lets parents grab a java fix while kids burn off steam. The park is located in Whistler Olympic Plaza at the north end of the Village Stroll, near Market Square.
The Whistler Skate Park, BMX Trails and Dirt Jump Park are located on the Valley Trail, between day skier parking lot #2 and Fitzsimmons Creek.
The Water Park at Alpine Meadows, next to Meadow Park Sports Centre, has swings, slides, a sandbox and water jets. It's just a short bus trip from the Village, or an easy four-kilometre bike ride along the Valley Trail from the Village. Free parking, baseball diamond, tennis courts, washrooms, picnic tables, barbeque facilities and the kiddie's waterpark are all behind the Centre.
'Helicopter' Wayside Park at Tapley's farm, below Myrtle Philip Elementary School, has swings, a hill with a slide, and cool helicopter play structure.
Tangled Tree Park at Franz's Trail on Whistler's Creekside, is a small tangled wood structure with slides, poles and a bridge.
Millar's Pond Park, in Bayshores at the top of Cheakamus Way, has swings, jungle gym, a slide and picnic tables.
- The roots of greatness: honouring Whistler's First Nations heritage
Whistler was traditionally a hunting and travel corridor for the region's First Nations peoples. The community has maintained its longstanding relationships with the Aboriginal peoples through cooperative initiatives and welcomed the world to experience Aboriginal tourism and culture during the 2010 Winter Games. First Nations dance, art and culture and culinary is permanently celebrated in Whistler as part of the Squamish Lil'Wat Cultural Centre, which opened in June 2008. With over 30,000 square feet of space, the centre includes a Class A museum gallery, theatre, gift shop and café all within walking distance of Whistler's village centre. www.slcc.ca
- The Scandinave Spa in Whistler
A Scandinavian flavour arrived in Whistler with the opening of the Scandinave Spa, January 2010. The $8 million spa development encompasses over 20,000 square feet, includes six separate buildings on three acres of forest, and is located at the northern edge of the Resort. Known for their energizing and relaxing properties, the Scandinavian baths improve blood circulation, release endorphins and contribute to improvement in one's physical condition. The Scandinavian baths experience includes a Norwegian steam bath with eucalyptus, wood-burning Finnish dry sauna, outdoor hot therapeutic baths, thermal and Nordic waterfalls, cold baths and cold shower, solariums, relaxation areas and an outdoor fireplace. Massage packages such as Swedish massage are also available. In keeping with its eco-friendly mandate, Le Scandinave Spa has incorporated many green initiatives in its construction and operation, including vegetated "green" roofs, optimized solar access and passive solar heating on all major buildings. This is the first spa of its kind in Western Canada. Scandinave Spa currently operates three Scandinavian spas on the east coast, the Whistler spa opened January 2010. scandinavewhistler.com
- The voice of sustainable development - Association of Whistler Residents for the Environment (AWARE)
A volunteer driven non-profit advocacy group, the Association of Whistler Area Residents for the Environment (AWARE) was formed in 1989 with a mandate to push for a recycling program for Whistler. AWARE has grown into a strong voice for sensible environmental stewardship and sustainable development in the South Coast Mountain Range of British Columbia. The organization is active on many environmental and sustainability issues in the valley, and seeks to protect the wilderness that Whistler residents know as their backyard and which brings tourists back year after year. AWARE sees a sensible balanced approach to environmental sustainability as the only option for the future, from both an environmental and economic point of view. www.awarewhistler.org
- Tourism Whistler/Whistler Conference Centre Energy Management Strategy
In 2007 Tourism Whistler, which manages and operates the Whistler
Conference Centre and the Whistler Golf Club, embarked on a
comprehensive energy management program that targets reduction of energy
consumption, greenhouse gases and energy costs. Working with BC Hydro
and Sempa (now Enbala) systems, operational practices and equipment were
reviewed and changes implemented that resulted in a considerable
reduction in electrical consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and
costs.
Starting in 2007 the HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning)
system in the Whistler Conference Centre was replaced with a hybrid
heating/cooling system, improving system efficiency.
Since commencement of the initiative, all office fluorescent lighting
has been upgraded and numerous other lighting replacement projects, such
as the elevator lighting, and duct shaft lighting have been undertaken,
with traditional lighting being replaced with more energy efficient CFL
or LED lighting as appropriate. These projects were undertaken with
assistance from BC Hydro’s Product Incentive Program. In 2011, the
lighting in the main ballroom of the Whistler Conference Centre was
redesigned and replaced, a $100,000 project that, due to the anticipated
annual energy savings of approximately 162,000KWH to be achieved
through the new system, was 50 per cent funded by BC Hydro’s Power Smart
Incentive Fund.
Tourism Whistler has also committed to tracking and reporting on its
greenhouse gas emissions, direct and indirect emissions seeing
significant reductions.
As part of the energy management strategy, ongoing staff initiatives are
organized to ensure awareness of and participation in, energy saving
projects. Energy reduction targets are set as part of the business
planning process, and staff performance is measured and rewarded on
ensuring that those targets are met. Any new or replacement equipment
purchases are reviewed in terms of the most energy efficient solution,
with consideration being given to energy cost reduction payback period.
