Summer Activities Gearing Up at Whistler

Alpine Tubing, Glacier Skiing/Riding, Sightseeing, Blackcomb Base Adventure Zone

Whistler, BC - Winter operations may be wrapping up at Whistler Blackcomb but the summer season is just getting started. With a wide variety of activities available both on and off the mountains, summer opens up a whole new world of possibilities at Whistler Blackcomb.

“As we transition from winter to summer, it is an exciting time to experience Whistler Blackcomb’s snowy alpine experience,” says Rob McSkimming, Vice President of Business Development at Whistler Blackcomb. “With North America’s only summer tube park, glacier skiing and riding beginning June 18 and sightseeing, guests will be certain to have an unforgettable experience”.

2010.2011 has officially been named the second snowiest season ever at Whistler Blackcomb and with Mother Nature off to a slow start this spring, a winter wonderland awaits up in the alpine.

Whistler Blackcomb Named One of Canada's Greenest Employers Three Years Running

Recognition given for energy conservation initiatives, waste reduction, and staff dedication

Whistler, BC - For the third year in a row Whistler Blackcomb is celebrating Earth Day (April 22) as one of Canada’s Greenest Employers, awarded by the editors of Canada’s Top 100 Employers project.

“We are thrilled and honoured to accept this award,” says Dave Brownlie, President and Chief Operating Officer at Whistler Blackcomb. “This accomplishment would not have been possible without the dedication and support of our employees, our guests and our community. Whistler Blackcomb has been working hard to reduce our environmental footprint for a number of years, recognizing the importance of long term environmental stewardship. We will continue to work towards our environmental goals while consistently providing the best mountain experiences on the planet.”

Whistler Blackcomb’s overarching environmental goal is to one day achieve a zero operating footprint. The company takes steps towards reaching this goal by focusing on energy conservation initiatives and waste reduction programs. While there is still a long way to go, Whistler Blackcomb believes in an “every step counts” philosophy and works hard to empower both staff and guests to work towards a greener future.

“We are very grateful and humbled to be recognized,” says Arthur DeJong, Whistler Blackcomb’s Mountain Planner and Environmental Resource Manager. “Being so close to nature in Whistler, we understand that what we do to nature we do to ourselves. The soul of a company is its purpose and our purpose is to one day have zero operating impacts on our natural environment. It is our hope for guests who visit Whistler Blackcomb to become inspired by our enactments, leading them to make sustainable choices in their own homes and communities.”

Wrap up Winter at the Spring Festival!

Sun Peaks, BC - It’s been a spring full of incredible conditions and epic powder days. Over 175cm of snow fell in March, making it the snowiest month of the year! With more fresh snow in the forecast and sunshine for the weekend, the last few days of the season are promising to be no different.

The Spring Festival, April 9 and 10, is full of fun, free events for the whole family as we celebrate the last 141 days of skiing and riding the slopes of Sun Peaks.

80’s Retro Weekend – Saturday & Sunday

This weekend is going to be totally radical at Sun Peaks as the fun and colourful 80’s return to the slopes! Dress up in your most bodacious outfit and hit the slopes for some double daffy’s and back scratchers. Break out the rear-entry boots, straight skis, and neon one-piece outfits! Plus, don’t miss live entertainment from the band ‘Scarecrow’ provided by Okanagan Spring Brewery. And don’t forget to apply and reapply the zinc!

Human Dog Sled Race – Saturday, April 9 at 10:00am

Mush! Mush! Mush! Gather your friends and enter a team for the all-new Human Dog Sledding Races. Each team consists of four team members, including three sled pullers and one sled rider. The race sled will be provided for the competition, all you have to do is register and participate in the 100 metre mad dash! Points will be awarded for best costume, fastest time, and overall team spirit.

Dummy Downhill – Saturday, April 9 at 12:30pm (Registration closes at 11:00am)

Get your team together and start building your dummy for the annual Sun Peaks Dummy Downhill. All dummies need to be firmly attached to a set of skis capable of sliding down the hill, and hitting our custom built dummy downhill jump. Points are awarded for originality, design, appearance, and level of explosiveness upon impact. This is a great event for participants as well as spectators. Bring the video camera to capture the action!

