Canadian National BBQ Championships Satisfy Appetites at Dusty’s Bar & BBQ This Long Weekend July 31 – August 2

The “Weekend of the Taste Bud” Continues as the National BBQ Championships and Taste of BC Gala Come to Whistler

The ninth annual Canadian National Barbeque Championships return to Dusty’s Bar & BBQ for another fired-up weekend July 31 – August 2. The highlight of the Pacific Northwest’s competitive BBQ circuit, the National Barbeque Championships is the qualifier event for American Royal World Championships in Kansas City, Missouri as well as the Jack Daniel’s World Championship BBQ event held annually in Lynchburg, Tennessee. Competitors vie for a chance to win over $25,000 in cash, trips and prizes.

“For nine years now we’ve held the BBQ Championships at Dusty’s in Whistler’s Creekside and each year there is a greater turnout and even tastier BBQ’d delicacies,” describes Joshua Kearns, Dusty’s Manager at Whistler Blackcomb. “Held in the midst of summer there is no better way to spend the long weekend than with friends, family, good food and live entertainment.”

The Friday night kick-off includes a wine tasting with winemaker and founder of Ravenswood, Joel Peterson. Entertainment will be provided by Whistler’s own Guitar Doug and Friends and the evening is completed by a Whole Hog BBQ Demonstration with BBQ champion, Jim Ericson. Saturday is Local’s BBQ Day with over $2,000 in cash and prizes awarded in the Backyard BBQ Burger Competition presented by Bull’s Eye BBQ Sauce and Budweiser, “King of the Grill.” A slowly smoked whole hog, that has been BBQ’d for 24 hours, is served with fresh BBQ accoutrements including: baked beans, corn on the cob, coleslaw, tossed greens and Dusty’s famous buns and butt rub mayo! Dusty’s infamous Saturday Night Pig Jig with Wil Mimnaugh begins at 10pm. Tickets are $10 for the first 100 people, then $15 after that. Tickets can be purchased at Dusty’s prior to the event. The Whole Hog Feed starts at 7pm.

Sunday is the main event of the National BBQ Championships, kicking off mid-morning, where cooks from all over the world compete for the honour of “Canadian BBQ Champion 2009”. Whole Lotta Led will perform at 9pm, and a $5 charitable donation grants spectators access to a multitude of tasty samples.

The “Weekend of the Taste Bud” continues with the Taste of British Columbia Gala which takes place on Sunday August 2, 2009. The Taste of British Columbia Gala, held at the Roundhouse Lodge on Whistler Mountain, offers a variety of British Columbia inspired food and wine pairing stations. The gala features local Ocean Wise seafood from BC’s coastal waters as well as meats and vegetables from BC’s ranchlands and farmers fields. Tickets include lift access, dinner and five wine tastings. Tickets are $84 per person and are available at guest relations.

For more information on the Canadian National BBQ Championships, Taste of BC Gala, accommodation packages or other great summer activities at Whistler Blackcomb, check out whistlerblackcomb.com/bbq

Consistently ranked as North America's top ski and snowboard resort, Whistler Blackcomb elevates summer adventure to new heights. On-Mountain activities include high alpine hiking and sightseeing via the spectacular new PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola, epic biking in North America’s number one ranked lift-accessed mountain bike park, and summer skiing and riding on Blackcomb’s Horstman Glacier. In the valley, the family-friendly Adventure Zone, sparkling mountain lakes and Whistler’s vibrant pedestrian village are all surrounded by breathtaking scenery. Located a scenic two-hour drive north of Vancouver up the stunning Sea to Sky Highway, this four season resort is truly incredible. Check it out at www.whistlerblackcomb.com.

About Intrawest ULC Intrawest is a world leader in experiential destination resorts. The company has interests in ten resorts at North America’s most popular mountain destinations including Whistler Blackcomb, a host venue for the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Intrawest network also includes Canadian Mountain Holidays, the largest heli-skiing operation in the world, Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort in Florida and Club Intrawest—a private resort club with locations throughout North America. In addition, Intrawest develops real estate at its resorts and at other locations across North America and in Europe. Intrawest is headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia. For more information, visit www.intrawest.com

-30-

Proud to be a venue for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games