Pssst! Whistler Mountain Opens Saturday!

WHISTLER BLACKCOMB OPENING EARLY - SATURDAY NOVEMBER 16

Whistler Mountain opens 13 days early for eager skiers and riders

WHISTLER, BC November 13, 2013 - Thanks to cold temperatures, impressive snowmaking and natural snowfall Whistler Mountain will open thirteen days early on Saturday, November 16. With five lifts running, guests will have the option to upload from either the Whistler Village Gondola or the Creekside Gondola. Blackcomb Mountain will open, as scheduled, on American Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 28, 2013.

“Early season snowfall combined with our snowmaking team converting over 60 million gallons of water into snow the past few weeks, has allowed us to get things started early again this season,” says Doug MacFarlane, mountain manager at Whistler Blackcomb. “With all the excitement of opening day, we want to remind guests early season conditions will apply, especially off piste. It is important to obey mountain signage, ski and ride on open runs only and stay within the operational area marked by “Temporary Boundary” signage. Guests should be aware there will be rocks and other hazards below the snow surface; we do not recommend skiing and riding outside the temporary boundary in any circumstances.”

First upload on the Whistler Village Gondola and Creekside Gondola will begin at 8:30 am, with last upload at 2:30pm on November 16. Emerald Express, Big Red Express and the Franz Chair lifts will be running, allowing access to 1800 vertical feet of skiing and riding terrain. Runs set to open will include Ego Bowl, Upper Whiskey Jack, Upper Franz, Papoose, Orange Peel and Pony Trail. Stay tuned for more and to keep updated with the most up-to-date information about lift status, visit www.whistlerblackcomb.com/the-mountain/lifts-and-grooming/index.

Whistler Mountain dining locations will also be open on November 16, including Essentially Blackcomb Cappuccino Bar in the Carleton Lodge, Dusty’s Bar & Grill in Creekside, the Roundhouse Lodge on Whistler Mountain, and the Garibaldi Lift Co., Whistler’s world-famous location for après. 

Whistler Blackcomb Guest Relations will operate from the Blackcomb Day Lodge, Creekside and Whistler Village on Friday, November 15 from 9am-7pm and on Saturday from all three locations from 7am-5pm. From Sunday onwards only the Village and Creekside Guest Relations will operate from 8am-5pm each day until Blackcomb Mountain opens on Thursday, November 28 and the Blackcomb Day Lodge opens again.

Ski and snowboard rentals will be available at the base of Whistler Mountain at Gondola Rentals, from 8am – 5pm, Essentially Blackcomb from 8am – 5pm, and the Salomon Store from 8am – 5pm. Can Ski Creekside will be open at the Creekside base from 8am – 5pm.

Adult Max 4 ski and snowboard lessons will be available on Whistler Mountain, and can be booked online or by calling 1-866-787-1966.

Beginning November 15, Whistler Blackcomb’s Snow Report will be updated daily throughout the season and can be accessed online or by calling 604-932-4211 in Whistler, 604-687-7507 in Vancouver, or toll-free at 1-800-766-0449.

For Canadian and Washington State residents, Whistler Blackcomb offers the EDGE Card, allowing guests to ski/ride from $69 (CDN) a day. EDGE Cards are valid for use all season long, and are available at early bird pricing until November 25 at whistlerblackcomb.com/save.

Guests interested in planning a trip to Whistler can take advantage of the Early Season Booking Offer which runs until November 15, and includes four nights lodging and a three day lift ticket deal from $99 per person, per night. To book a trip to the No. 1 rated mountain resort in North America visit whistlerblackcomb.com/lodgingdeals or call 1-866-787-1966.

Reminder:  GayWhistler's WinterPRIDE is a week earlier this season.  New dates are:  Jan.26-Feb02, 2014.  Stay + Ski packages start at just $115/person/night when  you book before Nov. 15th.  New this year is a special Stay, Ski + Play Package which inlcudes accommodations for 7-nights, 5-day ski and a full week WinterPRIDE festival package for just $179/person/night.  For this and other packages call 1.866.787.1966 or visit online at whistlerblackcomb.com/gaywhistler.  Book before Nov. 15th.  WinterPRIDE is proud to call the Aava Whistler Hotel home.  Official Pride Hotel for 2014.

