Reasons To Ski Whistler During the Olympics

Reasons To Ski Whistler During the Olympics

Courtesy of CNN.com and skinet.com.

Unless you live in Whistler, you wouldn’t know that a certain segment of the community is opposed to hosting the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Some locals have decided to leave town for two weeks, rent their houses to “some rich Americans,” and go surfing in Mexico. Let them.

Here are several reasons why the 2010 Winter Olympics are the perfect time to ski Whistler.

Empty mountains

No, that’s not a typo. The Games are notoriously poorly attended. For 2010’s events, just 12 of Whistler and Blackcomb’s 200-plus runs are closed.

Better still, Whistler insiders told Skiing that January bookings are lagging, meaning for several weeks leading up to the Games you won’t be fighting for first tracks. Lucky you.

Plus, Whistler won our Best Overall Resort in our 2010 Resort Awards.

Pulsing village

The mountains may be empty but when you ski back to the village, expect the same kind of pulse you associate with a vibrant city.

Other than the media and medal-presentation areas, the village is free of security barricades. You can walk, mingle, and party with the world.

Red-carpet treatment

If you owned Whistler, and it was about to get more global media attention than it has ever received, wouldn’t you ensure that the cat tracks were as smooth as golf greens? That mountain restaurants were world-class? That busy stores and ticket windows were amply staffed?

Of course you would.

Our Whistler insiders say that the few people who end up attending are going to have it good. Spring is a season of transitions at Whistler Blackcomb. From powder to parties during the TELUS World Ski & Snowboard Festival April 17-26; and from boards to bikes when the Whistler Mountain Bike Park opens May 16; spring is the season for adventure hedonists.

Free admission to Olympic events

Each alpine event will have a complimentary viewing area. All you need is a lift ticket to whack your stupid cowbell as racers pass.

Plenty of rooms

Just before the Games began, Whistler’s hotels were about 85 percent booked.

But here’s where the local exodus works for you: Private homes and condos are empty, and the prices are expected to drop as go time gets closer.

Free parties

Nothing to see here but free concerts, free outdoor theater, and huge screens broadcasting all 17 days of Olympic events.

The official parties last until 11:30, culminating in a nightly “fire and ice” show, but count on late nights, especially given that some restaurants are expected to be open around the clock.

Whistler’s official Olympic website, has all the info you’ll need.

The mountains may be empty but when you ski back to the village, expect the same kind of pulse you associate with a vibrant city. Other than the media and medal-presentation areas, the village is free of security barricades. You can walk, mingle, and party with the world.

There’s a reason Whistler was voted Best Nightlife in our 2010 Resort Awards.

Original article can be found by clicking here.

JASPER’S MARMOT BASIN SKI RESORT CELEBRATES OFFICIAL OPENING OF LONGEST HIGH-SPEED QUAD CHAIR LIFT IN THE CANADIAN ROCKIES

$8 Million Investment and Massive Snow Falls Transforms the Marmot Basin Experience from the Spectacular to the Exceptional

JASPER, Alberta – World-famous Marmot Basin Ski and Snowboard Resort Saturday celebrated the official opening of the Canadian Rockies Express, the longest high-speed quad chairlift ever built in the Canadian Rockies.

As guests from throughout the mountain community and across Alberta enjoyed record early-season snowfalls, Chairman John Day said the spectacular new lift transforms Marmot Basin into an even more exceptional experience.

“The Canadian Rockies Express once again improves the skiing and riding experience in Jasper National Park,” said Mr. Day. “Skiers and boarders can now zoom from the bottom to the top of the ski area in record time, guaranteeing more time enjoying the views and our spectacular slopes and virtually none spent in lift-lines.”

The Canadian Rockies Express is the largest single investment ever undertaken at Marmot Basin, located in the heart of Jasper National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. It continues years of increased investment, including the opening of the Eagle’s Ridge area, the largest terrain addition of any national park resort this decade.

From the ski area base, the longest high-speed quad chair in the Canadian Rockies travels 2.3 km (1.5 miles), whisking skiers and boarders 596 vertical metres (1,955 ft) up to the mountain top in eight minutes.  The lift was built using the most environmentally progressive construction techniques developed as part of an industry Best Practices Manual written collaboratively with Parks Canada.

With an increased carrying capacity of 4,800 people per hour from the base area, lift lines are certain to be virtually eliminated as it will now take half the time to travel up from the base of the ski area to the top of the upper mountain. Runs for every caliber of skier or boarder, from beginner to expert, are available at the top with some stretching four kilometers long.

Dave Gibson, President and Chief Executive Officer of the resort which opened in early November added, ”We have never seen such spectacular early season conditions as Marmot is being continuously blanketed with fresh powder. Another 21 cm of snow fell Friday night and conditions are as good as they get anywhere at anytime.  Today again demonstrated that our shareholders are fully committed to investing to improve the magical experience for which Marmot Basin is famous worldwide.”

Since 2003, Marmot Basin, which overlooks the resort town of Jasper, has invested more than $16 million in visitor improvements.

“This was a massive project and I am absolutely thrilled with how much this new lift has improved the skiing experience at Marmot Basin”, added Mr. Dave Gibson. “We worked in complete cooperation with Parks Canada to employ the greenest construction techniques every step of the way in order to achieve an appropriate balance for both our ski area and for Jasper National Park.”

About Marmot Basin

Located in the breathtaking, vast and ruggedly mountainous landscape of Jasper National Park in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, Marmot Basin is a ski destination that inspires lasting memories.  With 1,675 acres of superb slopes, the resort offers 3,000 vertical feet of superb skiing and snowboarding.

With 86 marked trails on four distinct areas of the mountain, the terrain is nicely varied; from long, gentle, winding novice runs to steep, high alpine bowls and chutes and glade skiing through verdant pine forests. The ski and snowboard runs are split evenly between easy, intermediate and advanced, making this an ideal destination for the whole family and all abilities.

Jasper’s Marmot Basin Receives 60 Centimeters/ 2 Feet of New Snow in 48 hours!

Once in a while, the stars align and the heavens open up and you are in the right place at the right time. Right now are those days at Marmot Basin and the time to ski Jasper is now.  Jasper’s Marmot Basin has received a stunning 60 centimeters, two feet, of powder over the past 48 hours and 85 centimeters in the last seven days and it is still snowing. Yesterday morning, November 17,  the grooming team had to clear the parking lots with snow cats rather than with a plow because there was 25 centimeters of snow that fell overnight. Lifties were shoveling out the load and unload ramps of the chairlifts along with their buried mazes.

To say Marmot Basin is having an excellent start to the skiing Jasper season is an understatement. This is the first time we have had 100 centimeters of settled snow at mid mountain in the month of November and it is only November 18th. Today Marmot Basin opened even more terrain and we now have 53 runs open. The avalanche team is working hard to open the Knob Chair. They will have to do considerable avalanche work to re-establish the safety of this area before we can open it to skiers and boarders, however, we expect the Knob area to open soon.

Skiers and riders are hooting and hollering as they ride the New Canadian Rockies Express high speed quad chair.  2000 vertical feet of perfect powder skiing and riding from top to bottom on our new quad chair. This is a perfect time to ski Jasper and head to Marmot Basin as there is another storm headed our way and we are going to need snorkels to ski and breathe if this keeps up.