| Accommodations | Getting Here | The Mountains | Things to do | Tickets & Passes | Rentals & Lessons | Groups | Weather & Cams |
| MENU | ||
| About Whistler Blackcomb | Calendar of Events | Press Releases |
| Winter | 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games |
Image Gallery |
| Summer | Peak to Peak Gondola | Contact Us |
|
Whistler Blackcomb is casting an optimistic gaze toward its 2007/2008 winter season after last year was heralded as the resort's second snowiest year on record, with a total snowfall of 14.16 metres (46.5 feet). That's 40 per cent more than the resort's average annual snowfall of 1,022cm (33.5 feet). "With the landmark Peak to Peak project underway, the return of the popular Symphony Amphitheatre, and a host of other on-mountain improvements, this winter promises to be one of the most exciting yet," says Dave Brownlie, Whistler Blackcomb's Chief Operating Officer. Peak to PeakConstruction is well underway on one of Whistler Blackcomb's landmark projects and Canada's newest tourism icon, the Peak to Peak Gondola. This autumn, Peak to Peak crews expect to complete concrete pours at the terminal sites located at Blackcomb Mountain's Rendezvous Lodge and Whistler Mountain's Roundhouse Lodge. They also expect to have towers Two and Three erected before the 2007/2008 winter season. Construction will resume in April 2008 and is scheduled to wrap up in time for a December 2008 grand opening. "This exciting project is such a huge undertaking and one of the largest of its kind in the world," says Rick Temple, Peak to Peak Gondola project manager for Whistler Blackcomb. "The Peak to Peak Gondola project is just an entirely new horizon for Whistler Blackcomb and it's going to spark all kinds of opportunities and growth for tourism in the region." Once completed, the gondola will become a tourism icon for British Columbia and Canada, bringing visitors from all over the world into the high alpine to experience scenic views. Supported by only four towers, the gondola will travel 4.4 kilometres (2.73 miles) in just 11 minutes – reaching a highest vertical point of 415 metres (1,361 feet) above Fitzsimmons Creek, which is a world record. Coming in at $53 million, the Peak to Peak Gondola also breaks the world record for longest free span, with a distance of 3.024 kilometres (1.88 miles) stretching between the two towers furthest apart. 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter GamesWith the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games only three winters away, preparations are well underway in the resort and on the mountains. Whistler Blackcomb is the venue for the mens and womens Olympic and Paralympic alpine skiing disciplines of Downhill, Super-G, Giant Slalom, Slalom and Super Combined. In preparation for these events, crews led by the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC), are contouring and reshaping the mens and womens downhill courses, located at Whistler Creekside. The mens downhill will take place on the Dave Murray course, while the womens downhill and all Paralympic alpine skiing events will take place on a newly designed race course on Wildcard and mid to lower Franz's Trail. Improvements to snowmaking technology have been ongoing since 2006 and include doubling the size of the reservoir, installing snowmaking pipework and pump station upgrades. VANOC is spending approximately $17.6 million on snowmaking infrastructure for the Games, a legacy for Whistler Blackcomb long after 2010. Meanwhile, construction is continuing on the Whistler Sliding Centre, located on Blackcomb Mountain. The Sliding Centre will host the bobsleigh, luge and skeleton events. Construction on the course will conclude in early 2008. FIS World Cup 2008The FIS World Cup Alpine Ski Races are scheduled to run February 18 to 24, 2008. Whistler will host the women's Downhill and Super Combined, and men's Super G and Giant Slalom on the new Olympic course. "The World Cup race events returning to Whistler Blackcomb and Panorama Mountain Village this season represent a major step toward Canada's goal of being a world-leading alpine ski racing nation by 2010," said ACA chief executive officer Ken Read. "As we prepare for the 2010 Games, Whistler has become our home away from home as it will host various race events - such as the Pontiac GMC Canadian Alpine Championships - and dry land training camp for our athletes." The Pontiac GMC Canadian Alpine Championships will run February 6 to 12, 2008. Mountain