Big White Celebrates 50 Years with Gold Pass

Kelowna, BC - Big White just wanted you to have this information as soon as possible, especially for those of you who want to spread your payments out as much as possible.

Purchase or register for the free payment plan online (first cut-off date June 15) and be entered to win an Apple iPad 3!

Big White is launching 2012/2013 season pass sales online on June 1. There is lots of new stuff so bear with me and read on!

We are celebrating 50 years as Kelowna's favourite mountain with our Anniversary Gold Pass which includes:

Price freeze on all season pass rates

Unlimited skiing and snowboarding

Free online payment plan

NEW - Free unlimited skating pass

NEW - Free guaranteed Learn to Ski or Snowboard program for first timers with purchase

NEW - 50% off early bird season pass tubing addon (only $49 per person)

NEW - Preferred family (with tot) and senior parking areas

NEW - 4 x 25% lift ticket discounts for family or friends

50% off group lessons (if purchased before October 14 cut-off)

Free nordic and snowshoe trail pass

Longest ski season in the Okanagan

Special accommodation offers and additional benefits

Summer Festivals and Events Galore

Crested Butte, CO - Another Magical Summer is Upon Us
Summer is always a special time in Crested Butte. With the abundance of activities, sunshine, wildflowers, festivals and events, there is always something exciting happening! Enjoy racing through the Evolution Bike Park, taking a zipline tour through the Aspen trees, shooting a hole in one in the Flying Gopher Mini Golf Course, soaking up the incredible views on a scenic chairlift ride, enjoy lunch on the 9380 patio, and do it all over again the next day! We have included an in-depth event and festival lineup in this e-mail, along with dates and details. Of course, we're also offering plenty of lodging specials this summer to help you save on your next trip. We look forward to seeing you in Crested Butte this summer!

Early Opening for Red Lady Express, Zipline Tours & Mini Golf Thanks to the incredibly nice weather, we will be opening the Red Lady Express for the weekend of June 9 and 10. The hours of operation will be 9:30 am to 5 pm. In addition, zipline tours will run from 9:30 am to 5 pm. Mini golf and bike rentals will be available starting at 9 am both days.

Daily summer lift operations begin on Saturday, June 16, 2012 with the Red Lady Express and the Silver Queen Express lifts. View complete schedule here. To purchase lift tickets and passes, stop by the Adventure Center located in Mountaineer Square. Ticket office hours are 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily.

Park City Mountain Resort Opens for Summer on Memorial Day Weekend

Park City, UT - Park City Mountain Resort kicks off the summer season Friday, May 25, just in time for Memorial Day weekend, with a variety of adventures for guests of virtually any age.

The Resort’s full complement of summer rides, mountain activities and dining options returns for summer 2012. Experience the banks and drops of Utah’s only alpine coaster, cruise one of the world’s longest alpine slides and soar through the trees on the ZipRider. Opening for its first full summer of operation in 2012, the Flying Eagle Zip Line allows guests not yet big enough for the ZipRider to also take to the skies and enjoy a bird’s eye view of the Resort base area.

Younger guests can explore the spider slide, climbing web, boulders and climbing wall in the Adventure Zone, and catch big air while safely harnessed on the Legacy Launcher trampolines. Little Miners Park’s merry-go-round, airplane ride and mini train cater to the resort’s youngest guests.

Legends Bar and Grill, located at Legacy Lodge, offers a full menu of lunch and dinner options, and Crescent Burger serves up made-to-order burgers, hand cut fries and homemade shakes just steps from the Resort’s base attractions.

Beginning Friday, PayDay Lift and the Resort Base Area will be open Sunday-Friday, 1-6 pm and Saturdays, 11 am-6 pm during the summer’s Early Season, before expanding to Regular Season hours June 8. Also June 8, Town lift, providing guests mountain access directly from historic Main Street, begins operation.

Downhill Cyclists Gear up for the Whiteface 5K Downhill

Wilmington Whiteface Bike Fest June 14-17
Wilmington, NY - Many of the country’s top downhill mountain bikers will be racing for $2,500.00 in cash when they compete in Sunday’s, June 17, seventh annual Whiteface 5K Downhill being held at Whiteface Mountain in Wilmington, N.Y. The event is the fifth stop on the Pro MTB Gravity Tour (Pro GRT).