In terms of the community, Tourism Whistler organized, and continues to
participate in, a Whistler Facilities Managers’ group. The purpose of
the group is to exchange ideas on facility management best practices,
with a focus on energy and resource management. The group has gathered
to view alternative energy sources in municipal facilities (solar and
ground source heating at the local sport centre). Tourism Whistler
applied for, and was awarded, a municipal Climate Action Initiative Fund
grant, which is being used to organize and subsidize energy management
training for several of the local hotels.
In 2011, Tourism Whistler and the Whistler Conference Centre
participated in a program called ‘iShift for Business’, a series of
workshops offered by the Whistler Centre for Sustainability. The program
was geared at assisting businesses in developing and implementing a
comprehensive sustainability strategy. Tourism Whistler and the Whistler
Conference Centre are currently working on an overall organizational
sustainability strategy, and the current energy management plan will
figure prominently in that strategy.
- Valentine’s Day in Whistler
Whistler is naturally full of romance, magic and beauty so there are plenty of ways to make Valentine’s Day special. Drive the scenic Sea to Sky Highway, recently named one of Conde Nast Traveler’s Best Coastal Drives. After a day exploring and enjoying Whistler’s fresh mountain air, indulge in a massage & bath package at Scandinave Spa. Before dinner, experience a private Champagne 'N' Bubbles tasting with Taste Whistler where you will learn everything you’ve always wanted to know (and more) about Champagne and sparkling wine. Love feels like the top of the world so head up to the Crystal Hut atop Blackcomb Mountain for a Mountain Top Fondue & Snowmobile dinner. Romance thrives at 6’000 feet above sea level.
- Warm beds - visitor accommodations, the Whistler way
"Warm beds" may sound like a steamy reference to Whistler's famed singles scene but the term actually refers to the most radical concept in Whistler's design - and a key component of its success. Before Whistler began booming, some other popular mountain resorts were grappling with a new kind of problem , "cold beds", that resulted when many lodging units were owned by second homeowners who used them only a few weeks per year and otherwise left them vacant. The resort might have loads of guest beds, but if no one was sleeping in those beds then business owners wouldn't have the flow of customers they needed to sustain their businesses, provide steady jobs and keep the community ticking along. Whistler's response was to create innovative real estate covenants that require a high percentage of property owners in the village core to keep their units in the rental pool, keeping beds "warm" instead of "cold".
- Whistler - built for business
Long before the birth of the Resort Municipality of Whistler in 1975, this quaint hippie-esque community was planning for business development. In 1966 a small group of people met and elected the first Board of Directors of the Whistler Chamber of Commerce. A constitution was written and the Chamber was chartered under the Federal Board of Trade Act. The Whistler Chamber originally operated as a quasi-government for the fledgling community, concerning itself with such issues as tourism, highways, water, and snow removal. It also played a political role, lobbying for the establishment of not only a regional district, but a municipality. Over forty years later, the thriving Whistler business community is preparing to welcome the world. whistlerchamber.com
- Whistler - not just a winter destination
Consistently ranked as North America’s top ski and snowboard
resort, Whistler is nestled amongst the spectacular Coast Mountains of British
Columbia, Canada. At one time an isolated wilderness frequented only by the
Lil’wat and the Squamish First Nations as a waypoint for trading; today’s
Whistler is home to 9,500 permanent residents from around the globe. With its role as Host Mountain Resort for the
2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, Whistler was further established as
the ultimate winter destination. However,
there is another side to Whistler – summer. As the snow melts, rolling expanses
explored by snowshoe enthusiasts reveal four championship golf courses designed
by legendary players such as Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus. Forested pathways
that once housed groomed cross-country ski tracks transform into a network of
family-friendly and single-track biking trails.
Ski runs make way for alpine hiking and downhill-biking in the world
famous Whistler Mountain Bike Park.
Winter made Whistler famous but its natural beauty, diverse residents
and limitless year-round offerings make it an original and unforgettable
place.
- Whistler Adaptive Sports Program Carves Unique Tracks for Skiers with a Disability
Consistently ranked as North America's premier ski and snowboard resort, Whistler Blackcomb has a big reputation. And an even bigger incentive to keep raising the bar - for every skier and rider. The Whistler Adaptive Sports Program's Ski and Snowboard Lessons do just that with a series of onslope adventures aimed to bring out the burgeoning skiers and boarders in people of all abilities. A non-profit organization aimed to make sports accessible, the program caters to a broad spectrum of skiers and boarders, from beginner to advanced, and a line-up of highly-trained, certified instructors, guides and assistants ensures access to every glide and turn is more than just a winter night's dream. Instruction is tailored to each participant, and options are as bountiful as the powder: programs include Sit-skiing with bi-skis and mono-skis, ideal for adventurers with limited lower body strength and disabilities; offerings for visually and hearing impaired skiers; standing skiers using two, three and four track techniques; and individuals with developmental or cognitive disabilities. Should boarding be boss, the program also offers up an array of powder-packed outings perfect for breaking out the snowboards. Beyond the tutored turns, Whistler Blackcomb's snowy setting also proves an ideal environment for individuals to develop social skills, improve communication and build self-esteem. Whistler was where most of the events in the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games were held, including the opening and closing ceremonies. www.whistleradaptive.com
- Whistler benefits from friends across the border
In July 2002, a small group of Americans who spend time in Whistler founded a non-profit organization called American Friends of Whistler (AFOW). Recognizing that Whistler is an extraordinary place, the group raises funds through social events and donations to benefit the local community. As well, AFOW members keep informed and up to date on news and developments via guest speakers and organized events. Since its inception, AFOW has granted more than $500,000 to the Whistler community, including donations to the Whistler Adaptive Sports Program, Whistler Health Care Foundation, Get Bear Smart Society, Whistler Public Library, Whistler Search & Rescue Society, plus many more. www.afow.com
- Whistler Blackcomb - our backyard, our anchor
We are anchored to and defined by Whistler and Blackcomb mountains. They are the epicentre of our alpine culture and the mountains that ring our town. Whistler Blackcomb is the most visited ski resort in North America (more than two million skier visits per year), with the largest terrain, the most vertical drop, dozens of lifts, two mountains, and lots and lots of snow. And now, the two mountains are linked at their tops by the world record-breaking PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola. Whistler Blackcomb is our backyard - the lifts extend right down into Whistler Village and Whistler Creekside.
And yet, for all that activity, Whistler Blackcomb easily and frequently provides moments of alpine serenity. Have lunch on the deck at the Crystal Hut on a sunny day: it's a sublime experience.
- Whistler Blackcomb debuts the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola
Groundbreaking. Innovative. An engineering marvel. Few projects can share such accolades - even fewer can live up to them. December 12, 2008 was the day Whistler Blackcomb's highly anticipated PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola, united the two towering mountain peaks that define this destination. This daring project has revolutionized the visitor experience on the mountain. Need some stats? How about 17 (the number of engineers dedicated to the project), 4,344 (the total cubic metres of concrete utilized in the construction), and 28 (the line-up of Swiss-designed Sky Cabins that will boast a bird's eye view of Fitsimmon's Valley at 436 metres or 1,430 feet below - the highest lift of its kind). If those figures fail to impress, then take a moment to mull the expanse to be traversed. Spanning 4.4 kilometres (2.73 miles) in total distance from mountain to mountain, the Doppelmayr 3S tri-cable gondola is the world's longest unsupported span of 3.024 kilometres (1.88 miles) between the furthest length of the two towers. Total ride time is 11 marvel-filled minutes, with a lift capacity of 4,100 passengers per hour. And did we mention that two of the Sky Cabins boast glass bottoms? You'll be hard pressed to keep your eye to the sky with the views, literally, underfoot. And while winter welcomes skiers with greater access and even more opportunity to carve tracks in a single day, summer is sure to prove no less spectacular. Either way, Whistler Blackcomb is set to soar. http://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/events-and-activities/summer-activities/peak-2-peak-gondola.aspx
- Whistler Blackcomb named Canada's Greenest Employers
Whistler Blackcomb has been named by Maclean's Magazine Canada's Greenest Employers for 2012, with accolades given for employee engagement, the Fitzsimmons Creek renewable power project, community stewardship, and reducing waste and energy consumption. This nomination recognizes the company's 3,800 employees for their dedication and contribution to sustainability in Whistler. Whistler Blackcomb has set the benchmark for environmental initiatives in the ski and mountain resort industry. Its environmental management strategy began in 1992 and has evolved into a core pillar of the company's goals and objectives. To date Whistler Blackcomb has been recognized 20 times in the last 10 years by a variety of organizations for efforts in working towards sustainability.
- Whistler Blackcomb Snow School Fun Facts
Whistler
Blackcomb instructors can teach lessons in over 25 different languages. The
most children’s ski or snowboard lessons ever taught in a single day was over
1,750 lessons across both mountains. All kids enrolled in a lesson wear a flaik
GPS system so they can track their daily lesson online (while ensuring that
mountain staff can track the kids wherever they might stray).
- Whistler Bungee knows the importance of being green
Whistler Bungee has been running on renewable energy for several years now. Located in the beautiful outdoors along the breathtaking Cheakamus River canyon (just south of Whistler Village) it's a natural fit for the company to be self sufficient in the power department. All electricity needs are drawn from the sun and the wind via two 115W solar panels and a 400W wind turbine with an array of eight 6V batteries to back it up. Staff members are also dedicated to maintaining their pristine alpine office and have a recycling system of all recyclable products both on the bridge and in the office. Whistler Bungee constantly strives to find new ways to reduce their environmental impact through initiatives such as maintaining a paper-free membership database and sharing transportation to the site each day. All of these initiatives are designed to take care of Whistler Bungee's most precious legacy - Whistler's truly spectacular environment. whistlerbungee.com
- Whistler Bungee Paralympic Games offer for all visitors with a disability
While the world came together in Whistler in celebration of the amazing and proud athletes at the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games, Whistler Bungee wanted everyone to know that they celebrated this every day. At Whistler Bungee they know that when standing out on the edge of that platform, everyone is an equal when dealing with that same fear and that same survival reflex when preparing to take the plunge.