WinterPRIDE special guests DJ's include:  DJ IVAN GOMEZ (BCN), DJ PHIL B (SFO), DJ PAULO (LA), DJ PORNSTAR (LA), DJ SETH COOPER (Chicago), DJ NICK BERTOSSI (Vancouver).  WinterPRIDE is proud to be working with Big Roger Events and ShowMax for incredible light + sound experience Whistler has yet to experience!  Get your festival tickets today!

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 1,192 centimetres (469 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.

Whistler Blackcomb awarded top scores

WHISTLER BLACKCOMB RECEIVES TOP SCORES FROM ANNUAL RESORT RANKINGS

Photo by: Jussi Grznar | Whistler, BC, Canada

Accolades Credited To Whistler Blackcomb’s Incredible Terrain And Dedicated Staff

WHISTLER, BC November 7, 2013 – The annual resort rankings are in and Whistler Blackcomb is proud to be the recipient of four “best overall” awards and 12 “category wins”. These consistent results continue to position Whistler Blackcomb as one of the leading ski resorts in the world and a must-visit destination on every traveller’s bucket list.

“Our success is credited to our prime geographical location which results in great snow and an incredible variety of terrain, but what really makes the difference is our people,” says Stuart Rempel, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Sales at Whistler Blackcomb.  “Our staff strives every day to provide the best and most memorable experiences to all of our guests and these awards are proof of that effort. We constantly aim to improve our physical assets as we respect our natural environment. The addition of the Crystal Ridge Express and the Harmony 6 Express chairs this winter will heighten the guest experience by moving people around the mountain more efficiently to their favorite zones.  We’re confident these expansions, along with our focus on guest service, will allow us to remain at the top.”

Whistler Blackcomb Awards and Rankings 2013.2014

No.1 Overall

-       Freeskier Magazine

-       SBC Resort Guide

-       Best Overall Northwest Region, Onthesnow.com

-       2013 Ski Club of Great Britain: Highest Net Promoter Score in the world.

Accolades

-       #1 Landmark In Canada, Trip Advisor, Traveller’s Choice Awards

-       Best Gondola View in North America, Liftopia.com

-       One of Canada’s Top Employers for Young People, Canada’s Top 100 Employers, CAN

-       Top 25 Ski Resorts in the World, Snowaddiction.org

-       Best Winter Destination, Georgia Straight, Best of Vancouver 2013

-       Best Weekend Getaway, Georgia Straight, Beat of Vancouver 2013

-       Best Terrain in the West, SBC Resort Guide

-       Best Parks in the West, SBC Resort Guide

-       Best Terrain in Northwest Region, Onthesnow.com

-       Top 5 Canadian Resorts, Huffington Post

-       Best Après, SKI Magazine

-       Best Ski Resorts for Powder, Telegraph UK

-       Best Nightlife, Freeskier Magazine

-       Best Nightlife in Northwest Region, Onthesnow.com

-       Best Nightlife Overall, Onthesnow.com

-       Best Nightlife, TransWorld SNOWboarding

-       No.2 Lodging , SKI Magazine

-       No.2 Terrain Variety, SKI Magazine

-       No.2 Off-Hill Activities, SKI Magazine

-       No.2 Best on a Powder Day, Freeskier Magazine

-       No.2 Best Apres. Freeskier Magazine

-       No.2 Best Steeps, Freeskier Magazine

-       No.3 Top Resorts, TransWorld SNOWboarding

-       No.4 Dining, SKI Magazine

-       No.4 Digital Presence, SKI Magazine

-       No.5 Best Parks, TransWorld SNOWboarding

-       No.5 Lifts, SKI Magazine

-       No.5 Top Lifts to Lap – Peak Express, Freeskier Magazine

Whistler Blackcomb is scheduled to officially open for the winter season on Thursday, November 28.