“This race is the week before the Mont-Ste.-Ann (Quebec, Canada) and the Windham (N.Y.) World Cup races,” said the event’s organizer Mike Scheur, also known as “Downhill Mike.” “I’m anticipating that we should not only attract the best in the U.S., following the Pro GRT Tour, but some of the best in the world as well.”

While the top pros will be pursuing the cash purse, the top three places in all of the amateur categories will come away with prizes from participating sponsors. Racers can register for the 5K downhill by logging onto www.downhillmike.com. The cost is $85 through June 11. The registration also includes a two-day lift pass to Whiteface Mountain.

The Whiteface Mountain bike park, operated by High Peaks Cyclery, is scheduled to open for the summer season, Friday, June 15. A dual slalom race is slated for Saturday, June 16, with a free kids dual slalom event slated for noon. The park has 27 diverse trails that range from hardcore expert only downhillers, to cruisers, to winding cross-country paths—something for every ability and riding style. Whiteface also has the greatest vertical drop in the east. Adult season passes through June 22 are just $299.

The Whiteface 5K Downhill is one of several events taking place on and around Whiteface and Wilmington during the second annual Wilmington Whiteface Bike Fest, June 14-17.

The bike fest begins Thursday, June 14, with a mountain bike instruction clinic for beginners, sponsored by High Peaks Cyclery. The event continues throughout the weekend and also includes bike stunts, jumps and tricks exhibitions, pro-trial demonstrations, a bike parade as well as plenty of music, food and family-free events.

Deer Valley Summers Offer Exhilarating Recreation Amid Postcard Settings

Park City, UT - Deer Valley Resort's whitewashed mountains have given way to the growth of lush mountain splendor and summer outdoor play. Exquisite mountain elegance, fine dining and a multitude of summer activities await visitors seeking an unforgettable alpine getaway.

Deer Valley Resort offers a spectacular setting to connect with Mother Nature, experience majestic mountain views, relax from the stress of everyday life and participate in activities ranging from lift-served hiking and mountain biking, scenic chairlift rides, deckside dining at Royal Street Café and Deer Valley Grocery~Café, outdoor concerts and more. With Deer Valley Resort Lodging and Reservations being owned and operated by the resort, serving not only as property manager but also as the booking agency, guests have access to the largest selection of accommodations, with the best service and availability in the Deer Valley area.

Summer operations at the resort run seven days a week from June 15 through Labor Day and continue to be offered September 8 and 9, weather and conditions permitting. Summer chairlifts operate from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (conditions permitting) and ample parking is available at Snow Park Lodge. The resort website provides detailed information for mountain biking and hiking/scenic ride lift ticket rates, as well as information on bike rentals, clinics and tours.

Timbers Restaurant Names Richard Scarzello as New Head Chef

Warren, VT - Sugarbush Resort announces the hiring or Richard Scarzello as Head Chef at Timbers Restaurant.

Scarzello joins the Sugarbush culinary team with a passion to develop the locally-inspired cuisine at Timbers. A supporter of local agriculture and farm-chef partnerships, Scarzello is excited to take advantage of the abundance of the rich food economy that the Mad River Valley and the state of Vermont has to offer.

"As a Vermont native who has expanded his depth of knowledge with working experience throughout Europe as well as close to home, Rich's background is the perfect complement to Sugarbush's culinary team," said Win Smith, President of Sugarbush Resort.

Mount St. Louis Introduces the Outback Riderz

Coldwater, ON - Mt St Louis Moonstone is stoked to introduce a competitive Freestyle Team! Finally the ski resort with the best terrain parks east of the Rockies will launch a competitive ski team affectionately called the Outback Riderz for the upcoming 2012/13 ski season.

Home of the award winning Junkyard and Outback Terrain Parks, MSLM has always been committed to the development of Freestyle Skiing in Ontario. That commitment is solidified with the introduction of a competitive Freestyle Team the OUTBACK RIDERZ and NEW head Coach Brendan Buchar.

Buchar brings his successful competitive background, as a Pro Free Ride Skier, his respected coaching experience and his enthusiastic passion for the sport to MSLM’s newly formed team. His skills will assist in the building of an outstanding competitive Freestyle ski program, one that honours MSLM’s commitment to become Ontario’s leading training facility for Freestyle Skiing at the club level, provincially and beyond.

