Whistler’s Winter Season
The official start of the exciting 2009/2010 winter season begins November 26, 2009 in beautiful Whistler, BC. This season is especially exciting because of the 2010 Winter Olympics, in Vancouver, a mere 125 kilometres (78 miles) south of Whistler. Whistler will host most of the Olympics’ alpine, Nordic, and sliding events, as well as be the site where the medals will be awarded at the end of each day of the Games.
Whistler in the winter is an exciting place, even without the Olympics. The resort town is a virtual “winter’s wonderland,” with snow and ice glistening off its buildings and streets. The skiing there is famous. Most of the two million people who visit Whistler annually do so primarily for its skiing. Most major ski magazines in North America have named Whistler one of the top ski resorts and destinations in the world since the mid-1990s.
In addition to the skiing and snowboarding on Whistler’s two amazing near-by mountains, Whistler and Blackcomb, there’s still plenty to do in Whistler. There are scores of restaurants, stores, rest day activities, après, and nightlife action. There are courses kids, teens, and adults can take to improve their skiing and snowboarding skills. These aren’t your ordinary ski schools; they introduce their students to the mountain culture that abounds in Whistler. Teens and kids are encouraged to learn skiing and snowboarding, and to improve their skills, through encouragement, accomplishment, and friendship.
Whistler offers horse-drawn sleigh rides all winter season. It’s a truly authentic Canadian winter experience—a way to take in the natural beauty of the glorious mountains around you while enjoying the warm blankets and hot chocolate. There are zip-line tours that’ll take your breath away as you soar high above the forest floor, between huge, ancient pines. You can go dog sledding, for the backcountry experience of your life. There are helicopter tours; how spectacular is that? Did you know that wine is made in British Columbia? You can experience them during Whistler’s tasting tours, when you’re lead to five high-quality restaurants to sample them.
Here are some events that are coming up this winter in Whistler, in addition to the Olympics and its normal holiday celebrations:
Whistler Film Festival December 3-5
WinterPRIDE, March 1-8
Paralympics Games, March 12-21
MS Trust Monster Ski and Snowboard Challenge, April 14-22
TELUS World Ski and Snowboard Festival, April 16-25
As you can see, Whistler’s winter season is long, from the end of November to the end of April. It’s probably one of the longest seasons in Canada, and full of lots to do, especially this year.