Whistler, British Columbia
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Whistler, bc)
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This article is about the resort municipality. For the ski resort operation see Whistler
Blackcomb.
Street signs in Whistler Village.
Whistler is a Canadian resort town in the southern Pacific Ranges of the Coast
Mountains in the province of British Columbia, Canada, approximately 125 kilometres (78 mi) north of Vancouver. Incorporated as the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW), it has a permanent population of approximately 9,965, plus a larger but
rotating "transient" population of workers, typically younger people from beyond BC, notably from Australia and Europe.
Over two million people visit Whistler annually, primarily for alpine skiing and mountain biking at Whistler-Blackcomb. Its pedestrian village has won numerous design awards and Whistler has been voted among the top
destinations in North America by major ski magazines since the mid-1990s. During the 2010 Winter Olympics, Whistler hosted most of the alpine, nordic, luge, skeleton, and bobsled events, though
freestyle skiing and all snowboarding events were hosted at Cypress
Mountain near Vancouver.
Whistler Blackcomb
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Whistler-Blackcomb)
Whistler Blackcomb is a major ski resort located 125 km north of Vancouver, in British
Columbia, Canada. By many measures it is the largest ski resort in North America; it is 50% larger
than its nearest competitor in terms of size, has the greatest uphill lift capacity, and until 2009, had the highest vertical skiable distance by a wide margin. Whistler Blackcomb also
features the Peak 2 Peak Gondola for moving between Whistler and Blackcomb mountains at the top; Peak 2 Peak holds records for the highest and longest unsupported cable car span in the world.
With all of this capacity, Whistler Blackcomb is also often the most-visited ski resort, often besting 2 million visitors a year.
Whistler was originally conceived as part of a bid to win the 1968 Winter Olympics,
but a series of events led to the bids being withdrawn or losing to other cities. Construction of the resort started in spite of this, and first opened for business in February 1966. The
resort built out extensively in the 1980s and 90s, and became the centrepiece of a renewed bid on the part of nearby Vancouver. Vancouver/Whistler was selected as the winning bid for the 2010 Winter Olympics in July 2003. Whistler Blackcomb hosted the alpine skiing events, including the men's and women's Olympic and Paralympic alpine skiing
disciplines of downhill, Super-G, giant slalom, super combined and slalom. The Dave Murray downhill course towards Whistler Creekside finally hosted an Olympic downhill event, 50 years after it was originally surveyed for this
purpose.
Whistler and Blackcomb were originally separate resorts, until they merged in 1997. Intrawest, a BC real
estate firm, purchased Whistler and merged the two operations. Over the next decade, the company expanded by purchasing additional ski resorts across North America, before expanding into golf
and other resorts as well. Today, Intrawest owns ten ski resorts, another ten getaway resorts (mostly beachside) and two heliskiing companies. Whistler Village, widely recognized for its livable design, formed the basis of similar Tyrolian-inspired developments at their expanding
series of resorts, as well as other resorts that hired Intrawest to build similar developments on their behalf.
In 2006 Intrawest was purchased by the alternative asset management firm, Fortress
Investment Group. Three weeks before the opening of the 2010
Olympics, Fortress failed to make payment on its loan used to buyout Intrawest. This caused its creditors to force Intrawest to divest itself of several of its resort holdings in
2009 and 2010 which includes Whistler Blackcomb, in order to reduce its debt load.[1]
2010 Winter Olympics
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held on February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University Endowment Lands, and in the resort town of Whistler. Approximately 2,600 athletes from 82 nations participated in 86 events
in fifteen disciplines. Both the Olympic and Paralympic Games were being
organized by the Vancouver Organizing Committee (VANOC). The 2010 Winter
Olympics were the third Olympics hosted by Canada, and the first by the province of British
Columbia. Previously, Canada hosted the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Quebec and the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Alberta.
Following Olympic tradition, the then-current Vancouver mayor, Sam Sullivan, received the Olympic flag during the closing ceremony of the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy. The flag was raised on February 28, 2006, in a special ceremony and was on display at Vancouver City Hall until the Olympic opening ceremony. The event was officially opened by Governor General Michaëlle
Jean.[2]
For the first time, Canada won gold at an Olympic Games
hosted at home in an "official" sport, having failed to do so at both the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal and the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, although Canada won a gold medal in the
"demonstration-sport" of curling in Calgary. Canada clinched first overall in gold medal wins on the second to last day of competition[3] and became the first host nation since Norway in 1952 to lead the gold medal count. With 14, Canada
broke the record for the most gold medals won at a single Winter Olympics, which was 13, set by the former Soviet Union in 1976 and Norway in 2002.[4] The United States won the most medals in total, their
second time doing so at the Winter Olympics, and broke the record for the most medals won at a single Winter Olympics, with 37, which was held by Germany in 2002 at 36 medals.[3] Athletes from Slovakia[5] and Belarus[6] won the first Winter Olympic gold medals for their nations.