OperationsWhile skiers and riders may not be able to see all of the changes, Whistler Blackcomb crews have been hard at work making some very important on-mountain improvements, including building new water treatment plants at Glacier Creek and Crystal Hut on Blackcomb Mountain and the Children's Learning Centre on Whistler Mountain, at a total cost of $480,000. Meanwhile, the Lift Maintenance team spent nearly three months during the spring conducting $5 million mechanical refit on the Whistler Village Gondola. The award-winning Whistler Blackcomb Parks Team, known around the world for innovation, is spending $40,000 on refurbishing rails and purchasing new ones. Last season, the terrain parks, spread across both mountains, accounted for 80 acres and boasted 150-plus features, including jumps ranging from 25 to 80 feet, a rollercoaster rail, a 50-foot single bar rail, 20-foot quarter pipe and a world class super pipe. Park riders can expect to be dazzled again by their gravity defying designs this winter. Symphony ExpressThe Symphony Amphitheatre on Whistler Mountain is entering its second season after a snowy debut in December 2006. Last season, skiers and riders experienced many a powder day as they explored the 1,000 acres of intermediate and advanced terrain. The Symphony Express high-speed quad chair brings guests to Piccolo Peak, where they can access a vast expanse of wide open bowls, groomers and gladed runs – with superb views of Blackcomb Mountain and the surrounding Garibaldi Provincial Park. EnvironmentWhistler Blackcomb's environmental awareness during the development of Symphony has caught local and international attention. A team of planners and engineers, which included a bear biologist, foresters and mountain planners, developed a minimalist design that kept wildlife habitat intact, reducing the project's footprint from an original estimate of 40 per cent down to less than five per cent. Crews used heli-logging to thin out clusters of alpine trees and reduce damage to the area. In 2006, Whistler Blackcomb received the international First Choice Responsible Tourism Award for Best In A Mountain Environment and the BC Tourism Award for Environmentally Responsible Tourism. Then, in 2007, the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) gave Whistler Blackcomb the 2007 Silver Eagle Award for Fish & Wildlife Habitat Protection. Meanwhile, Whistler Blackcomb's Habitat Improvement Team celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. The Whistler Blackcomb team has completed over 80 projects in the Whistler community – eight projects during Summer 2007. This summer, the team packaged and sent 3,500 items of winter clothing to Petrosani, one of Romania's poorest regions. The project, supported by partners in the Whistler community, first began in 2002. To date, volunteers have shipped a total of 20,000 winter clothing items to the region, as well as books, computers and medical supplies. Whistler Blackcomb's team also provides in-kind consultation services to help develop ecotourism in Romania. La Nina WinterThe World Meteorological Organization (WMO) says winter 2007/2008 will likely be a La Nina year, which is good news for Whistler Blackcomb. Traditionally, La Nina calls for wetter and colder than normal weather in the Pacific Northwest during the fall and early winter. But, just to be on the safe side, Whistler Blackcomb still plans to host its annual Ullr party to cover the bases. |
|
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Snowmaking at Whistler Blackcomb
|
|
Skiing and RidingWhistler Blackcomb boasts 8,171 acres (3,307 hectares) of skiable terrain and an immense backcountry, from vast powder-filled bowls to expertly groomed corduroy. Whistler Mountain's new Symphony Amphitheatre is the newest drawing card. Originally accessible only by hiking in, Symphony boasts stunning views of Garibaldi Provincial Park, access to Flute Bowl, gladed runs and epic off-piste riding. The Symphony Express high-speed quad chair accesses 1,000 acres of intermediate and advanced terrain. Whistler Blackcomb's five terrain parks, Supepipe and quarter pipe, are world class. Designed for all ability levels, the parks offer 150-plus features, including rails, kickers and table-top jumps. Fresh TracksEarly birds can grab fresh turns on Whistler Mountain and a delicious hot buffet breakfast - before the lifts open to the public. Skiers and riders can purchase tickets for early morning access, allowing them to ride the Whistler Village