Since Whistler Bungee has been operating, they have welcomed individuals of all abilities, including those with a physical or cognitive disability. All of them have shown great excitement, sense of adventures, and hunger for adrenaline. The experienced staff always finds a way to accommodate each persons' unique needs and facilitate the jump in a perfectly safe way, whether it be lifting wheelchairs above the railing, providing access through ramps or the right encouragement, jumping in tandem and helping out in every way possible.
Provincial, national and international personalities that have experienced the thrill of bungee jumping have included "Man in Motion" Rick Hansen, Canadian Para-Alpine Team Athlete Sam Daniels and Pete Crutchfield, a former BC Para-Alpine Ski Team member. whistlerbungee.com
- Whistler Centre for Sustainability - sharing our learnings with the world
The Whistler Centre for Sustainability (WCS) is a new non-profit organization created from the Whistler2020 vision to accelerate the journey toward a sustainable future within Whistler and beyond. Focusing on sustainability practices for communities and the tourism sector, the WCS takes the expertise and leadership from Whistler's experience, combined with global best practices, to deliver consulting services and learning opportunities for interested local governments and the tourism industry around the world. www.whistlercentre.ca
- Whistler Composting Facility – a rotten business
It might look like a lot of garbage but Whistler's new composting facility is turning heads. It's actually one of Whistler's most sustainable success stories. The new Whistler Composting facility is literally turning garbage into gold or at least highly fertile, nutrient rich top grade compost. It adds up to the sweet smell of success for environmentally conscious Whistler. The compost facility helps the community move toward its goal of "zero waste." whistler.ca
- Whistler doesn't just offer recreation - it IS recreation
On wheels, boards or blades - Whistler is recreation. This town's history is grassroots recreational development, high-level athletes who use the variety of community sports and clubs as part of their training program, and sport as a socially constructive force. Here are examples:
What did you learn in ski school today? Beginning in January each year, for a number of Mondays, about 75 per cent of Whistler elementary schools take ski or snowboard lessons through Whistler Blackcomb. For many local families, this is an affordable way to get their kids onto the local hills. Local schools arrange the ski program around other scheduled school closures so that the time missed from class is minimal.
Zero Ceiling street youth program Zero Ceiling brings street youth to Whistler and teaches them how to ski and/or snowboard and also offers some the opportunity to become snowboard instructors. The program is entering its 12th year and continues to provide a valuable resource to underprivileged inner-city kids who wouldn't otherwise be able to enjoy the mountains. With support from the Whistler community, Zero Ceiling has hosted well over a thousand kids. www.zeroceiling.org
A community of bikers The Whistler Off-Road Cycling Association is a community of more than a thousand locals who work with local government, property owners and developers to ensure mountain bike trail access. WORCA's Toonie Ride race series is a staple of the local mountain bike scene. Every Thursday night from May to early October, hundreds of competitors pay the two-buck entry fee with half of each race's total going toward WORCA's trail maintenance fund and the other half doled out as prize money for the top riders. Often these local riders are athletes training for nationals or even World Cup events. www.worca.com
- Whistler Film Festival
The Whistler Film Festival has grown from a grassroots effort to an internationally recognized celebration of film. This year the annual festival will feature five days of innovative film-making with 90-plus films, special guests, Canadian and international independent film screenings, networking events and cinematic celebrations. Drawing over 7,500 attendees, this Sundance Festival of the North has attracted red carpet stars such as Daniel Radcliffe, Patton Oswald, Jay Baruchel, Michael Shannon, Richard Dreyfuss, Melissa Leo and continues to grow. www.whistlerfilmfestival.com
- Whistler Health Care Centre is now home to a CT Scanner
When ski-related head injuries and mountain-biking head injuries occur in Whistler, the new 64-slice Computer Tomography (CT) scanner is literally a lifesaver. Located in the Whistler Health Care Centre, Computed Tomography (CT) is a medical imaging method capable of generating three-dimensional images, inside the body, non-invasively. For residents and athletes this 2010 legacy means that treating and diagnosing a head injury won't require a flight to Vancouver. www.vch.ca
- Whistler Inc.: using the triple bottom line to build a successful resort
Whistler has a unique history as a resort. Rather than developing haphazardly or by chance, Whistler has been designed and managed from very early on, with a view to developing an extremely successful resort financially, socially and environmentally. Some of the people who were involved in the early development of Whistler can share their dreams and experiences of the early days in Whistler, while current community leaders can talk about the future of Whistler.
- Whistler Innovation with Garywayne skis
Why just carve Whistler's deep, perfect powder when you can schmear it?
Why lose speed sinking an edge into bottomless snow when you can drift through turns like a speedboat over water?
Your average skier may never ask themselves questions like these, but Whistler local Sheldon Steckman did. Then he went into the garage and designed and built the world's first omnidirectional powder ski - full rocker, full reverse sidecut, and with a convex base (kind of like the bottom of a tablespoon).