Kids Adventure Day Camps at Sugar Bowl Resort

Donner Summit, CA - Sugar Bowl’s popular Kids Adventure Day Camps are returning to Donner Summit this summer, offering two different week-long sessions, complete with three different programs tailor-fit for ages 4-6, 7-10 and 11-14.

Dates, programs and pricing for this summer’s camps:

Session 1 will be offered July 23-27
Session 2 will be offered July 30-August 3

Explore Nature
Ages 4-6
$420 per child, per session

Adventures in Nature
Ages 7-10
$480 per child, per session

Mountain Explorer
Ages 11-14
$480 per child, per session

Led by the professional counselors of Gateway Mountain Center, the Kids Adventure Day Camps balance field science instruction with hiking and reflection, emphasizing active learning that is cooperative, fun, and provocative. Destinations are chosen by staff to illustrate the themes and concepts, and to provide a meaningful outdoor experience. Group safety, trail conditions, cooperation and fitness levels are all taken into account in determining a day’s activities. Days on the trail will include natural history, fitness, learning, activities & games, team building exercises, and journaling time.

Snowbird Receives Approval to Install Mountain Coaster

Snowbird, UT - The Salt Lake County Planning Commission voted unanimously Wednesday to approve Snowbird’s proposed new location for a mountain coaster. The commission’s approval is contingent on more detailed site plans and meeting various governmental agency criteria, all of which Snowbird has addressed throughout the planning process.

“We are excited to provide another form of summer recreation for our guests and Utah’s growing population,” said Snowbird President Bob Bonar. “We feel today’s approval is a result of listening to various stakeholders, community groups and neighbors as well as working with Salt Lake County and City to create a workable solution for all parties.”

Snowbird hosted site tours for any interested individuals, community groups, councils and commissions prior to Wednesday’s meeting in an attempt to address any concerns, which resulted in very little opposition during the Planning Commission meeting.

The mountain coaster will be located within Snowbird’s existing developed resort footprint on private property with loading and unloading at the base of the Peruvian Express chairlift. Much of the ride is obscured from the highway by the Cliff Lodge as well as trees and vegetation. The mountain coaster installation uses primarily soil nails and has minimal impact on the terrain.

“As with every project we undertake, water quality is at the top of the priority list,” said Bonar. “Scientific analysis dating back to Snowbird’s beginning demonstrates that year-round recreation is compatible with operating within a watershed.”

Snowbird now will begin the final design phase and work on installation timelines, currently expected to take place this fall or spring 2013.

Snowbird will open its existing summer activities Friday, June 8. Those include the Alpine Slide, Mountain Flyer, Ropes Course, Climbing Wall, Kids’ Inflatables, Bungy Trampolines and Mechanical Bull. The Tram is scheduled to open for the season Friday, June 15, following spring maintenance. The Peruvian Express lift and tunnel will likely open for the season July 4.

Fernie Alpine Resort Starts Construction of NEW Aerial Playground & ZipLine Adventure

Fernie, BC - The construction of the NEW feature adventure in Fernie this year has just started at Fernie Alpine Resort. This summer along with the Legendary Mountain Bike Park Fernie will offer a 4 ZipLine and 16 element Aerial Playground, making Fernie a true one stop shop for summer adventure. Each tour features a training session and up to 3 hours of Tree Top fun!

Along with the NEW Aerial Playground & Rippin Zipline Fernie Alpine Resort Legendary Summer also includes activities such as the Mountain Bike Park, Hiking, Mountain Top Lunch, Sightseeing, Tennis and more! Visit Fernie for its Preview Weekend on June 23/24 – Official Opening Date is Friday June 29th!

Sugarbush Resort Accepts Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence

Warren, VT - Sugarbush Resort accepted the Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence at the Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility spring conference in Burlington.

As part of its ongoing efforts to be responsible stewards of the environment, Sugarbush Resort partnered with Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. (VHB), an environmental consulting firm, to develop a long-term water quality remediation plan for the entire resort.

The programs have proven successful: In the summer of 2011, the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources removed Rice Brook from the state's list of "impaired waters" due to the resort's diligent clean-up work.

"Sugarbush is committed to being better stewards of the environment," said Win Smith, president and owner of Sugarbush. "We are continuously looking to make sound investments that reduces the environmental impact of doing business. We are happy to have been recognized by Governor Shumlin for our efforts."

Rice Brook is the third brook Sugarbush has restored to high-water quality conditions. Chase and Slide Brook were also restored to meet Vermont's water quality standards.