September 29, 2008
Whistler Blackcomb Ranked No. 1 North American Ski Resort In Skiing Magazine For Unprecedented 12 Years In A Row
SKI Magazine maintains No. 3 ranking, while PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola and GLC receive accolades from UK publications
SKIING Magazine readers have named Whistler Blackcomb No.1 ski resort in North America for the twelfth year in a row. Meanwhile, SKI Magazine's annual "Top 50 Resort Guide" named Whistler
Blackcomb No. 3 for the second year in a row.
"Whistler Blackcomb continues to strive for innovation and guest service excellence. On December 12, the grand opening of the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola will set us even further apart from other North
American resorts," says Stuart Rempel, Senior VP of Marketing and Sales for Whistler Blackcomb. "This year, we are set to make significant changes that will forever alter the way our guests
experience the mountains. These top rankings are a very encouraging indication that we are continuing in the right direction and are a great start to this landmark winter season."
SKIING'S Best Après Scene award went to Whistler Blackcomb, with the Garibaldi Lift Company receiving accolades for its great food and variety of live concerts. Whistler Blackcomb also received a
Top 5 ranking for Backcountry Access, Steeps, and Park; as well as a Top 10 ranking for Trees.
"We survey our readers annually and ask them what they think is the best resort. But this year we tweaked the question. We asked readers where they would go if money were no object. Essentially,
where they want to ski most," says Jake Bogoch, editor of SKIING Magazine. "The answer was Whistler Blackcomb. On a personal level, I get it. I've skied at Whistler for the past seven winters and
can't seem to stay away."
In addition to a No.3 overall ranking in SKI Magazine's Top 50 Resort Guide, Whistler Blackcomb also received a Top 5 ranking in 8 categories: Terrain/Variety (No.1), Après-Ski (No.2), Off Hill
Activities (No. 3), Lifts (No.3), Lodging (No.3), Dining (No.4), Terrain/Challenge (No. 5) and Terrain Parks (No. 5).
Meanwhile, the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola received the award for best North American Resort Development 2008 by leading UK publication, Where to Ski and Snowboard.
Hardy's Skiing and Snowboarding Guide 2009, another UK-based publication, has given the Garibaldi Lift Company the award for Best Après-Ski Venue in North America. The awards are judged by a
panel of experts, including the authors of the guide, and take into account nominations supplied by readers.
Winter is just around the corner, and opening day is set for November 27, 2008. Guests who book by November 15 can receive up to 33 per cent off their holiday. As part of the family package, kids
12 and under stay, ski, rent, and transfer for free. For more information, visit whistlerblackcomb.com.
Consistently ranked as North America's top ski and snowboard resort, Whistler Blackcomb continues to raise the level of mountain excitement for its guests. With the landmark PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola
opening in December 2008, the return of the popular Symphony Amphitheatre, and a host of other on-mountain improvements, this winter promises to be one of the most exciting yet. Located a scenic
two-hour drive north of Vancouver up the spectacular 'Sea to Sky' Highway, this resort is home to Whistler and Blackcomb mountains, which boast one vertical mile of incredible skiing. With
over 17 alpine bowls, four glaciers, 200 trails, 8,171 acres of skiable terrain and a one mile vertical rise, the choices of where and what to ski/ride at Whistler Blackcomb from beginner to
advanced terrain are staggering. Joined at the base by a vibrant pedestrian village filled with restaurants, patios, cafes, shops, galleries and spas, and surrounded by breathtaking scenery, this
four season resort is spectacular. Check it all out at www.whistlerblackcomb.com.
About Intrawest ULC
Intrawest is a world leader in experiential destination resorts. The company has interests in ten resorts at North America's most popular mountain destinations including Whistler Blackcomb,
a host venue for the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Intrawest network also includes Canadian Mountain Holidays, the largest heli-skiing operation in the world, Sandestin Golf
and Beach Resort in Florida and Club Intrawest—a private resort club with locations throughout North America. In addition, Intrawest develops real estate at its resorts and at other
locations across North America and in Europe. Intrawest is headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia. For more information, visit www.intrawest.com
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Proud to be a venue for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games
MEDIA NOTE: Whistler Blackcomb is pleased to provide high resolution photographs available for editorial use, and downloadable at the following link. Please credit the appropriate
photographer and Whistler Blackcomb. /photo/index.htm.
Check out the progress on the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola at www.whistlerblackcomb.com/peak2peak. Opens December 2008.
Whistler Blackcomb is the Official Alpine Skiing Venue of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
THE BREATHTAKING VIEW FROM THE CABIN
2010 Winter
Olympics
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