Garywayne Skis are super fat and kinda funny looking, but they offer a powder skiing experience unlike any other. The Whistler Insider was lucky enough to be invited on a ride-along to experience the innovation first-hand as a full snowcat of Garywayne skiers ripped another January storm day catskiing.
The Garywaynes prove the value of thinking outside the box because with great powder comes great responsibility...to rip harder and better than ever before.
- Whistler Kids Only Snowboard Park
Whistler has become that much more kid friendly thanks to a brand new kids-only Riglet Park. Whistler Blackcomb has partnered with Burton Snowboards to build a kids-only Riglet Park at the Children’s Learning Centre on Whistler Mountain. Riglet Parks are built around the idea of giving young kids a fun introduction to the foundations of snowboarding through play, terrain-based learning and guided discovery. Kids experience the feeling of sliding on snow through interactive stations with features that help them learn the basic snowboard fundamentals of balance, movement and control in a safe, easy and fun environment. It’s basically a snowboarding playground. The Burton Riglet Park is open daily.
- Whistler Mountain Bike Park is the Longest in The World
With the introduction of this summer's newest mountain bike trail, the Whistler Mountain Bike Park has the most vertical of any bike park in the world. Top of the World is befitting of its name as this new trail increases the Bike Park's vertical by 1,091 feet to a total of 4,946 feet. Top of the World is the Whistler Bike Park's first ever lift-accessed alpine mountain bike trail. It is accessible from the Peak Chair, descends from the summit of Whistler Mountain and eventually leads riders into the Garbanzo Zone of the Whistler Mountain Bike Park.
- Whistler Mountain Bike Park masterminds now helping build the sport worldwide
Gravity Logic was created to utilize the expertise gained building the Whistler Mountain Bike Park - considered by many to be the best bike park in the world - to assist other businesses in the design and development of Park Riding experiences by creating facilities that will thrill riders of a wide range of ages, skills and interests. Gravity Logic was founded by the team behind the Whistler Mountain Bike Park's success. In fact, each Gravity Logician is still actively involved in the continuing development of Whistler's Park. www.whistlergravitylogic.com
- Whistler Olympic Park – Ski like an Olympian
Deep natural snow, top-flight grooming and the chance to ski like an Olympian? Point those skinny skis to Whistler Olympic Park, a legacy of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
The park, in the snow-blessed Callaghan Valley just 23 kilometres (14 miles) south of Whistler, has all the bells and whistles: full-service rental shop, lessons, Wednesday night skiing, a kids' ski play area and toboggan hill, and even dog-friendly trails. Grab a hearty snack at the Brandywine Café in the Day Lodge, test your courage on the Olympic Biathlon Range, or make your own tracks in the surrounding backcountry. www.whistlerolympicpark.com
- Whistler Patios – Après-Ski Edition
As snow-crazy as Whistler-ites can be – April’s arrival brings warmer, brighter days and signals the start of patio season. When the frenzy for patio-time gets underway choosing the right location can be daunting. For those struggling with where to go and where’s the best “scene and be-seen” spot; The Whistler Insider put together an entirely subjective list of Whistler’s Winning-est Après Patios. According to The Insider; “It's a subjective list because we're all big winners this time of year and every patio session has the chance to be ‘best ever’ because patio-ing is all about who you are with as much as where you are.”
- Whistler photographers expose Whistler extremes to the world
Whistler is a photographer's epic playground and dazzling canvas. It is also the home of famous and infamous sport, portrait, wedding, landscape and nightlife photographers. Every day in Whistler offers opportunities for the thousands of shots you see in travel, ski, snowboard, and mountain culture magazines, in newspapers, and on web sites around the world. Photographers like Jordan Manley, Brian Hockenstein, Eric Berger and Blake Jorgenson often get extreme, spending their winter days following freeskiers and snowboarders throughout Whistler and to mountain settings around the world, including Alaska, the Alps and the Andes. In summer, they follow professional mountain bikers and rock climbers through Whistler's forests, canyons and crevasses around the world. One extreme picture is worth a thousand words, but these Whistler photographers are full of stories about how they get their best shots.
- Whistler Public Library - a novel approach to building green
Whistler's library is more than just books, it's a unique timber framed structure built to blend into its natural surroundings. The effort has not gone unnoticed. Gold is the level the Whistler Public Library earned through LEED certification. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) recognizes environmental innovation including the building's exceptional passive solar design principles, a geothermal heating and cooling system, high efficiency baseboard heaters, and compact fluorescent light bulbs. The library may blend into its natural surroundings but its design is award winning. www.whistlerlibrary.ca
- Whistler Village
What could possibly top the most skiable terrain in North America, complete with over 8,100 skiable acres, one mile of vertical, more than 200 trails, three glaciers, 37 lifts, and 16 alpine bowls? How about a pedestrian-only, award-winning Village nestled at the base, chock full of overflowing patios, restaurants and nightclubs, as well as shops, spas, a movie theatre, activities and so much more. Guests constantly rave about Whistler’s “vibe” and easily get caught up in the youthful energy. Whether it’s revelling in an epic powder day during après, soaking up the sun’s rays over a patio lunch, sipping a made-to-order latte between shops, or checking out the latest DJs from around the world, Whistler Village truly makes this four-season resort a dream destination.