A little more than a mile in length, Rice Brook forms in the higher elevations near the Lincoln Peak base area at Sugarbush and flows east where it joins Clay Brook before flowing into the Mad River about halfway between Warren and Waitsfield. It is part of the larger Winooski River watershed. Rice Brook's water quality problems resulted from untreated stormwater runoff; that is, water that runs off from impervious surfaces during rainstorms and from snowmelt, rather than naturally filtering through the soil. Stormwater runoff results in increases in pollutants such as silt and sand entering streams, and also higher rates of flow, causing stream channels to erode. The plan that Sugarbush and VHB developed, in partnership with the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, addressed both of these issues through design and implementation of state-of-the-art stormwater controls.

Saddleback Receives Governor's Award for Business Excellence

Rangeley, ME - Governor Paul LePage presented Saddleback Ski Resort with a 2012 Governor's Award for Business Excellence during a reception held today at the Statehouse Hall of Flags in Augusta.

The 22nd annual awards, administered by the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) and sponsored by Fairpoint Communications, recognize companies that demonstrate a high level of commitment to their community, employees and to manufacturing or service excellence.

Saddleback's owners, Bill & Irene Berry, daughter Faith Berry, grandchildren Martin & Adrienne Berard along with Chris Farmer General Manager, all accepted the award. The company is one of New England's finest family ski and snowboard resorts, offering activities and events during all four seasons.

"The Berry family is honored to receive such a prestigious award on behalf of Saddleback," said Bill Berry, owner.

Since 2003 Saddleback has increased its workforce from 66 full and part-time employees to 225 during the peak winter season. The Berry family has invested more than $40 million during that time to improve and expand mountain and resort operations. Saddleback recently became the first Maine business approved to operate a Regional Center within the federal Immigrant Investor Pilot Program known as EB-5.

"This year's honorees represent businesses that are regional, national and international leaders in their fields," said Governor LePage. "I am particularly pleased that each business has shown a commitment to investment, innovation, their community, and to Maine."

Snow Summit Hosts Stage 6 Finish Site of 2012 Amgen Tour of California Friday, May 18th

Big Bear Lake, CA - Snow Summit will be the host of the finish site for Stage 6 of the 2012 Amgen Tour of California on Friday, May 18, 2012, bringing some of the world's most elite cyclists to the mountain community. Located at an elevation of 7,000 feet, cyclists will make the grueling 115 mile climb from Palmdale to the finish line at Snow Summit Resort in Big Bear Lake, California, known as the Big Bear Climb.

Stage 6 of the Amgen Tour of California begins in Palmdale and is widely considered the most challenging and defining stage of the Tour. This is the second time in three years that Big Bear Lake has been selected as a Host City, which reaffirms the mountain resort as a world-class road cycling destination.

"We are honored to be the host of the finish site for the Big Bear Climb which represents one of the most difficult stages of the race," said Chris Riddle, Vice President of Marketing for Big Bear Mountain Resorts. "Snow Summit will be offering free activities for all spectators providing an impressive view of the international field of elite cyclists as they complete a defining stage of this world-recognized cycling event."

As the location of the finish site, Snow Summit Resort will be hosting a free Lifestyle Festival with fun for all ages! Guests will be able to browse vendors, enjoy food and drinks and listen to great music while cheering the cyclists across the finish line. For more information on the Amgen Tour of California's Big Bear Climb, log on to www.bigbearclimb.com. Festivities begin at 2 p.m. with food, entertainment and views of the cyclists on Jumbo Tron located at Snow Summit Resort, 880 Summit Blvd, Big Bear Lake, CA.

Additional activities for visitors include the Snow Summit Scenic Sky Chair which will open weekends only beginning May 18th and then daily beginning June 16th. Bear Mountain's 9-hole Mountain Style Golf Course is also scheduled to open May 18th.

North Conway’s Cranmore Mountain Adds New Zipline and Segway Tours to Its Mountain Adventure Park Activities

N. Conway, NH - Cranmore Mountain readies to open for its second summer season on Saturday, May 26, 2012. With new rides and attractions being added, Cranmore’s Adventure Park is sure to make a memorable Memorial Day weekend for families visiting the North Conway, NH area. In New England’s most popular resort town of North Conway, Cranmore offers a variety of fun rides and activities for all ages. New for this summer, Cranmore will offer the Soaring Eagle Zipline as well as Mountain Segway Tours.