Gondola to the Roundhouse Lodge where a hearty breakfast awaits. Once patrol gives the go-ahead, they can then head out to track fresh lines before the mountain opens to the public. Fresh Tracks tickets are available for through Guest Relations. Coca-Cola Tube ParkThe Tube Park, which debuted during the 05/06 season, is the perfect place to experience the mountain without strapping into bindings. Located at Base II on Blackcomb Mountain, the Tube Park offers 7 305-metre (1,000-foot)-long lanes ranging in speed from green to black, just like ski runs. The park, which is open even after the ski lifts close for the day, also offers a Mini Zone with mini-tubes. There's no skill or equipment required - just a sense of adventure. The Coca-Cola Tube Park is sure to please the young as well as the young at heart. Other Winter Activities
Tourism Whistler, which represents businesses in the Whistler community, is an excellent source of information on dining, activities and accommodation in and around Whistler Village. For more information, please visit the Tourism Whistler website. |
|
Quick Facts
With five parks and over 32 hectares (80 acres) of terrain to choose from, Whistler Blackcomb's terrain parks provide something to satisfy the cravings of all jumpers and jibbers. Whistler Blackcomb's terrain parks now boast over 150 features including tables ranging from 7.6 to 24 metre (25 to 80 feet), a rollercoaster rail, a 15 metre (50-foot) single bar rail, 6-metre (20-foot) quarter pipe the world-class Superpipe on Blackcomb Mountain. Blackcomb Mountain boasts three parks ranging in difficulty from the Big Easy Terrain Garden and Nintendo Terrain Park to the Highest Level Park. Meanwhile, Whistler Mountain has the Habitat Terrain Park, which includes beginner, intermediate and advanced features. The skier/snowboard cross track, located off the Nintendo Terrain Park, is also a favourite spot for those with the need for speed. The Whistler Blackcomb Terrain Park Rangers have an impressive resume, winning 29 top three Park and Pipe Awards since 1996, unmatched by any resort park team in the world. The Park Rangers are also hard at work during the spring building mammoth jumps for visiting ski and snowboard film crews. |
|
Quick FactThe pros in Whistler Blackcomb's Ski and Snowboard School, more than 1,300 strong, speak 25 different languages, including French, German, Japanese, Spanish, Korean, Dutch and Cantonese. Whistler Blackcomb attracts the world's top ski and snowboard instructors. Whistler Blackcomb's Ski & Snowboard School has programs for everyone: kids, teens, women, those looking for private instruction and those looking to forge new friendships on the mountain in a group lesson. Instructors have the highest training possible in Canada, and many have competed or coached in the Olympics and on the World Cup circuit. More importantly, instructors go above and beyond the call of duty, forming close relationships with many of the visitors they work with. Whistler Kids (ages 3 to 12 and infant/toddlers ages 3 months to 48 months)Private Lessons - The ultimate learning experience for kids and teens as well as the best way to explore the mountains. Go one-on-one or make a group with up to five kids or family members of similar ability. Ski (ages 3 and older) or snowboard classes (ages 7 and older) are available for all abilities. Language preferences can be considered and classes receive lift line priority. Full day or half day private lessons are available. Multi-Day Adventure Camps – Whistler Blackcomb offers Monday to Wednesday Adventure Camps and weekend camps for snowboarding. The same instructor and group make for lasting friendships and amazing progression. Available to every ability level of skiers 3 to 12 and snowboarders 7 to 12. The groups will do it all, from basics to terrain park and Kids Zones. Daily Lessons - Full day group lessons are available for skiers 3 to 12 and snowboarders 7 to 12. Whistler Kids Pros are experienced in teaching children and show students the mountains best kept secrets - runs, trails and Kids Adventure Zones, all while working on skills progression in a fun learning environment! Infant and Toddler Childcare – For ages 3 months to 48 months. Parents can relax and enjoy themselves out on the slopes, knowing their little ones are well taken care of in licensed childcare facilities (in three locations). Staffed and run by professional Early Childhood Educators, our daycare centres provide a fun and stimulating environment