For resort story ideas and information beyond Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains, please visit Tourism Whistler’s Media Room at: media.whistler.com »
- Whistler's animal heroes have long history with avalanches
Some of the most valuable employees at Whistler Blackcomb have four legs. Since "Powder" the St. Bernard greeted skiers at the top of the Gondola in the early 1970s, dogs have played an important role at Whistler Blackcomb. Despite the high-tech world we live in, the canine members of the Whistler Blackcomb Ski Patrol still play a valuable part in search-and-rescue missions and avalanche rescues.
- Whistler's love affair with barbeque
Summer is in full swing bringing long days, outdoor fun and another reason to gather friends and family around the BBQ. Whistler restaurants make it easy to enjoy these warm summer nights with barbeque options five evenings a week - so grab those stretchy pants and start planning!
Tuesdays at the Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre offer First Nations-inspired menu items such as cedar planked West Coast salmon and buffalo smokies. Thursday's bring live music, Chef's grilling session, a smorgasbord of grilled meats and vegetables, and housemade rubs at Fifty-Two 80 Eatery + Bar. Friday nights bring you lakeside at Nita Lake Lodge's Fix Cafe BBQ series - a continuously changing menu keeps it fresh. Saturday night enjoy the Village with a choice -- sit back and enjoy the sunset at the Grill & Vine's all you can eat BBQ (it includes an ice-cream sundae bar!) or relax on the patio couch at The Lift Coffee Co. and enjoy the Angus beef, veggie or pulled pork burger BBQ which is also on offer every Sunday. For those that dream of alpine views, do not despair - Whistler Blackcomb's Mountain Top BBQ is available every Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings throughout the season. If you are looking to be inspired, the King of BBQ events take place August 1 - 3 in Creekside at The Bulleit Bourboun Canadian National BBQ Championships.
- Whistler's new High Performance Centre
Built as part of the Athletes' Village, post Games the Whistler High Performance Centre caters to the development of sport groups looking to train in any season at any venue in the Whistler region, and offers state-of-the-art strength and conditioning resources, along with affordable accommodation options. As well, the Whistler Adaptive Sports Program, which provides recreational programs for people of all ages with disabilities, has its first permanent home in this new facility.
- Whistler's Olympic sporting venues to be preserved long after the Games have finished
When all that's left of the 2010 Winter Olympics are a few forgotten red mittens, it is up to Whistler 2010 Sport Legacies to keep the Games venues going. Whistler 2010 Sport Legacies is a not-for-profit business that owns and operates three 2010 Winter Games facilities post-Games - the Whistler Sliding Centre, Whistler Olympic/Paralympic Park and the Whistler Athlete's Centre.
www.whistler2010sportlegacies.com
- Whistler's own Group of Seven artists lead triple lives
Whistler is a creative community full of creative minds, but almost every artist in Whistler leads a double - or even triple - life beyond painting, photography, film-making, writing or crafting.
- Whistler's Roots
Whistler pioneers Alex and Myrtle Philip learned of lakes overflowing with fish, high mountains, and clear streams in the Whistler Valley, and took the three-day journey from Vancouver to Whistler by boat and pack horse to discover their dream. They purchased 10 acres of land, and in 1914 Rainbow Lodge opened for business on the shores of Alta Lake. In the same year the Pacific Great Eastern Railway opened, allowing easy travel to Rainbow Lodge. This quickly made it the most popular resort destination west of Banff and Jasper - and a successful summer resort destination for 50 years before Whistler was considered a winter one. Today, Whistler valley is still a draw for the mountains, rivers and lakes and extensive activities including paddling, hiking, mountain biking, golfing, swimming, and enjoying the lively village atmosphere. The fishing is still extensive and Whistler's most popular park, Rainbow Park, is the site of the original lodge.
- Whistler's very own boutique ski and snowboard manufacturer - Prior Skis and Snowboards
Whistler is home to North America's largest boutique ski and board manufacturer - Prior Skis & Snowboards who have been creating customized boards for 20 years. The quest for the perfect snowboard began in 1990 when Chris Prior started making snowboards in the winter to compliment his well-known sailboard manufacturing business in North Vancouver. Over the next decade as the popularity of Prior grew and grew, Chris moved the operation out of his garage and began handcrafting premium snowboards full time.
In 2000, Prior moved its manufacturing facility to Whistler, BC - the ultimate testing ground for Prior's high performance products. In 2004 they expanded their range to also include skis. Fast forward to 2010 and Prior now has an extensive line of skis, snowboards and backcountry splitboards that are ridden by industry professionals and athletes all over the world. Since Prior was developed, they have had more than 30 World Cup podium finishes and over than half of those have been World Cup gold. And in an effort to keep their boards local they also work with numerous local artists and First Nations artists for their top-sheet designs.