Click to book WinterPRIDE Hotel Package Now

Guests looking to plan a trip can save up to 39 per cent on ski and stay packages by taking advantage of Whistler's Early Booking Offer until November 15, 2013.  Visit whistlerblackcomb.com/deals_packages  or call 1-866-787-1966 for details.

Reminder:  The 22nd annual Gay & Lesbian Ski/Snowboard Week - GayWhistler's WinterPRIDE is January 26 - February 2nd, 2014.  Headline entertainment include: DJ Ivan Gomez (BCN), DJ Phil B. (SFO), DJ Pornstar (LA), DJ Paulo (LA), DJ Seth Cooper (Chicago) and DJ Nick Bertossi (Vancouver).  8-days, 65-events, 26-nations, 3,000+ guys and gals enjoying diversity at the leading Mountain Resort in North America (and the world!).  Host hotel:  Aava Whistler

Waffles + Wagers

It really is amazing how quickly time ticks away... days are becoming shorter, the mornings more crisp and the snow line on the mountains keep creeping closer to the valley floor.  We are now just a short 10-days away from the Nov. 15th Early Booking offer deadline to lock in your epic snowcation getaway.  I know it can be hard to imagine the awesomeness that is to come, but our friends at +WhistlerBlackcomb have just released a "taste" of things to come.... we present:
Waffles + Wagers

The Wonder Reels S2: Waffles, Wagers and the NEW Crystal Ridge Express features a foursome of skiers and snowboarders riding up the new Crystal Ridge Express chair who decide on a friendly wager for waffles at the Crystal Hut. The friends romp and race through the iconic Crystal Zone on Blackcomb Mountain and the last one to the bottom has to buy the waffles back at the top. This video is produced by Switchback Entertainment and the featured athletes include Ashleigh McIvor, Ian Morrison, Robjn Taylor and Jesse Millen.

Remember to lock in your deals today and see you throughout the season and at Whistler's #WinterPRIDE January 26 - February 2nd, 2014.  Call 1.866.787.1966 or online GayWhistler.com

Online event registration for WinterPRIDE Men's Event Passes 2014 powered by Eventbrite

#WBSnowReady Oct03 Epic Tease

WHISTLER BLACKCOMB CELEBRATES AMAZING EARLY SEASON SNOW BY AWARDING A SOCIAL MEDIA CONTEST WINNER WITH THE SEASON’S FIRST HELI-SKI EXPERIENCE 

WHISTLER BC, October 4, 2013 – Every year Whistler Blackcomb sends professional athletes up

Blackcomb Mountain to document their first powder turns of the season but, thanks to unusually large amounts of early snow, Whistler Blackcomb was able to send athletes up earlier than ever before. Yesterday, professional skiers Mike Douglas, Eric Hjorleifson and professional snowboarder Annie Boulanger were flown up to Blackcomb Mountain and the Spearman Glacier by Whistler Heli-Skiing for their first tracks of the season.

In another unprecedented first, Whistler Blackcomb also sent #WBFirstTracks social media contest winner Jeremy Bekken (aka JerBuck) along for the ride for his winning Instagram photo – a powdery smile plastered on his face the entire day. All the while, legendary ski photographer Paul Morrison and Switchback Entertainment captured the action on film and photo.

Reminder:  This coming weekend is the Legendary Turkey Sale at Whistler Oct. 11-13, 2013!

Save up to 70% off Brand names and get yourself sorted for the best snow season ever!  Room rates starting at just $89/night or stay at the luxurious Fairmont Chateau Whistler for a special Thanksgiving Special of just $139/night.  Many of Whistler's restaurants will have some awesome Fall wine & dine specials too plus the various spas will also have some special treats and savings to get you into the spirit of #WinterIsComing.

Call 1.866.787.1966 or visit online at WhistlerBlackcomb.com

Remember to book before Nov. 15 for the best deals of the season! REmind

Reminder: WinterPRIDE is January 26 - February 2nd, 2014. 8 Days, 65 Events, 3,000+ 'Mo's from around the world celebrating diversity in the snow! Visit GayWhistler.com for more info.

