Pontiac GMC Canadian Championships

February 6-11, 2008

The 2008 Pontiac GMC Canadian Championships will be held on Whistler Mountain, February 6-11, 2008. Men and Women will be competing in Downhill and Super Combined events on the new Wild Card / Jimmy's / Lower Franz's course. Then on February 12 and 13, 2008, we have the younger athletes competing in the World Junior Qualification Slalom and Giant Slalom races.

In addition to the Canadian Championships and World Junior Qualification Events,  Whistler Mountain is also the venue for the FIS Whistler World Cup Alpine Ski Races, scheduled to run February 19 to 24, 2008. Whistler Mountain will host the women's Downhill and Super Combined on Wild Card / Jimmy's Joker / Lower Franz's and the men's Super G and Giant Slalom on the Upper and Lower Dave Murray track.

These major race events on Whistler Blackcomb this season represent a major step toward Canada's goal of being a world-leading alpine ski racing nation by 2010. In preparation, Whistler will become the home away from home for many athletes and will host other race events, such as the Pontiac GMC Canadian Alpine Championships and dry land training camps for athletes. To learn more about our Canadian National Ski Teams and their progress, check out http://www.canski.org/

Where can I watch?
Part of the excitement of Whistler Blackcomb hosting these races is being there to witness the incredible velocity and technique harnessed by each of the racers. Whistler Blackcomb will be working with race officials to ensure there are safe and appropriate viewing pods for spectactors along the course and at the finish line so our mountain guests will have the opportunity to cheer on their home country.

Viewing pods are located at the start of Wild Card, the bottom of Upper Franz, left of the Tunnel exit, XY Junction on Lower Dave Murray and at the Finish.  A printable Spectator Map is available here.

Where will all the action be happening?
Creekside will be at the heart of the all these Alpine Ski Races as all the runs share a common finish area at the Timing Flats, which is the area adjacent to Taluswood and At Natures Door residences.

During the Pontiac GMC Canadian Championships, the racers will be testing out some of the new renovations done this summer on the runs. Both the men and women will be racing on the Wild Card / Jimmy's Joker / Lower Franz's track for Downhill and Super Combined (SC is a combination of 1 run Super G and 1 run Slalom). For the World Junior Qualification event, the GS will be on Lower Franz's to the Timing Flats and the Slalom is on Lower Dave Murray.

For the FIS World Cup Events the men will run on Upper and Lower Dave Murray Downhill. The Women's Downhill and Super Combined will run on Wild Card, Jimmy's Joker and Franz's and finish on the Lower Dave Murray Downhill.

Even with all this racing during the month of February, Whistler Blackcomb is proud to announce that over 90% of the mountains' terrain will remain wide-open for the general skiing and riding public, while providing world-class race venues as well as additional training runs.

What sort of impact will this have on the rest of the runs and on Mountain access?
Blackcomb Mountain's operations will be business as usual and, for the most part, skiing on Whistler Mountain will be minimally impacted.

Skiers and riders accessing Blackcomb Mountain will be able to upload via the Wizard Express in the Upper Village base of Blackcomb Mountain, or at the Excalibur Gondola in Whistler Village. Whistler Mountain will be accessed via Whistler Village Gondola or Creekside Gondola at Creekside Base.

Skiers and riders are welcome to ski out to Blackcomb base and Whistler Village base areas, weather permitting, via any route they choose.

During the Pontiac GMC Canadian Championships and the World Junior Qualification races, February 6-13, 2008, access to the Creekside will be via the Lower Dave Murray run or Peak to Creek. Skiers and Riders on Lower Dave Murray will have opportunities to watch the racers as they approach the finish area when on this route.

During the FIS World Cup Events, February 19-24, 2008, access to the Creekside base will be limited to Peak to Creek for advanced skiers and riders or downloading on the Creekside Gondola. If Peak to Creek run is not open, due to weather or snow conditions, downloading on the Creekside Gondola will be mandatory.

 

Parking
Parking will be available in the Creekside underground Parking Lot, the Whistler Village daylots and the Parking Lots on Blackcomb Mountain.

 

 It's the Volunteers who make it all work:

It is a huge group of community volunteer race workers who are out there preparing the tracks for the Pontiac GMC Canadian National Championships and the FIS World Cup 2008 Men's and Women's downhill courses. Learn more about how you can be a part of the Volunteer effort at www.whistleralpinevolunteers.com/

 

History Behind the Run Names

Dave Murray Downhill
Dave Murray was one of the original Crazy Canucks and one of the most popular and personable ski personalities Canada has ever produced. He was one of the four original Canadian skiers referred to as the Crazy Canucks - Ken Read, Steve Podborski, Dave Irwin and Dave Murray. Dave passed away in 1990, after a valiant fight with cancer. The run was named in his honour in 1991.

Franz's
Named after Franz Wilhelmson, the driving force behind Whistler. He had a vision in the early 1960s of seeing Whistler Mountain as a major ski area catering to Vancouver and Seattle skiers. Through his tenacity, he managed to open Whistler Mountain in February 1966. Franz's was his favourite run and named in his honour.