Winners announced
DESERVING WHISTLERITES CHOSEN AMONG MANY FOR FIRST RIDE ON PEAK 2 PEAK GONDOLA ON OPENING DAY
Twenty-two well-deserving winners have been chosen to ride the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola first on opening day, from the scores of nominations that have flooded Whistler Blackcomb since the Ride of Their Life contest launched in October. In total, 270 nominations were received for 146 nominees, with every nomination depicting someone who is passionate about life in Whistler. The contest invited nominations of people who best demonstrated Whistler and Blackcomb mountain spirit. The call was answered in droves, and the results were uplifting and inspiring.
“We have had an extremely difficult time narrowing this down to just one cabin’s worth of winners,” says Dave Brownlie, Whistler Blackcomb’s president and chief operating officer. “Every nomination was filled with anecdotes of citizens whose lives revolve around their love of Whistler and Whistler Blackcomb, who have been dedicated to the ongoing success of the resort through its growth over the years, and who have demonstrated an enduring passion for the mountains. We were moved and inspired by all the stories and want to thank every one who submitted a nomination for sharing with us.”
The nominations portrayed people who are new to town, old to town, have overcome disabilities and illness, have overcome all odds to be here, have contributed in great ways to the development, cultural or spiritual makeup of Whistler; and ultimately portrayed people who have a zest for life and a true love of the mountains.
Ultimately, the field had to be narrowed down and a list of winners needed to be chosen to ride in the first PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola Sky Cabin on opening day. The winners and their stories are listed below:
Andy Petersen
One of our town fathers and arrived in the valley in the early 1960s. A true pioneer and responsible for putting much of the original infrastructure into this town. Specifically the Alta Lake road water system. Andy has been involved in construction of many projects in the valley, which includes key structures on Whistler and Blackcomb Mountain. Since retirement, is a community volunteer. He has worked to improve RCMP services to our town and has a sincere interest in the Peak to Peak Project. As one of our few founding seniors, he is one that has seen us move from a fishing resort at Alta Lake on to an international year round destination resort.
He is a genuinely great guy who would help any of his friends at a drop of a hat. He is always amicable and very upbeat. I can say that he always made me laugh. I hope with all my heart you consider this because he has been a big part of making Whistler Blackcomb what it is today and prepping the mountains for this great achievement.
Florence Petersen
Why she exemplifies the true Whistler Spirit: retired Burnaby North School teacher (P.E. Eng. Teacher); had property here since 50’s; volunteered with Ski Scamp program; long time Museum & Archives member; Marriage Commissioner for many years (married my son Tim to Lisa in Rainbow Park); always upbeat – positive – generous with her time; athletic – was on Canadian Women’s Grass hockey Team; having no children of her own, is a surrogate Grandma to some special children in valley; loves to be outside in her beautiful flower and vegetable garden overlooking Alta Lake; long time married to Andy who built her a beautiful home; a neighbor and good friend of Myrtle Philip who first settled on shores of Alta Lake; is still fighting hard on behalf of neighbors to get the sewers connected to avoid environmental damage to lake; attending council meetings – sending letters. She’s just a beautiful person loved by many!
Dave Kirk
Dave Kirk has skied WB every season since the day it opened. As a young teacher, he spent all his spare time in Whistler - every summer, every weekend and every Christmas since 1966. He built his home here and went into the ski retail business. Beginning with Le Magasin du Ski - he built Sportstop and expanded into 6 retail shops serving the local and visitor population for almost 30 years. Every local sport in Whistler has benefited from his generosity through his business. Dave served on Council for 13 years. He served on virtually every committee: Chamber, WHA, Health Care, APC APRC, Design Panel, Millennium Place, and Library. Dave Kirk loves Whistler. His tireless efforts on behalf of the community make him worthy of being on the ride of his life.