Slush Cup – Sunday, April 10 at 12:30pm (Registration closes at 11:00am)

It’s hands down the funniest competition to take place on the slopes of Sun Peaks as participants dress up in costumes and hurl themselves across an ice cold slush pond. The goal? Make it to the dry shore at the far end of the pond! Points are awarded for costume, style, and overall crowd appeal and the winners have a chance to win some terrific prizes. This is a family event so all costumes must be tasteful and appropriate for all ages.

Top to Bottom's Race – Sunday, April 10 at 4:30pm (Registration closes at 2:30pm)

It’s the last run of the season and it’s all about speed. >From the Top of the World to Bottoms Bar & Grill, the first racer to ring the bell at Bottoms is declared the winner. Entrants must stay on the designated course on the 5 Mile Ski Run. Speed suits are not permitted, but costumes are encouraged.

Whistler Blackcomb Introduces Guest Height Restriction

Policy Implemented To Accommodate High Snow Levels
Whistler, BC - Whistler Blackcomb announced today a new height restriction for all skiers and riders after record breaking snow this season.

From today onwards, guests shorter than 350cm/11.5 feet, the current snow base, will be prohibited from accessing Whistler Blackcomb without the required equipment: snorkel, a shovel and point of view camera.

The policy has come into effect after 315cm (124inches) of snow fell this past month, the second snowiest March on record. To date, mountain safety teams have been able to identify individuals immersed in the snow after using specialized audio equipment to detect their cries of “woohoo” and “yeehaw.”

“Having too much powder is a big problem here at Whistler Blackcomb,” said John McGroomer, senior vice president of Lame. “When we get a big dump of snow, not only do we encounter a lot of powder frenzy, many powder hounds adopt a ‘no friends on a powder day’ attitude, skiing or riding with only a select few, only reuniting with miffed boyfriends/girlfriends at après.”

Including the record-setting March, Whistler Blackcomb has seen nearly 14 metres (46 feet) of snow so far this season, well above the average annual snowfall of 10.25 metres (33.66 feet). With over 50 days of skiing/riding remaining this season, it’s shaping up to be an amazing spring.

Deep Daze

One month after its opening, hype over 2.044-foot Glory Ridge Triple Chair elevated by sizeable month-long snowfall
Nelson, BC - One month after an opening that was highly anticipated by the North American ski industry, even by British Columbia’s famous snow standards, the launch of Whitewater Resort’s new Glory Ridge chair has lived up to great expectations.

Since skiers hopped aboard its maiden chair Friday, Dec. 24, Whitewater and the mountains enveloping Nelson B.C. have been thumped with over two metres (six-and-a-half feet) of snow.

As of Wednesday, Jan. 19, 149 centimetres, or nearly five feet of snow has blanketed the resort since the beginning of the month, some of it amongst the lightest and deepest storm snow a lot of locals can recall this decade.

Snow has fallen 14 out of 18 days.

When Whitewater Resort threw the switch on its first new chair in 17 years, the mountain marked a rare achievement by ski industry standards — literally doubling in size, with the addition of just one lift.

International Snapshots Pour in as Snow Bum 2 Enters Final Month

Sun Peaks, BC - Just one month remains for Snow Bum hopefuls around the world to enter to win a trip to Sun Peaks Resort in the British Columbia Interior to star in their very own winter video.

Snow Bum 2: The Snapshot launched in mid-November and since then, more than 85 people from around the world have submitted their photo with a hope to win the grand prize. Canada, the United States, Australia, Belgium and Norway are just a few of the countries represented by contestants in the contest thus far.

In addition to the entries, online tracking shows that winter enthusiasts from nearly 70 countries have visited the www.SnowBumCanada.com website to see what the contest is all about. With all those Snow Bums off snapping their shots and preparing their entries, the Sun Peaks forecast is calling for a heavy submissions during the contest’s final weeks.

Sun Peaks will accept photo entries until Sunday, February 20, 2011. The lucky winner of the Best Photo wins a trip for them and three friends to for a six night trip to Sun Peaks. Plus, Kevin Hagell of Kaizen Visuals will spend a full day on the slopes with them to film their very own exclusive winter-themed video! Kevin has worked with the likes of Adidas, Scion and Von Zipper, just to name a few. There will also be secondary prize for most popular (most-voted for) photo as contestants will be rewarded based on how many votes they get on their photo, by promoting their entry through social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter.

Canadian Open Freeskiing Championships – Senior FINALS

Rossland, BC - RED Mountain hosted the 10th Annual Canadian Open Freeskiing Championships Senior event this past weekend. With a flurry of walk-in registrations the competition had a healthy group of competitors vying for top spot in the Senior Open.

With variable cloudiness, fresh snow and mild temperatures, the finals for the senior portion of the event concluded on Saturday, January 15th. With all of the athletes descending down the slopes of Mount Roberts, typically known as a backcountry enthusiast slope, the championship saw a tough pool of competitors showing top caliber skiing. Prize money was issued for the top 5 athletes in the men’s and women’s categories. Top athletes, CJ Wright and Kasie Stroshin took top spot for the Senior Men’s and Women’s categories respectively. Local RED athletes Colston Villanueva Beatson placed 4th in the men’s category and Leah Evans placed 5th in the women’s category. Rafters Bar, RED’s renovated bar, played host to the Kokanee Afterparty which rounded out the celebration.

Blake Jorgenson Named 'King of Storms' at Deep Winter Photo Challenge

Whistler, BC - Iconic Whistler photographer Blake Jorgenson took home the King of Storms title at the fifth annual Deep Winter Photo Challenge, presented by ARC’TERYX and Whistler Blackcomb. Second place went to the event’s first-ever female competitor, Robin O’Neill, and third went to up-and-coming photographer Andrew Strain. Ten-year photography veteran, Ilja Herb’s epic ski photo was voted Best in Show by the panel of judges.

“I don’t think winning is as exciting as executing an idea and bringing it to life in front of the audience. For me that’s the thrill.” says Jorgenson. “As a photographer, I never choose the photos that get printed. It’s always somebody else’s choice. To come up with a concept and bring it to life exactly the way I want, in front of a home crowd, is the best thing ever.”

Jorgenson took home the $3,000 grand prize and will have his name added to the King of Storms trophy, a new addition to the event that was designed by Keith Berens at Live Metal Promo. All previous Deep Winter winners will be added to the trophy to commemorate their achievements.

The six photographers had three days to shoot in bounds at Whistler Blackcomb with their athlete teams. In addition to the photographers named above and powerhouse of athletes, Snowboard Canada Photo Editor John Scarth and accomplished snowboard photographer, Tim Zimmerman joined the quest for ‘King/Queen of Storms’ title and a total prize purse of $6,000.

Gore-Tex Deep Winter Experience Week Storms Into Whistler

ARC’TERYX Deep Winter Photo Challenge Returns as Marquee Event January 15

Whistler, BC - January in Whistler is storm season, which means plenty of snow and deep powder days on the mountains. The GORE-TEX Deep Winter Experience celebrates storm season with clinics, ski and snowboard camps and discounts on outerwear. For the fifth year in a row the ARC’TERYX Deep Winter Photo Challenge pays homage to this sacred occasion and the skiers, riders and photographers who cherish it.

“As Deep Winter enters its fifth year of competition, it continues to be an important event in Whistler. It is a celebration for the locals who are passionate about Whistler Blackcomb and skiing, regardless of the weather,” says photography veteran and former King of Storms, Paul Morrison. “From the beginning, the venue has been sold out and the competition impressive. This year's event will be another memorable celebration of the people and their passions who add to soul to Whistler.”

During the Deep Winter Photo Challenge, professional photographers shoot in-bounds at Whistler Blackcomb for three days capturing athletes in their natural mountain habitat of powder filled bowls, trees, and après bars. This year’s contenders are: 10-year veteran, Ilja Herb; accomplished snowboard photographer, Tim Zimmerman; Whistler local, Blake Jorgenson; outdoor lifestyle photographer, Robin O’Neill; Snowboard Canada Photo Editor, John Scarth; and up and comer, Andrew Strain. Their edited slideshows will be played in front of a live audience at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler and judged by a panel of industry professionals. A prize purse of $6,000 and the title of “King/Queen of Storms” are up for grabs.