for infants, toddlers and preschoolers who are not quite ready to ski. Parent Pagers are available to provide parents with total peace of mind. Ride Tribe (Youth Programs for ages 13 to 18)Private Lessons - The ultimate learning experience for teens as well as the best way to explore the mountains. Go one-on-one or make a group with up to five teens or family members of similar ability. Ski or snowboard classes (ages 13 to 18) are available for all abilities. Language preferences can be taken into account and classes are given lift line priority. Full-day or half-day private lessons are available. Ride Tribe Camps – Five-day (Mon to Fri) and two-day weekend camps are available for beginner to expert skiers and riders aged 13 to 18 years, during peak weeks. Teens who can't handle another day on the slopes with mom and dad should check out Ride Tribe. Coaches are some of the best in the ski and snowboard industry and will give teens a full tilt experience on the slopes. Teens will get the same group and coach for the duration of the camp. Five-day camps include cool apres events around the Village. Ride Tribe Daily Lessons - Full day group lessons are available for skiers and boarders aged 13 to 18. Teens won't want to stop at one day after experiencing the mountains with a Ride Tribe group. Teen-savvy coaches don't only instruct, they offer up a whole "culture" of their own. Park Freeride Super Groups - Advanced (level 5 and 6) skiers and riders aged 10-18 can experience the Park, Pipe and mountains with no distraction! Maximum learning potential and mileage are the big benefit of these small groups (max three) geared introduce the Park and Pipe or take kids/teens to new heights! Powder and steeps are also part of the "curriculum" when conditions are right. Adult Ski & SnowboardPrivate Lessons - The ultimate learning experience and the best way to explore the mountains. Go one-on-one or make a group with up to five family or friends of similar ability. Ski, snowboard, telemark or ride the Park and Pipe with video analysis, language choice and lift line priority. Learn to Ski/Ride - Our beginner program makes learning to ski or snowboard easier than ever with packages that include lesson, lift pass and rentals. Ski Esprit – This popular mountain exploration program offers three or four days of mountain guiding and instruction. The program includes video analysis, a fun race, line priority, après receptions and lots of mileage. Perfect for any level of skier. Women's Programs – Our women only ski and snowboard programs features top female coaches who will help build confidence, overcome fears and take your skiing and riding ability to the next level. Backcountry Adventures - For some, 8,171 acres (3,307 hectares) of terrain just isn't enough. For those wanting to venture outside the Ski Area Boundary, Whistler Blackcomb formed a relationship with the Whistler Alpine Guides Bureau in order to offer backcountry ski and snowboard touring. Professional guides will give you a true taste of Coastal powder with a full day or multiple days of serious vertical. Extremely Canadian Freeskiing Clinics - Confident intermediate and advanced skiers can refine their off-piste techniques with top guides in these big-mountain clinics. Dave Murray Ski Camps - This legendary program combines gate training with all-mountain skiing, world-class coaches, a private training hill, video analysis and the latest training aids. Park & Pipe Ski Camps - In a safe atmosphere, instructors will help you acquire the skills needed to shred the half-pipes and rip up the terrain parks. Whistler Adaptive Ski Program - A unique program to provide people with disabilities access to the mountains. From the beginner who needs instruction on the basics to the seasoned skier who needs only a guide, we cater to all abilities. |
|
|
| |
|
Each spring, Whistler hosts the TELUS World Ski & Snowboard Festival, one of the largest snow sports, music and entertainment festivals in the world. For 10 days, pro skiers and snowboarders impress with their biggest bags of tricks at world renowned competitions, free concerts rock the village, film and fine art events dazzle crowds, and parties pump up the beats. With annual attendance of over 250,000 visitors, the TWSSF is the perfect time to discover the latest trends in snowsports, lifestyle and music. The energy is youthful, the intensity level is high, and the vibe is contagious. TWSSF 2008 runs from April 11 to 20, 2008. Quick Facts for TWSSF 2007
|
|
|
|