Prior offers FREE tours of the factory twice a week. Tours take approximately 60 minutes and are a great opportunity to see how Prior boards and skis are made. www.priorsnowboards.com
- Whistler's World Ski & Snowboard Festival set to hit the heights
When you have a winter setting that ranks in the wonderland category, there's really only one thing to do: throw a really big party sure to have the joint jumpin'. Such is the case with the annual World Ski & Snowboard Festival, a 10-day, 10-night fiesta like no other; this festival, held each year in April, lays claim as the biggest annual gathering of winter sports, music, arts and culture in North America. And they've got the goods to back it up. Competitions are out of the box: the Shred Show, brings the legends of shred culture to compete with current pros and upcoming amateurs in a series of events including a slopestyle competition, Boarderstyle and and the first-of-its-kind Mogul Duel event (pro skiers compete in the World Skiing Invitationals Superpipe for a $10,000 first place standing). The annual World Skiing Invitational Big Air event sees pro skiers light up the night, with live music backed by a 15,000-strong crowd...oh, and another cool $10,000 for the champ. Off slope, there are free daily performances throughout the village during the Outdoor Concert Series, plus a few other gatherings to get the blood pumping. For the artistically-inclined, the 72 Hour Filmmaker Showdown asks if would-be Spielbergs have what it takes - stamina, endurance, vision...coffee. (Competitors shoot, edit and produce a three to five-minute video in the Whistler area and present their Oscar contender in just under 72 hours.) And let's not forget the fashion shows, photography and art exhibits, film screenings, theatre and all-night parties complete with beats from international DJs. Sure to take this party off the charts.
The biggest annual gathering of winter sports, music, arts and culture in North America, the World Ski and Snowboard Festival asks you to heed the festival motto: ‘Party in April. Sleep in May'.
- Whistler-based Canadian alpine team members give back to sport through free skills camp for financially disadvantaged young skiers
Two Whistler-based members of Canada's alpine team have joined forces to offer budding young skiers the opportunity to train for free with some of the countries leading skiers. Mike and Manny's Cowboy Camp was created by Whistler-based Manuel Osborne Paradis and Whistler-born and bred Michael Janyk. The idea of the camp is to give ten young racers from less fortunate financial circumstances the chance to move forward at a pivotal point in their careers. The camp takes place in Whistler and the lucky ten participants receive personalized training from a number of professionals including Mike and Manny themselves.
- Whistler: beyond your wildest winter dreams
Whistler is a place of superlatives with the largest skiable terrain, longest ski season and longest lift-serviced vertical in North America. The resort is also deemed, by both experts and visitors alike, as the best family destination and top Canadian resort. The impressive statistics, amenities and offerings of this unique mountain resort have been recognised with an amazing array of awards and accolades. And yet there are still many people who are just starting to hear about the size, diversity and international appeal of this spectacular resort.
- Whistler: Born for the Games
In 1960 a group of Vancouver businessmen were inspired by their experience as spectators of the Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley, California, and sought to bring the 1968 Winter Games to British Columbia. They found the perfect mountain, just north of Vancouver - at the time it was called London Mountain, but now it's called Whistler (after the whistling sound made by the local hoary marmots). Whistler didn't host the Games in 1968 but it did not give up on its vision - trying no less than four more times to host the Winter Games in 1972, 1976, 1980 and 1988. Nearly 50 years later, Whistler's dream came true as the Host Mountain Resort for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
- Whistler’s alpine wellness: it’s all about the spa!
Over 20 spas and treatment centers are located in Whistler Village, and all of them look to balance the body's systems, taking a preventative approach to health. A visit to the spa is one of those rare experiences where hedonism and virtue get together. Here are just a few of Whistler's spa treatments:
- Relax in the outdoor hot baths and refreshing waterfalls all year round at The Scandinave Spa.
- The Spa at the Four Seasons Resort offers Hawaiian Lomi Lomi massage, using sweeping movements of the therapist's forearms.
- The Fairmont Chateau Whistler Vida Spa's unique massage Ayurvedic is a unique massage method that applies generous amounts of warm oil over the body with extra attention to the head, neck and scalp. This technique optimizes the body’s systems, mobilizes joints and enhances tissue suppleness. Experience a sensation of profound relaxation that will stay with you for days.
- Whistler’s alpine wellness: it’s not always about the spa
People have always headed to the mountains to rejuvenate their bodies and souls. Whistler offers an alpine setting that caters to rejuvenation. That often means a spa, but it often doesn't. It can mean simply learning a new skill with professional and patient instructors on slopes, on the bike, at the driving range, or behind an easel. It can mean hiking along well-marked trails into the alpine, to gain a new perspective from high up, or a visit to nearby Pemberton farms for a chance to pick your own berries, flowers and vegetables. There are as many ways to refresh, recharge and recreate in Whistler as there are people who come here to do so. Whistler's annual Wellness Week, held in late May and early June each year, is a community gathering of wellness seminars, fitness workshops and demonstrations, nutritional workshops, yoga and meditation, and more.
