Whistler Mountain and Blackcomb Mountain face each other. Their physical connection at the base would suggest similarities between them. But, this is a story of how two mountains can create two completely different skiing or snowboarding experiences. A view from the valley foreshadows the mountain's stories.
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Whistler Blackcomb was founded with the dream of hosting the Olympics, and that same spirit of friendly athletic competition has carried the ski area through to the 2010 Winter Games and beyond.
Just because the Games are over, doesn’t mean the action stops. Here are ski and snowboard competitions that continue to help foster the spirit of the Games at Whistler Blackcomb:
The Peak to Valley Race is the longest running team race in the Sea to Sky area and has been running since 1984. An average of 320 racers compete on 80 teams consisting of four racers. Teams are then categorized according to their cumulative age. The race takes place over two days; two team members race on the first day and two on the second.
The course, which consists of 180 gates, begins at the top of Whistler Mountain on a run called The Saddle and ends at Creekside Base.
The Kokanee Valley Race Series is held once per week throughout the peak winter season. The series is open to skiers, telemarkers and snowboarders with different gender and age divisions. No racing experience is required to join in on the fun of recreational racing. All you need is the desire to participate and we'll look after the rest.
Snowcross events in both the skiing and snowboarding disciplines were in the spotlight during the 2010 Winter Games. Whistler Blackcomb has been fostering the sport for many years in is Nintendo Terrain Park through these two-day Snowcross competitions, which run at select periods throughout the winter.
Events are recreational competitions open to all ages. Amateur skiers and boarders will compete in different divisions on the Nintendo Terrain Park Snowcross course.
More information on the Nintendo Terrain Parks
The King of the Rail is a series of rail jam contests which run on selected nights at the Base of Blackcomb next to the Magic Chair. There are a variety of categories: Snowboarders and Skiers, Male and Female and Adult and Youth.
Category winners receive a percentage of the cash entry fees as a prize and all participants are entered in to win draw prizes from Whistler Blackcomb sponsors.
More information on the Nintendo Terrain Parks
Park Rider Sessions presented by TELUS feature Slopestyle, Rail Jams and Halfpipe events, take place on both mountains utilizing the best terrain available. Competitions open to skiers and snowboarders, all ages welcome.
More information on the Nintendo Terrain Parks
This Snowboard specific event, sponsored by Whistler Blackcomb’s Showcase Snowboard Surf and Skate shop, has been running since 1997. Taking place in early spring, it has been through several incarnations over the years, focusing on a variety of disciplines, including halfpipe and slopestyle.
Showcase, which celebrated its 20th Anniversary in 2010, was Canada’s first and largest Burton supplier.
More information on the Nintendo Terrain Parks
Every April, Whistler hosts the TELUS World Ski & Snowboard Festival (TWSSF), one of the largest snow sports, music and entertainment festivals in the world. For 10 days, pro skiers and snowboarders impress with their biggest bags of tricks at world renowned competitions, free concerts rock the village, film and fine art events dazzle crowds, and parties pump up the beats. With annual attendance of over 250,000 visitors, the TWSSF is the perfect time to discover the latest trends in snowsports, lifestyle and music.
The Grenade Games, a snowboard-specific event - have recently been incorporated into TWSSF, bringing the festival back to its grassroots core.
The festival also a great chance for halfpipe skiers to showcase their skills as part of the World Skiing Invitational tour.. Thus far, halfpipe skiing hasn’t been added to the Olympic event roster, however, with pressure from organizations like the Canadian Halfpipe Ski team, it is in consideration for Sochi 2014. More info here: (Link to the halfpipe ski story starter TBD link)
The recent addition of Whistler Blackcomb’s 22-foot Olympic-sized halfpipe continues to elevate the competition to new heights.
More information on the TWSSF is available at: http://www.wssf.com
Every summer, the biggest names in mountain biking descend upon Whistler to hit the Whistler Mountain Bike Park during one of the world's premier mountain bike festivals, Kokanee Crankworx. Athletes from all over the globe flock to the festival to try their hand at some of the most innovative and challenging courses in the industry, while fans rush to watch the dirt and mud fly and their favourite riders.
The nine-day event takes place each summer and features ground breaking events, such as its marquee event, the Monster Energy Slopestyle, now a top level “diamond” rated event in the newly formed Freeride Mountain Bike World Tour.. Always pushing the boundaries, Kokanee Crankworx introduces new events, such as the Ultimate Pump Track Challenge and SAINT Deep Summer Photo Challenge. The long daylight hours and hot summer weather mean more time to take in the live music, riding demonstrations and smokin' competition not to mention more than a few epic parties.
More information: http://www.crankworx.com