Legendary Turkey Sale in Whistler Returns

WHISTLER BLACKCOMB’S LEGENDARY TURKEY SALE RETURNS OCTOBER 11-14

Bargain hunters to cash in on ski & snowboard equipment deals + merchandise up to 70 per cent off 

WHISTLER BC, October 3, 2013 - It’s almost Thanksgiving, and the snow is flying in the alpine earlier than normal, causing skiers and boarders to rub their mitts together at the thought of Whistler Blackcomb’s annual Turkey Sale. Yes, there will be turkeys on sale but more importantly, snow fanatics can cash in on massive deals. Demo skis will also be on clearance, as well as savings of up to 70 per cent off equipment and accessories.

“The scale of this year’s Turkey Sale is enormous. We are filling up over 20,000 square feet of the Blackcomb Daylodge with deeply discounted ski and snowboard merchandise,” said Josh Buchanan, merchandising manager of retail operations at Whistler Blackcomb. “Last year we experienced amazing traffic as people converged from all over the Sea to Sky, Metro Vancouver and abroad. This year we are hoping for the same attendance as we get ready for one of Whistler’s busiest weekends.”

For the second year in a row frozen turkeys will be on sale for $15 each on Saturday, October 12 starting at 9 a.m., until quantities last. All proceeds from the Thanksgiving birds sold will go towards the Whistler Food Bank.

In conjunction with the Turkey Sale, the International Freeski Film Festival (iF3) will also make a stop at Whistler Blackcomb on Saturday, October 12, 2013. iF3 Whistler Blackcomb will feature premieres of the year’s best ski movies, including Into The Mind, an award winning film produced by Whistler locals Sherpas Cinema. Level 1 Productions’ latest ski film Partly Cloudy features a huge step over to step up jump session on Blackcomb Mountain, closing out the festival in style. There will also be a retro ski-themed kick-off party and a rocker-themed wrap up. The premieres will be held at Millennium Place, in the heart of Whistler Village. Visit www.whistler.if3.ca for more information.

Turkey Sale hours:
Friday, October 11 - 12 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Open to locals, season pass holders and EDGE Card holders only. Proof of identification will be required at the door.

Open to general public:

Saturday, October 12 - 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Sunday, October 13 - 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Monday, October 14 - 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

CAN-SKI Blackcomb Open House – On Saturday, October 12, CAN-SKI Blackcomb will be marking down all of last year's high-end fashion and skiwear apparel to 50 per cent off. In addition, the store will be fully stocked with this year's latest trends from Bogner, Canada Goose, Toni Sailer and Mountain Force. The event is for the whole family with complimentary refreshments and cupcakes served from 2 to 5 p.m., as well as face painting and Jazz The Balloon Man.

Kid’s Buy Back Program - Returning to CAN-SKI this year, shoppers who purchase new junior ski gear this season can return it before May 31, 2014 for a 50 per cent voucher on next year’s gear. Those who participated in the program last year are encouraged to bring in their vouchers and shop for 2014 kids gear.

SWAP - The "Sale With Awesome Prices" is back by popular demand, selling quality pre-owned equipment for both kids and adults. Organized by the Whistler Mountain Ski Club, the sale will also feature clothing and accessories from Whistler Blackcomb's chain of retail outlets. The SWAP tent will be located at the base of Blackcomb Mountain, open Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Those interested in selling their used equipment at the sale can connect with Whistler Mountain Ski Club.

New version – Whistler Blackcomb Mobile App
The latest version of the free Whistler Blackcomb mobile app, powered by TELUS will be available for iPhone on October 12. An Android version will be released soon after. The improved app features a completely new user interface plus reports on live mountain conditions, webcam feeds, snow and lift alerts to ensure a memorable mountain experience. Through the 2013.14 winter season, Whistler Blackcomb will be adding more content to improve the app including an enhanced Run Tracker system and a new Friend Finder feature.

Opening Day - Whistler Blackcomb is scheduled to officially open on Thursday, November 28, 2013. Skiers and riders itching for snow can check out Whistler Blackcomb’s Wonder Reels season two video The Wait For Winter, a sneak peek of all the powder to come this season.