“Deep Winter is all about showing images from the often untold side of winter,” says professional skier, Mike Douglas. “We get a lot of snow in Whistler and it's interesting to get out there and document the stormiest days. Shooting in stormy weather is way more work for both the photographers and athletes, but it's also really rewarding to see what you can produce in just three days”.

Tickets for the ARC’TERYX Deep Winter Photo Challenge are $17 and are available at any Whistler Blackcomb Guest Relations location or by calling 1-800-766-0449. Doors are at 7pm and the slideshows start at 8pm with an after-party at Merlin’s Bar in the Upper Village.

ARC’TERYX Deep Winter Photo Challenge

Whistler, BC - January is a sacred month to Whistler locals and snow lovers alike as intense weather systems routinely drop a bounty of powder on the Coast Mountain Range. For the fifth year in a row, the ARC’TERYX Deep Winter Photo Challenge prepares to pay homage to the beloved storm season and the skiers, snowboarders and photographers who cherish it.

The Deep Winter Photo Challenge will take place Saturday, January 15 and is the marquee event of the GORE-TEX Deep Winter Experience which storms into Whistler January 8-16. The Challenge will feature slideshows from six of the industry’s best ski and snowboard photographers taken over three days at Whistler Blackcomb.

Tickets to the ARC’TERYX Deep Winter Photo Challenge are $17 and available at any Whistler Blackcomb Guest Relations location or by calling 1-800-766-0449.

Sun Peaks Ranked with the Best in the World in recent Condé Nast Magazine Poll

Sun Peaks, BC - Sun Peaks Resort continues to stand up with the best resorts in the world after a top 20 ranking in one of the world’s leading travel publications. Condé Nast Traveler’s 2010 Ski Poll ranks Sun Peaks as the 2nd best ski resort in Canada, and 13th best in North America.

Close to 26,000 Condé Nast Traveler readers voted in this 15th Annual Ski Poll.

Resorts were judged on terrain and conditions, lifts and lines, après-ski/activities, dining and local ambiance. Sun Peaks was one of three Canadian resorts to make the Top 20: Whistler Blackcomb (#1), Sun Peaks (#13), and Mont Tremblant (#14 tie).

“Sun Peaks is honored to be recognized with Whistler as the leading destinations in Canada,” says Christopher Nicolson, President of Tourism Sun Peaks. “The resort is known for it’s village design, reliable snow and expansive terrain spread over three mountains. But perhaps more importantly, visitors pick up on the genuine sense of welcome and hospitality of residents.”

Kimberley Alpine Resort with Great Snow, Ready for Preview Weekend

Kimberley, BC - Kimberley Alpine Resort is set to open for a special preview weekend this Saturday December 11th and Sunday December 12th. The resort has received over 70cm of snowfall already, and skiers and snowboarders will get to experience amazing snow conditions for the first turns of the season. With incredible snowfall already, more significant snowfall in the forecast for later this week could make it that much more epic.

Lifts operating this weekend include North Star Express Quad, Easter Triple Chair, and the Owlette Magic Carpet.

Playgrounds Beyond Boundaries

Rossland, BC - There are playgrounds with boundaries and playgrounds that go beyond boundaries. RED Mountain has long been celebrated as the latter. Recognizing how important off-piste skiing and snowboarding is to our guests, this winter RED is opening over 300 acres of new off-piste terrain on Grey Mountain. In addition, RED is offering day and over-night guided backcountry tours to a newly erected yurt on Kirkup Mountain called the Alpine Glory Hut.

Grey and Kirkup are two of five peaks within RED Mountain Resort’s 4,200 acre controlled recreational ski area and land use tenure.

Grey’s easy approach starts through an access gate on lift-serviced Granite Mountain. With a 20 minute skin or snowshoe on the up-track, Grey’s beautiful south facing slopes offer over 2,200 feet of consistent vertical drop ideal for advanced intermediate and expert powder skiers and riders. Two new runs have been cut providing a convenient ski-out directly back to Granite’s lift-assisted terrain.