George, Gordy and Ryder Huxtable
George Huxtable was the original nominee of this contest, and frequents Whistler Mountain every single day, even in his 90th year. Winner of the “Living the Dream” contest a few years ago, for the most days up the mountains of anyone that year, George is a Whistler Blackcomb icon. Gordy and Ryder Huxtable should ride along with dad/grandpa George as they all eat, live, breath and promote Whistler Mountain wherever they go or through whatever they are doing. It would be wonderful for three generations to be the first to ride the Gondola - representing the past, present and future of the evolution of Whistler.
Gordy could join his father as a second generation Huxtable to be the first to ride the new and awe-summ Peak to Peak Gondola. I know Gordy as the unofficial mountain ambassador. Whether Gord is wind surfing on the beaches of Maui, or he is fishing salmon on Lake Superior, Gordy's favorite waves are made of Whistler/Blackomb snow.
Gordy along with his father George and son Ryder represent 3 generations of long term Whistler residents. I think that to select Gordy along with his father and son would prove that you can truly live ALL your life in Whistler and enjoy the mountains from the time you can walk until the golden years when you can simply sit and enjoy the view. Our wonderful resort is for life, not just for when you are twenty-something.
Harvey Fellows
Harvey is the longest serving employee at Whistler Blackcomb, and lived at mid-station on Whistler Mountain for many years as caretaker of the original Creekside Gondola. Through the years, Harvey’s dedication to the mountains was evident – he volunteered on every World Cup event since time began, and he used to spend summers taking part in the Toni Sailer ski camps on the glacier. It was Harvey’s job to start up the Creekside Gondola each morning… what a way to come full circle! After 40 years of working on the mountain and being part of all the original lift installations here he should get the first ride.
Howard & Lillian Goldsmid
I would like to officially nominate Howard and Lil Goldsmid for one of the first Peak to Peak gondola rides. Howard and Lil purchased one of the first condominiums in Alpine Village in Creekside in 1965. The family have been Whistler Mountain passholders since that time. They are now 89 and 85 years old, respectively and are still strong and avid skiers. Both Howard and Lil worked as volunteers on many World Cup races over the decades. Especially in the early years (the Du Maurier Cups I remember particularly well) they looked after all the food and accommodation for all the racers and officials. Their volunteerism was also with Whistler Mountain, serving coffee and generally making visitors welcome to the mountain. Howard worked for Christine Parsons on Blackcomb in food services. He was often the one to ski down the mountain at the end of the day with the cash deposit. Who would suspect an old guy to carry all that cash? Lil was Citizen of the Year in 2002. She continues to work tirelessly at both elementary schools, where she is commonly known as "Nana". She has been reading in Sue Christopher's grade one class since the original Myrtle Philip school was located in the Village. I feel they are very worthy candidates for this exciting adventure.
Isobel & Don MacLaurin
When I saw your great PEAK 2 PEAK contest, I immediately thought about Isobel & Don MacLaurin. Fond family memories of the original gondola. Their will states that I get that grey treasure. They're now Super Seniors, 40 yrs of seasons passes. In the 70's...my mom bartered for our family passes (6), painting ski trail signs and those larger-than-life wildlife & bird murals for roundhouse. With the Express gondola, Dad trained we summer staff about the glaciation, history, flora & fauna of Whistler/Blackcomb and surrounding Garibaldi Park. Many years ago, our family built stone cairns up from Harmony Lake and over the 'safe route' along the musical bumps. Mom & Dad also helped with Blackcomb's summer program. And with the Peak chair running in summer, they haul their out-of-town visitors up to share their knowledge & genuine Whistler spirit with the visiting world. Thank you for considering my diehard Whistlerite parents for being chosen to ride on this amazing feat's maiden voyage, whisking them across their playground of some 40 years plus. My mom will squeal as she loves rides! And... they've just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary too!
Jessica (Pika) Turner (Hare)
Pika was born and raised in Whistler and lived at the top of Whistler for the early years of her life. Her dad the late infamous ski bum John "Rabbit" Hare and her mom Janis "Rocky" were the care takers at the top of Whistler. Pika's Restarant was named after Pika (Jessica) on Dec 14th 1984, I have the news paper clipping with her cutting the ribbon with Nancy Greene and Dave Murray. She would ski to school every day.
She cut the ribbon for the Pika's opening - nobody is more local than Pika.
John Hetherington
John Hetherington doesn't need much of an introduction. He was instrumental in the making of Whistler during the early years. He was one of the first aldermen and since then has been very active and involved in Whistler. One of the former owners of Whistler Heliskiing, he's in his mid 60's and still most people half or a third his age can't catch him on a mountain bike. He's still full time guiding heliskiers down powder slopes and simply a Whistler icon! I don't know anybody else that embodies the early Whistler spirit the way John does.
The reason I am electing John Hetherington to ride the Peak 2 Peak Gondola first is because I truly see him as an amazing local symbol. Mr. Hetherington has lived in the Whistler area since the early years. I am a recent local to the area but the knowledge and passion that John has makes him an inspiring person and worth the value of being a part of the new Peak 2 Peak Gondola. He is the Whistler Heli-Skiing guru and a man that has tracked through a lot of backcountry territory, sharing his love and desire of skiing powder with so many. I believe he is the right man to be a part of the 20 chosen to ride the Peak 2 Peak Gondola.
Logan & Dalton Pehota
I would like to nominate my sons, Logan Pehota (13 years old) and Dalton Pehota (12 years old). My husband Eric Pehota moved to Whistler in 1984 from Powder King, BC and has been skiing 80-100 days a year on Whistler/Blackcomb mountains and he has passed on his love and respect of the mountains to our boys. My sons have been skiing since they were 3 years old and love to ski in any conditions. They manage to ski around 60-80 days a year, while still maintaining A's in school. They are both active ski racers with the Whistler Mountain Ski Club and love to ski powder and steeps with their Dad as well. There is rarely a day when they are not one of the first in line after a big snowfall. For them to experience the Peak 2 Peak Gondola would be an awesome experience as they will be able to share this great memory for many years to come. It would be great to see a combination of young and young at heart on the first PEAK 2 Peak Gondola ride and to be able to hear the comments from the different generations. I would be very proud of my sons if they were chosen for the first ride and I know they would appreciate the opportunity to be included in this great event.
Lorne McFadgen
Lorne works in our Ski and Snowboard School and has since 1990. He turns 73 this year and has informed us that he will no longer be returning to WB as his Parkinsons disease is progressing and preventing him from skiing and teaching. He is a long time loyal Employee that wants to be involved in WB for the love of the sport.
Lorne has worked in the ski instructing business for his entire adult life. He managed Talisman resort in Ontario for almost 20 years where he owned 3 ski shops. He was a member of our Canadian demonstration ski team in the mid 60's and a past president of our Canadian Ski Instructor's Alliance. He toured Canada in the early 70's (known as "Mr. Ski") visiting TV and Radio stations from coast to coast promoting our sport. He retired to Whistler in 1990 to "live the dream" of simply being a ski instructor. As well he was an expert boot fitter, pioneering alignment techniques that are being used today in many of the ski shops in town. He worked at Can Ski (glacier shop) for 15 years where he was known as "the boot doctor". Tragically, he can no longer ski due to the progression of Parkinson's disease. It would be a great thing for Lorne (and for the many ski instructors who admire him and aspire to live life as he has) if he were chosen to be one of the first to ride across the valley on the gondola.
Lulu Leathley
I happened to hear that many being nominated for the first ride on P2P are distinguished either by advanced years or by some type of serious injury or debilitation. While this may be rumor (and while both criteria are worthy distinguishing marks on their own) I propose that there are other reasons to be among the first to make the big crossing. In particular, I propose filling the gondola with people who have given actively to the overall well-being of the Whistler community through their volunteer efforts. Lulu Leathley is a stellar example. As a long-standing director of the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation, Lulu has given enormously of her time, passions and prodigious energies for years on end to create greater community well-being throughout this valley. Lulu's broad and powerful connections in the Vancouver and Whistler communities have helped bring significant donors to the WBF table, and her unflagging energy for charitable causes has helped direct the WBF to many of its beneficiaries. Lulu's time on the board and time in fundraising capacities is hardly the end. Hers is one of the reliable cheery faces volunteering at WB Foundation events. And while her involvement in the WB Foundation is significant, this is only one of the ways Lulu has given to Whistler since first skiing Whistler Mountain in 1966.