22nd Annual WinterPRIDE - one of the world's leading LGBT Ski/Snowboard weeks is one week earlier this year in a time time slot of January 26th to February 2nd, 2014.  For more information visit GayWhistler.com or Call 1.866.787.1966  Host hotel:  Aava Whistler 

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The Wait for Winter

The 2013/14 Snow season is less than two months away and our friends at Whistler Blackcomb are

hard at work getting the mountains ready with two new lifts:  The Harmony6 on Whistler and the Crystal Express on Blackcomb.  The mountain team has also been busy with summer grooming and redesign making the transitions to the lifts easier for both skiers and snowboarders something that I am sure everyone will appreciate.

This past weekend, Whistler was hammered by an intense storm transforming the alpine with a massive blanket of snow (Sept. 29) sending the village into feverish anticipation of the coming season.  So today when Whistler Blackcomb released the next installment of "The Wonder Reels" Season 2 - we could hardly wait to share it with you.

Filmed, edited and produced by Switchback Entertainment, The Wonder Reels S2: The Wait For Winter showcases this magical time of October rains that will eventually give way to November storms. As the mountains reveal their first dustings of white, a palpable anticipation begins. Skiing and snowboarding's faithful start a ritualistic foreplay that culminates in the un-matched celebration of another opening day...

Whistler Opens November 28th, 2013 | GayWhistler's WinterPRIDE is January 26-February 2nd, 2014.  Call 1.866.787.1966 or visit online at GayWhistler.com reserve your snow-escape by November 15th for the best deals of the season.

Event Registration Online for WinterPRIDE Men's Event Passes 2014 powered by Eventbrite

Winter Is Coming - Whistler new and improved

#WinterIsComing and Whistler has never been more ready than this year.  Whistler Blackcomb has invested in several major capital projects this past summer to continue to make this resort the best on the planet.  So get those boards shined up... here is what is new this coming season!

Harmony 6 - Whistler Mountain

The Harmony high-speed quad chair on Whistler Mountain will be replaced with a new high-speed chairlift capable of transporting six people on each chair, called the Harmony Six.

• Carrying capacity will lift by 50 percent from 2,400 skiers per hour to 3,600
• New lift will follow the same alignment, servicing terrain from the edge of Symphony Amphitheatre over to Glacier Bowl.

Crystal Ridge Express - Blackcomb Mountain

The Crystal Zone will undertake a dramatic transformation when the fixed-grip triple chair is superseded by a high-speed quad chairlift with a radically different aspect.

• The bottom terminal of the new chair will start at a lower elevation on Blackcomb Glacier Road
• New lift will simplify access to the Crystal Zone, eliminating the need to use the Excelerator Chair to access many Crystal Zone favourites such as Ridge Runner, Rock ’N’ Roll and gladed trails including Outer Limits
• Return access to the Glacier Express Chair will also be faster, allowing quicker access to the Horstman Glacier, Blackcomb Glacier and Spanky’s Ladder
• Skier carrying capacity will improve by 65 per cent to 2,400 skiers per hour

Crystal Zone Snowmaking Upgrades

To complement the opening of the new Crystal Chairlift, Whistler Blackcomb has invested in extensive snowmaking infrastructure for the Crystal Zone. The upgrade will ensure excellent early and late season coverage in the popular area, and boost the mid-mountain skiing options on Blackcomb Mountain.

Reminder... for all Washington and Canadian Residents make sure you purchase your Edge Card for the best value on and off Whistler Blackcomb this season with daily rates starting at just $65/day vs. the $100+ at the window.  For non Washington and Canadian Residents, make sure you book your hotel and ski package by November 15th for the best deals.  Call 1.866.787.1966 or visit online at whistlerblackcomb.com  The 22nd annual Gay & Lesbians Ski Snowboard week - GayWhistler's WinterPRIDE is January 26th - February 2nd, 2014.  Host Hotel Aava Whistler is getting geared up to make this an even better year!  Remember to get your festival tickets by November 30th for the best value.  Tickets now on sale!