“Grey has always been one of the resort’s favourite places to access our backcountry and ski fresh powder with a relatively easy and short hike. The glading and tree thinning recently completed on Grey now creates more lines for our customers to ski and enjoy,” proclaims RED’s President and CEO Howard Katkov. “Consistent with our intention to continue to open up additional terrain, Grey now features over 300 new acres pursuant to our Master Plan.”

All skiers and riders accessing Grey and surrounding peaks are required to be equipped for backcountry touring with avalanche transceivers, probes and shovels. Knowledge of backcountry conditions, snowpack and avalanche terrain is also a must.

Whitewater Ski Resort’s Old School Goes New School

Via Switzerland, Australia and Colorado’s ‘Harvard of Ski Schools’, Whitewater’s new Snow School Director sets resort’s ski and snowboard program in class of its own

Nelson, BC - Whitewater Ski Resort’s highly anticipated Glory Triple Chair isn’t the mountain’s only new development heading into the 2010/2011 season.

The resort is going new school, as the kids say, quite literally.

With ski instructing experience gleaned from some of the world’s greatest slopes, in Switzerland, Colorado and all over beautiful B.C., Brent Malysh

has been named Whitewater’s new Snow School Director. And the 28-year-old, CSIA Level 3, Level 4 Candidate has big plans for those aiming to be more pro in the snow — from first timers to fledgling freeriders, tiny tots to senior hot shots.

“As Whitewater grows now, there’s a clear need for our Snow School to grow along with it,” says Malysh. “We’re no longer just a small locals-only focused ski and snowboard program.”

Malysh has completely revamped Whitewater’s children’s ski and snowboard instruction programs, made a more enjoyable and easier-to-understand curriculum for kids, private one-on-one and group lessons, added value to locals’ season-long programs like the Powder Room and the Board Room, as well as launched — and we do mean launched! — a great new Freeride Program including two well-known local yokels famous for their big mountain prowess.

In fact, this winter in addition to Whitewater’s Racing team, there’ll be a new Whitewater Freeride Team, co-coached by veteran local shredders Peter Velisek and Dano Slater, Big Mountain competitors, judges and ski athletes who’ve ripped it up at all over the world.

Also new this year, Whitewater Ski Resort is introducing new Powderhound Experience and Discover Cat and Heli programs.

Opening Day and Early Snow in Canada

Kananaskis Village, AB - Nakiska Ski Resort continues to strive for an early season opening now set for Saturday November 6, 2010. With Alberta's largest snowmaking system and recent cool temperatures, efforts to develop on-mountain snow coverage are in full force. The tentative opening on November 6th will commence the season with weekend operations until Saturday December 4th, at which point the resort will officially open for the season. Known for impeccable grooming and advanced snowmaking, the Nakiska Mountain Operations team is working hard to produce great snow conditions for skiers and snowboarders to enjoy starting Saturday November 6th.

Fernie, BC - Fernie Alpine Resort has been hit by a heavy storm, with up to 20cm of snow in the upper alpine of Fernie's legendary 5 bowls. Temperatures remain cool and the snow continues to currently fall, right down to the base. With the predicted La Niña weather cycle for the Pacific Northwest, cool temperatures and more snow than Fernie Alpine Resort's annual 29 feet of snowfall are expected.

Word of the Week: Snow!

Whistler, BC - A heavy Pacific storm has been hitting Whistler Blackcomb this weekend, dropping between 25-30cm of snow at higher elevations. The freezing level is expected to remain steady with more periods of snow forecast for this week. Meteorologists are calling for a La Niña weather cycle for the Pacific Northwest, meaning cooler temperatures and more snow than Whistler Blackcomb’s annual average of 34 feet/10.25m.

What's New at Fernie!

Fernie, BC - Fernie Alpine Resort celebrated an epic season last year with great skiing in the 5 alpine bowls thanks to implemented enhancements including an extensive run improvement program, incredible new on-mountain signage, and an enhanced trail map that now hi-lights the diverse terrain across the 5 bowls. Other exciting additions last year were the introduction of new events such as 80's Weekend and the Family Talent Event as well as a weekly activity schedule for families to enjoy.