Owen Owens
Owen and Alison have been avid skiers at Whistler Blackcomb for almost 40 years. They have raised a family of skiers and Owen is the family patriarch who prods three generations out the door to be on the lifts when they open. For Owen, there is never a bad day on the mountain, only different degrees of perfection. Before arriving in Vancouver and building their Whistler cabin, Owen and Alison met on the ski hill where they skied on a rope tow powered off of whoever's car was handy. They were involved in building the first lift at the Kimberley ski hill where their baby daughter was often found at the top of the T-Bar in a bassinette under a tree. Now in his eighties, Owen still does over 100 days a year on the mountain. His Masters racing efforts include the Peak to Valley Race where he usually still beats about half the field despite spotting over 60 years to some of them. If that's not enough, what makes Owen uniquely qualified is that in the early '70's, his skiing knowledge and geological engineering expertise gave him the foresight to propose a gondola system to span the 1.5 km Uummannaq Fjord in Greenland and allow the Black Angel mine to open. Owen's idea to span the chasm was more than 35 years ahead of the Peak to Peak, so it would bring things full circle for him to ride the first gondola across the valley. As December 12 will be Owen and Alison's 56th wedding anniversary if both could go on the first ride it would only be fitting for them to spend it together on the mountain.
Peter & Trudy Alder
Peter's contribution to Whistler Blackcomb goes far beyond his role in the old days at Whistler Mountain. Even while driving Whistler's fierce competition against the new upstart, Blackcomb, Peter recognized the immense value of the two mountains working together on a number of fronts, and fostered an essential unity between the mountains, village businesses, community and local government. His enduring and passionate determination for everything about the mountain experience to be the best it can possibly be is matched only by his delight in sharing tales about the many characters and occasions that have made Whistler Blackcomb what it is today. Trudy has played an equally valued role in the history of the resort, and is an inspiring role model to many in our community. Following her years as one of Whistler Mountain's most gracious instructors, she has continued as a quietly strong partner to Peter's more public roles. If her knees allowed Trudy would still be gracing Whistler Blackcomb's slopes every day.
Phil Chew
We think Phil Chew should be on the first Peak to Peak. Phil not only is the Coach of the BC Disabled Ski Team he is an icon for skiers, both able bodied and disabled. He's an inspiration to many, locals and tourists alike. He's a great family man and contributes greatly to many community causes (not just for disabled).
Ray Crompton
Ray Crompton first came to Whistler when it was a logging camp. He was one of the first homeowners in Alta Vista, and has had season passes every year since the mountain opened. Ray has taught countless people how to ski, and exhibits a joy on the slopes one does not soon forget. He has been involved with community projects, and his Grandson is now running for public office. Dave Murray is related to Ray, and would wholeheartedly support his nomination. From the number of people Ray has introduced to Whistler to the number of great founders that call him friend, Ray is the definition of the person that should get the first ride.
It's in the thrill of the turn is what my granddad quotes when asked about skiing.
I consider my grandfather, Ray Crompton, to be one of the founding members of Whistler Blackcomb. Before it was a resort, when Whistler was a logging town, he hiked the mountains to ski them. In the late 60s, when Whistler officially opened, he was one of the first seasons pass holders and has held his seasons pass since. At the beginning of the resort's history, he built one of the first ski chalet's in Whistler, and our family has grown up in it since. Today, at the age of 86, he still holds his seasons pass and makes it up the mountain at least once a season, oxygen tank in tow. He is the reason we are a ski family, and the reason I have been skiing/snowboarding Whistler Blackcomb since the day I learned to walk. Nearing the end of his life, he absolutely deserves this one last chance to see what Whistler Blackcomb has become since its humble beginnings which he was a part of.