“We are thrilled to be opening two new activities for this summer. They represent a significant investment in our Mountain Adventure Park and will provide families with even more to do during a visit here,” stated Cranmore GM and President, Ben Wilcox. The Soaring Eagle is under construction now and will open in late June or early July. "We can’t wait," said Wilcox. “We found the perfect thrill ride to add to the mix here and best of all, it’s family-friendly.”

The Soaring Eagle Zip Line will be located at the base of the mountain next to the Summer Tubing Park and Giant Swing. A zip line carrying two riders each zips 700 feet up the slope, and then zips back at approximately 35 miles per hour. Unlike a typical canopy type zip line tour, riders are secured into a “chair” that gives them freedom of movement for the arms and legs. The zipline loads at the bottom of the mountain just a few steps off the ground. Guests can enjoy unlimited rides on the Zip Line along with other rides as part of Cranmore’s Value Pass which costs just $39 for a full day of activities. Early season discounts apply through 6/23/12 on Value Passes with $10 for over 48" tall and $5 off for under 48" tall.

Also new at the resort are Mountain Segway Tours which traverse the surrounding streets and mountain slopes on these revolutionary transporters. The technology inside a Segway consists of an intelligent network of sensors, mechanical assemblies, and control systems that balance and move along on two wheels. The second a passenger steps on the Segway, five micro-machined gyroscopes and two accelerometers sense the changing terrain and body position at 100 times per second. Each 90 minute session includes 30 minutes of training and a 60 minute tour including on-road and off-road routes. The tour guide will provide interesting insights all along the route for a fun and informative ride around the mountain and neighborhood. Cranmore’s Segway Tours feature the x2 model, tuned for cross-terrain. The tours cost $65 per person and are for ages 16+ only.

The Segway Tours and Soaring Eagle Zip Line join a variety of activities and attractions that are also part of their summer operations.

Heavenly Again Leads U.S. Ski Resorts with Four Member of the PSIA-AASI National Team

Stateline, CA - he Professional Ski Instructors of America and the American Association of Snowboard Instructors have announced their 2012 – 2016 National Team, and Heavenly Mountain Resort is the proud home to four of those members, which is the most of any ski resort in the U.S.

“Today, everyone at Heavenly has reason to be especially proud of these four talented, dedicated individuals,” said Pete Sonntag, Heavenly’s general manager. “It’s a prestigious honor for Michael, Robin, Heidi and Seth, as well as for the entire Heavenly Ski and Ride School.”

This will be Michael Rogan’s fifth term on the PSIA National Team (breaking his own record of four for a non-coach member) and is the Alpine Team Captain. He has taught skiing for nearly 30 years and is valued by his students as much for his communication skills as he is for his incredible skiing and technical abilities. He is also the Director of Instruction for SKI Magazine and is the general manager of Ski Portillo in Portillo, Chile. Robin Barnes is a two-time member of the PSIA National Alpine Team. She has twice earned a spot in SKI Magazine’s Top 100 Instructors and has been an instructor and trainer at Heavenly since 1989. Robin speaks fluent Spanish and Portuguese and is also the ski school director at Ski Portillo. She is an American Council on Exercise certified personal trainer. Heidi Ettlinger is new to PSIA’s National Alpine Team but she is no stranger to the organization, having served on the PSIA-W Board of Directors and leading the annual Women’s Summit providing elite training for female ski instructors. She pursues ski instruction and instructor training year round dividing her time between Heavenly at Lake Tahoe and Mt. Hotham in Australia. Her passion for snowsports led to the development of Gearing to Go, DVDs and educational materials for the skiing trade to improve beginner retention. Seth Johns was named to the AASI National Snowboarding Team for the first time. He has spent the last five years as a snowboard instructor and trainer at Heavenly Mountain Resort and as a snowboard coach for the Heavenly Ski & Snowboard Foundation. Seth is a competitor in the North Face Masters big mountain series and competes at several other events at both the local and national level.

The PSIA-AASI National teams represent an important component of the association’s education programs, instructor training and snowsports industry outreach.

Mt. Hood Meadows Final Weekend of Season May 5th and 6th

Mt. Hood, OR - Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Resort will operate lifts one final weekend, Saturday and Sunday, May 5th and 6th. The Mt. Hood Express, Cascade Express, Buttercup and Ballroom Carpet conveyer are scheduled from 9 AM – 3 PM each day. Lift tickets will be discounted to $49.

The resort has operated 163 continuous days since opening November 19 – one of the longest seasons in North America. The forecast is promising some new snow for Saturday, and sunshine for Sunday – an appropriate end to a season which brought more than 550 inches of snowfall to the resort.

Meadows will operate its ski and snowboard school for lessons, rentals, retail shops, and Day Care. The Paradise Sun Deck and theSchuss will be open, as well as the Alpenstube for dining. Rose City and the Zoo parks will offer freestyling, and the SuperPipe will also be cut for the weekend.

Trestle Bike Park To Partner With Specialized Bicycle Components

Winter Park, CO - Trestle Bike Park at Winter Park Resort and Specialized announce a new partnership in the 2013 summer season. Specialized, a premier mountain bike manufacturer will be the official bike partner of the fastest growing mountain bike park in North America, Winter Park Resort’s Trestle Bike Park.

“Our partnership with Specialized is the start of something great. Their vision of a world-class bike park program is in lock step with ours – to provide the highest possible equipment, trails, events and programs to our guests. When all those components come together, the experience is unbeatable,” said Bob Holme, Terrain Park, Bike Park, and Youth Marketing Manager at Winter Park Resort.

With the addition of 100 brand new Specialized Status II bikes equipped with Marzocchi Suspension, a fleet of 28 new Demo 8 downhill bikes, plus the Specialized cross country test center featuring 20 of the latest Stumpjumpers and Epics, the Trestle Bike Park Shop’s bike park rental fleet will remain the largest in the United States. This huge selection of bikes will provide guests the best experience on the great trails at Trestle Bike Park. Specialized products will be available at Trestle Bike Park Shop located in The Village at Winter Park.

“Winter Park Resort and Trestle Bike Park are proud and excited to be able to offer our guests the biggest selection of Specialized test bikes in the United States. These Specialized bikes will allow our patrons a downhill, freeride, and cross-country experience unlike anything else,” said Paul Mutch, Director of Rental/Retail at Winter Park Resort. “Specialized has never done anything like this with a bike park before, and we are pleased that they are just as confident as we are in this partnerships ability to provide a standard in the Colorado mountain biking experience.”

Whistler Reaction - ESPN X Games Expansion Announcement

Whistler Disappointed By ESPN X Games Expansion News - ESPN acknowledges Whistler’s strong bid; does not rule resort out as host of future events

Whistler, BC - Whistler Resort will not host an X Games event as part of ESPN’s latest expansion efforts beginning in 2013. This morning, ESPN announced the three new X Games host cities that will be part of their global expansion and Whistler was not among them. The news is being received with disappointment across the resort, yet ESPN’s feedback on Whistler’s bid offers some optimism that a future opportunity to work with ESPN could be explored.

“Whistler put in a very strong bid, and their venues and team are world class,” said Scott Guglielmino, ESPN senior vice president, programming and X Games. “An X Games event at Whistler would be a special experience. Ultimately, the decision to not be at Whistler next year was based on the opportunities in other markets versus any shortcomings with Whistler.”

ESPN will not add a new winter event to the global calendar at this time and will instead add three new summer events, complementing the two existing winter versions of X Games in Aspen, Colorado and Tignes, France, and the existing summer X Games in Los Angeles, California. A successful Winter X Games Whistler bid would have seen the X Games make a third North American stop. With other cities bidding for a summer X Games within the same April timeslot as Whistler, and prospective global sponsors looking to reach markets beyond North America, ESPN has ultimately made the decision to award the April timeslot to a summer X Games outside of North America.

“We are certainly disappointed,” says Dave Brownlie, president and chief operating officer at Whistler Blackcomb. “We submitted a strong bid, and we believed that a Winter X Games Whistler event would have been an incredible partnership bringing significant benefit to both sides. ESPN has shared with us that they also believe Whistler would be a great fit, and we would certainly be open to discussing future opportunities with ESPN if the occasion were to arise.” Support for the Whistler bid has been strong – from the level of community interest to financial and in-kind commitments made by major stakeholders including the Resort Municipality of Whistler, the Government of British Columbia, the Canadian Tourism Commission, Tourism Whistler, Whistler Blackcomb and the resort accommodation sector.