On-Mountain

Run enhancements and improvements continue this year with blasting of the "Sky Dive" traverse which will result in easier access to this run. Significant brush cutting has been made on Boomerang, Boomerang Ridge, and Linda's Run. Tree glading between Cruiser and Cedar Center has opened up some great looking lines of intermediate glades. Fallen wood clean up in the the Bear Chutes (which lead off the Bear into Boomerang) has made a huge difference in how open these glades will ski. With Linda's and Boomerang cleaned and opened up, the Bear side will now be the place to go for first runs on a powder day. Something the"Old Side Skiers" will truly appreciate.

In addition to major run enhancements, skiers and snowboarders will notice a well maintained snow surface thanks to the help of 2 new grooming CATS in the fleet, including a Winch CAT. This is in addition to the two new CATS that were added to the fleet last year.

Other on-mountain changes will be noted by those familiar with run names as the dedicated race training run “Spruce” (Cedar Bowl) has been renamed to "Emily's" in honour of Olympic skier and Fernie local, Emily Brydon.

Tourism Sun Peaks up for National Tourism Award Snow Bum Campaign an Award Finalist

Sun Peaks, BC - Tourism Sun Peaks (TSP) has been selected as a finalist in the National Awards for Tourism Excellence, presented by the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC). TSP’s I want to be the Snow Bum campaign from last October is one of three finalists for the WestJet Online Marketing Campaign of the Year Award. The Snow Bum campaign was designed to generate both public and media awareness about Sun Peaks as a world class ski destination, leading into Winter 2009/2010. Thanks to strategic targeting through organic Facebook and Twitter buzz, plus editorial pitches to key media publications, the campaign, and ultimately the resort, garnered significant interest around the world.

What's New at Kimberley Alpine Resort

Kimberley, BC - In addition to run enhancements and glade widening, the biggest news last season at Kimberley Alpine Resort was the commencement of a 24,000 sq ft Conference & Athletic Training Centre being constructed directly at the ski base. The centre is scheduled to be completed by Fall 2010 and will be open for operation when the ski season commences at Kimberley Alpine Resort.

Enhancements to North America's Largest Gladed Ski Terrain, including the infamous Black Forest, can be noted as the largest glading project in Canada. New glades have been created in the Black Forest between Windfall & Tramway as well as between Twist and Geneva. Ultimately, this will make more skiable terrain accessible in Kimberley Alpine Resort's gladed areas, creating more skiing fun.

A new flight schedule from Air Canada now makes it easier than ever to ski Kimberley Alpine Resort from Australia. The adjusted schedule will now allow for a quick connection in Vancouver from Air Canada Flight AC34 (SYD-YVR) to Air Canada Flight AC8213 (YVR-YXC) for easy access directly into the Canadian Rockies International Airport in Cranbrook.

Whistler Blackcomb Early Bird Season Passes on Sale

Whistler, BC - After last year’s record-breaking winter and a memorable summer, powder revelers can kick start the upcoming skiing and riding season by purchasing an Early Bird Whistler Blackcomb Season Pass for 2010.2011. From August 30, through to October 11 an Unlimited adult Season Pass is available for the Early Bird price of $1,349, a saving of $350. Unlimited Season Passholders get unlimited access to the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola year-round, winter and summer.

“This season, guests will be able to take full advantage of their season pass all the way from November to May,” says Stuart Rempel, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Sales at Whistler Blackcomb. “After last season’s epic snowfall and hosting the world’s biggest party, there is a huge pent up demand for skiing and riding for the upcoming winter. The season pass gives guests the freedom to really maximize their time on the slopes throughout the winter season.”

Last winter, Whistler Blackcomb welcomed the world as the Alpine Skiing Venue for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. And to top it all off, consistent snowfall throughout the winter months made 2009.2010 the second snowiest season on record with 1,492cm/587inches. November 2009 was also the snowiest month on record with 560cm/220 inches of snowfall.

For 2010.2011 guests can enjoy the Olympic legacies that remain from Whistler Blackcomb’s time in the world spotlight. The Men’s and Women’s Alpine Skiing Courses will be open for all to ski and ride this winter and there’s nothing more exhilarating than following in the tracks of Olympic and Paralympic heroes. Meanwhile, a recent $17.5 million investment in snowmaking infrastructure compliments Mother Nature’s good work. And finally, the new and improved Sea to Sky Highway makes for shorter travel time between Vancouver and Whistler.