November 24, 2004

Whistler Mountain Opens November 25 - Welcomes American Neighbours for US Thanksgiving

Whistler, BC - Whistler Mountain opens Thursday, November 25, signifying the official opening of Whistler Blackcomb Resort for the 2004-05 season and joining Blackcomb Mountain which opened earlier than planned on November 20. With freezing levels expected to drop overnight, skiers and riders could wake up to 10 cm of fresh snow on top of the untracked 84cm base already waiting for them on Whistler Mountain.

"We traditionally open Whistler Mountain just before American Thanksgiving," says Stuart Rempel, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Sales for Whistler Blackcomb. "We're expecting to welcome our American friends in big numbers as they enjoy some of the best snow conditions in the Pacific Northwest this Thanksgiving Weekend. Resort bookings for this weekend are 15% ahead of last year suggesting that the U.S. market is responding well to our great value offers."

Whistler Blackcomb has invested $14.2 million in on-mountain improvements and Rempel says he's excited about the new season. "This season we'll introduce 1,100 acres of new terrain on Whistler Mountain, unveil a fully redeveloped Creekside base, host the 2005 FIS Snowboard World Championships presented by Nokia in January and launch a Superpipe lit for night skiing and riding on Blackcomb Mountain."

Whistler Mountain will operate Emerald Chair, Big Red Express and Franz's Chair with uploading on both the Whistler and Creekside gondolas. The Excalibur gondola and Excelerator chair will also open on Blackcomb tomorrow for easy uploading from Whistler Village.

Runs Open on Whistler Mountain will be Jolly Green, Upper and Lower Ego Bowl, Upper and Lower Whisky Jack, Upper Bear Cub, Pig Alley, Enchanted Forest, Papoose, Pony Trail, Porcupine, Orange Peel, Banana Peel and Upper Franz's. Whistler Mountain will have five rails and a rainbow rail in the new Habitat Terrain Park.

Skiers and riders are reminded to play safe, since there may be unmarked rocks and obstacles on runs that are open during the early season.

Blackcomb will continue to operate Jersey Cream Express and Catskinner Chairs with uploading and downloading via Wizard Express and Solar Coaster Express. Open runs include Wishbone, Choker, Upper Springboard, Upper Ross' Gold, Upper Cruiser and Cougar Milk. Six rails are featured at the top of Solar Coaster.

The weekend forecast is calling for an upper ridge to build over the region Saturday afternoon resulting in sunny dry conditions for Sunday.

Early season pricing is in effect. One-day adult lift tickets are $49, senior and youth tickets are $37 and children 7 to 12 years are $24. Children six and under ski and ride free. Hours of operation are from 8:30am to 3pm with the last upload on both mountains at 2pm. Season Passes and frequent skier/rider Edge Cards for BC and Washington State residents are available for pickup and purchase at the Village, Creekside and Blackcomb Daylodge Guest Relations.

For further information on what's on at Whistler Blackcomb this season, including special accommodation package prices, log on to whistlerblackcomb.com or call 1-866-218-9690.

Site of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games

Whistler Blackcomb is owned and operated by Intrawest Corporation. Intrawest Corporation (IDR:NYSE; ITW:TSX) is the leading developer and operator of village-centered resorts across North America. The company owns nine mountain resorts, including Whistler Blackcomb, North America's most popular mountain resort. Intrawest also owns Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort in Florida and has a premier vacation ownership business, Club Intrawest. The company has a 45 per cent interest in Alpine Helicopters Ltd., owner of Canadian Mountain Holidays, the largest heli-skiing operation in the world. Intrawest is headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia and is located on the World Wide Web at www.intrawest.com.