- Whistlerites living large in athletes' village after the Games
The Olympic and Paralympic Athlete's Village in Whistler otherwise known as Cheakamus Crossing is one of the most tangible legacies of the 2010 Winter Games. Not only was it home to more than 3,500 athletes and officials during the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, the neighbourhood provides much needed affordable housing to 800 Whistler residents post-Olympics. Along with the 220 resident-restricted townhomes and units, the mixed-use neighbourhood also contains a 55-bed youth hostel run by Hostelling International, 55 rental units managed by Whistler Housing Authority, and a high-performance training centre with athlete accommodations. Without the 2010 Winter Games, this new neighbourhood wouldn't be a reality for the families who live, work and play in Whistler. www.cheakamuscrossing.ca
- Winter backcountry offers vast untracked terrain
Ski touring, off-piste, iceclimbing: Whistler's backcountry experience is expansive, offering plenty of terrain for seasoned backcountry enthusiasts and for off-piste skiers looking for new ways to explore the Coast Mountains. Guides who have tracked these peaks and slopes as part of their backyard show guests their favourite hidden powder stashes and untracked valleys. Heli-skiing/boarding is offered on many nearby glaciers and powder fields in the Coast Mountains, the world's most glaciated mountain range. Guided off-piste skiing/snowboarding is also offered on Whistler Blackcomb slopes. Extremely Canadian offers one- or multi-day ski clinics for intermediate to advanced skiers. Instructors are professional skiers, and the clinics challenge clients in a relaxed and friendly social atmosphere. Guided ice climbing tours are available for all levels of climbers who want to ascend local frozen waterfalls.
- Winter steelhead fishing in Sea to Sky Country
Is it really possible to find enlightenment standing knee-deep in a glacier-fed river on a rainy and cold winter day? That's the belief held by local fly fishermen (and women) in Whistler. The rivers and streams of the Sea to Sky corridor are home to some of the strongest and largest winter steelhead trout (also known as Rainbow trout) in the world. These wild fish provide the serious fly angler a chance at the ultimate freshwater gamefish experience between the months of January and April. Late winter storms bring heavy precipitation, causing the rivers to swell and bring in fresh fish from the ocean - providing fly anglers with the ideal conditions. Combine this with the stunning panorama of the Coast Mountains, the telltale tug of a fish and the satisfaction of reeling one in, and you too will go home enlightened by your experience.
Note: All steelhead caught in Sea to Sky rivers are protected by the catch and release program and you must have a steelhead stamp and fresh water license to fish these waters.
- Winter wonderland - more than just skiing
With its mild winter climate and plentiful snowfall, Whistler is an ideal place to enjoy winter. Start with snowshoeing with a guided or self-guided tour - it's the ultimate Canadian winter activity for all ages and abilities. Try cross-country skiing on more than 32 kilometres of groomed, track set trails on Whistler's picturesque Lost Lake Trails, or 55 kilometres of trails at the recently opened Whistler Olympic Park. Snowmobiling tours are offered day and night, and are perfect when topped off with a warming fondue dinner. Horse-drawn sleigh rides offer romance for two or fun for the whole family. Relaxing in a rejuvenating spa, shopping at Whistler's 200-plus stores, swimming or ice skating at the Meadow Park Sports Centre, touring the Whistler Museum, the Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Center or one of Whistler's many art galleries, and enjoying a local theatre production, are all great ways to escape the cold.
- Women's Nights in the Whistler Mountain Bike Park - growing the sport of downhill mountain biking
While standing at the bottom of the Whistler Mountain Bike Park, surrounded by armor and full face helmets, one might realize there's a few more pony tails, delicate figures and humble (or not so humble) overtaking going on. The Whistler Bike Park introduced a women specific evening only a few years ago to increase interest and numbers from the gender. It was an immediate success. So much in fact, they eventually had to change the name from ‘Women's Wednesday' to ‘Women's Night' when they split the event between Mondays and Wednesdays. Women's Nights are designed to help women experience lift-accessed downhill riding in a relaxed and fun atmosphere with friends. Whistler Blackcomb is growing the sport of downhill mountain biking for women with these weekly girls-only clinics. Discounted bike rentals, lift tickets and guide services are included. Riders of all levels can find something in the park's extensive terrain, and it wouldn't be mountain biking at Whistler without an après drink at the Garibaldi Lift Co. (GLC) to compare stories when it's over. whistlerbike.com/camps-lessons/womens_nights
- Working the dream: Whistler's business owners focus on work-life balance
Whistler is home to many extremely successful entrepreneurs in a wide-range of fields – from high-tech to homebuilding, from designing bike parks to snowboards and ski clothes. Many of these entrepreneurs have left successful careers elsewhere to make Whistler their home. They have fascinating stories about how they have succeeded in Whistler and how their lifestyle enriches their lives.
- You only grow old if you stop playing: Whistler's senior Ski Team
Keeping active is the key to staying fit, and there are many activities for Whistler visitors, at whatever level of adrenaline tolerance or fitness - or age. The Whistler Ski Team is the brainchild of local pro Wendell Moore. The program grew from a group of seven keen skiers (with an average age of 67 and an average of 37.7 seasons under their belts) who were tired of dealing with the young turks, and wanted a more customized experience that accounted for the vagaries of older knees and slower reflexes. Within two seasons, it had exploded to 98 participants, 14 coaches, a website (www.seniorskiteam.com), a social calendar, and catskiing trips. The 2007-08 season ended with 27 teams and 189 skiers. www.seniorskiteam.com