WHISTLER BLACKCOMB EARLY BIRD SEASON PASSES ON SALE NOW

Save Up To $320 on Your Pass and Enjoy Endless Skiing and Riding for the 2013.2014 Season

WHISTLER, BC August 27, 2013 – Winter is just around the corner and Early Bird Season Passes for Whistler Blackcomb’s 2013.2014 ski and snowboard season are now on sale. Until October 14, 2013 guests will be able to receive up to $320 in savings on their 2013.2014 Season Pass. Unlimited Adult Seasons Passes are just $1,589 at the Early Bird price. A season pass offers the best value to guests looking to ski or ride at Whistler Blackcomb; allowing for freedom, flexibility, and exclusive Passholder perks, including 50 per cent off lift tickets at partner resorts in The Mountain Collective, as well as various discounts on Whistler Blackcomb products and services.

“It is going to be another very exciting year at Whistler Blackcomb with the opening of our two brand new chairlifts, the Crystal Ridge Express high-speed quad and the Harmony 6 Express high-speed six pack,” says Stuart Rempel, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Sales, Whistler Blackcomb. “These new lifts will allow guests to get even more turns in at North America’s largest ski resort with better access to the terrain they love. An Unlimited Seasons Pass allows guests to make the most of every day of the season. Plus, the addition of 50 per cent off lift tickets at our partner resorts in The Mountain Collective is an incredible opportunity for our Passholders to experience some of North America’s other iconic ski areas.”

The Early Bird Unlimited Seniors (65-74) Season Pass is available for $849; Youth Unlimited Early Bird Season Pass (13-18) at $719 and an Unlimited Child (7-12) Season Pass is $439. Ten per cent discounts are available for families purchasing passes while children six and under ski free.

Season Passholder Perks Include:

·         50 per cent off lift tickets at The Mountain Collective Resorts – (Alta/Snowbird, Aspen/Snowmass, Jackson Hole, Mammoth, Squaw Valley/Alpine Meadows)

·         20 per cent off at select on-mountain food and beverage locations

·         Save up to 20 per cent at select Whistler Blackcomb retail and rental stores

·         $50 off select Snow School programs

·         2 for 1 Fresh Tracks Mountain-Top Breakfast tickets until December 23, 2013. Presented by the Globe and Mail

·         $100 off Whistler Heli-Skiing

·         Unlimited summer hiking access in 2014 with the PEAK 2 PEAK Alpine Experience

·         Passholder Perks also include Tube Park discounts, lodging deals, monthly offers and more. Complete details at whistlerblackcomb.com/perks

Guests who purchase their Season Pass before October 14, 2013 can opt in for the following:

• Purchase a Whistler Blackcomb Gift Card valued at $500 for only $399
• Purchase three Bring-A-Friend lift tickets for only $179 (valued at $327)

Snow Advantage

Whistler Blackcomb is the consistently ranked No. 1 resort in North America receiving an annual average snowfall of 1,174cm or 38ft. Adding to Mother Nature’s bounty, Whistler Blackcomb also utilizes 235 snow guns to provide guests the best possible ski and snowboard experience from opening day in November through to the end of the winter ski season in May.

Early Bird Season Passes are on sale now until October 14, and can be purchased through www.whistlerblackcomb.com  or by calling 1-866-787-1966.  Whistler Blackcomb’s official opening day for the 2013.2014 season is Thursday, November 28, 2013.

About Whistler Blackcomb

Whistler Blackcomb, the official alpine skiing venue for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, is situated in the Resort Municipality of Whistler located in the Coast Mountains of British Columbia 125 kilometres (78 miles) from Vancouver, British Columbia. North America’s premier four season mountain resort, Whistler and Blackcomb are two side-by-side mountains which combined offer over 200 marked runs, 8,171 acres of terrain, 16 alpine bowls, three glaciers, receives on average over 1,174 centimetres (462 inches) of snow annually, and one of the longest ski seasons in North America. In the summer, Whistler Blackcomb offers a variety of activities, including hiking and biking trails, the Whistler Mountain Bike Park, and sightseeing on the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola. 

About GayWhistler

GayWhistler (www.gaywhistler.com) is a year-round promoter of Whistler to the gay and lesbian community, and promotes and produces the annual Gay Ski Week - WinterPRIDE.  WinterPRIDE is January 26 - February 2nd, 2014 (new week - one week earlier than previous years) and has four key elements:  Sports, Culinary, Wellness and Entertainment.  WinterPRIDE has something for both the skier/snowboarder and the non-skier/boarder as well as programming for the Lesbians and Bears.  WinterPRIDE has been awarded as one of the best Gay Ski Weeks in the world by various editors and publications.  WinterPRIDE will be celebrating 22 years in 2014 with official civic status.  Aava Whistler is the official Host Hotel of WinterPRIDE

Event Tickets now on sale:  Visit http://www.gaywhistler.eventbrite.ca/

GayWhistler is a subsidiary of Alpenglow Production Corporation. 

worldOutgames crowns Mr. Gay World 2013

25 Nations descended on the beautiful city of Antwerp, Belgium for the fifth annual Mr. Gay World competition hosted by the worldOutgames.  The Four day challenge combined Sports, Culture and Human Rights in the competition with various challenges including:  Sports challenged hosted by the Antwerp Police Academy.  

The delegates needed to work together in groups of five and complete various "rescue" missions pushing their physical fitness and mental capacities.  The winning team would move onto the final challenge which was an obstacle course with target shooting.  Mr. Aruba ended up winning this challenge.

The delegates also had to show their creative side by putting together an art exhibit depicting

LGBT life as they see it in their respective nations.  The Exhibit was called "Through Pink Glasses" and would remain on display throughout the worldOutgames as part of the Cultural celebration.  Mr. New Zealand ended up winning this challenge.

The delegates also had some one on one time with the panel of judges where they had an opportunity to express why they wanted to be the next Mr. Gay World and why they were most qualified for the job.  The judges also were given the chance to ask follow up questions and dig a bit deeper to see who would be best qualified for the job.  Mr.

New Zealand ended up winning the panel interview round.

Next the delegates needed to show how they could hold their own in a variety of run way challenges including Best National Costume.  Each nation had to come up with a costume that best depicted their national identity.  Mr. New Zealand won this challenge with his ballet inspired Maori Warrior look and went on to win

best in swimsuit.   Mexico won best photogenic and Formal Wear.  Mr. Philippines demonstrated his social media prowess and won the GuySpy People's Choice Award, and Canada went out of his way looking after fellow delegates winning Mr. Congeniality.   

In the end the esteem panel of seven judges from six nations of Australia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Belgium, Philippines, and Canada choose Mr. Gay New Zealand - Chris Olwage the new reining Mr. Gay World 2013.

Chris won some fantastic prizes including a 3,000 euro diamond necklace, weekend in Queenstown, NZ for Queenstown Gay Ski Week, One week in Whistler for WinterPRIDE, one week Southern Caribbean Cruise courtesy of AmazingCruises.eu, one week in South Africa for Pink Loerie, photo book by Spartacus, eyewear by Binoche, swimwear, underwear and T's by Bjorn Borg and a ring by AMICI Pink.

Mr. Gay World 2014 will take place during the GayVillage in Rome, Italy late August 2014.  For more information please visit mrgayworld.org  Casting for Mr. Gay Canada 2014 is now underway.  For more information visit mrgaycanada.ca

MGW13 Program Guide: