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Whistler-Blackcomb more than lives up to its world-class reputation

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Whether it is in Europe, Utah or Colorado, I seem to face the same question at every resort and on every ski trip. “How do we compare to Whistler-Blackcomb?”

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I’ve probably been asked that question 30 times at 30 different ski areas. Whistler-Blackcomb seems to be the standard-bearer by which other resorts measure themselves. And as much as it’s always pained me to admit, I couldn’t answer. I didn’t know.

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With so much world-class skiing only a short drive from Calgary, I’d somehow never actually made the trip across B.C. to the town and resort that Conde Nast readers voted as North America’s best in 2024. If I travelled to ski, I would go further.

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This winter, I decided to fix that, both so that I could give my hosts in other countries an honest answer and, let’s be honest, because I was getting desperate to finally ski Whistler-Blackcomb and see what all the fuss was about.

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I was ready to be a harsh critic, though. Anticipating disappointment, even. Could Whistler-Blackcomb be all that different than the resorts closer to home? Would I genuinely be able to say that it was worth spending the extra money? Was the town itself any different from what we’ve got right in our backyard as Calgarians?

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Well, despite the best efforts I made to visit Whistler with the unearned cynicism my OK-to-decent ski skills afforded me, it won me over in a hurry. Why? Because Whistler hits differently.

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The terrain? It’s as challenging and fun as you want it to be, and as I’ll get into later, a two-day steeps clinic with Extremely Canadian allowed me to see just about all of it. The stoke is real.

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The long lines at the bottom of lifts that have sometimes gone viral on social media? Admittedly, I skied on four weekdays, but I arrived about 48 hours after a solid powder dump and was graced with perfect bluebird days and never once had to wait more than three minutes to get on a lift or a gondola.

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The cost? While it’s true that day tickets aren’t cheap, purchasing an EPIC Pass is something that has real value for Calgary-based skiers. The pass gets you full access to Whistler-Blackcomb, but also seven days at any of the Resorts of the Canadian Rockies that are a lot closer to home. With an EPIC Pass, you could ski locally at Fernie, Kicking Horse, Kimberley and Nakiska and then add in a special trip to Whistler and it’s all covered.

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The EPIC Pass also includes over 80 mountains in the U.S., Europe and Australia, so for anyone looking to ski internationally, it’s a passport to some incredible turns and makes Whistler-Blackcomb easy to experience.

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And that experience is truly unreal, as already noted.

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The mountain alone differentiates itself from anything else you’ll find in North America. It’s enormous, with 8,171 acres of skiable terrain, over 200 marked runs, 16 alpine bowls and three glaciers. The numbers don’t do it justice, though. Four days of aggressive skiing was only enough for me to scratch the surface of what Whistler-Blackcomb offers.

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There’s more to a ski vacation than just skiing, though, and that’s pretty spectacular, too.

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Under Vail Resorts’ ownership, Whistler-Blackcomb has expanded its on-mountain culinary options well beyond the burgers and fries you get at most resorts. From ramen to tacos to an Indigenous-inspired menu at Raven’s Nest, you’ve got legitimately delicious options all over the mountain.

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And the town of Whistler itself? There just isn’t anything like it anywhere in Canada. I was fortunate to have ski-in, ski-out accommodations at the beautiful Fairmont Chateau Whistler, but the town is entirely walkable and the gondolas are accessible from just about everywhere.

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Like Europe’s top alpine destinations, you could easily spend a winter vacation in Whistler without ever stepping into skis. Restaurants like Wild Blue, Balam and Bar Oso serve up delicious cuisine that can compete with anything you’ll find in the big city, while there’s no shortage of fine drinking establishments if you want to throw back a couple of cold ones or go dancing.

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You could also just straight-up shop, and I was fortunate enough to spend a little time at the fascinating Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre and would highly recommend it to anyone looking to learn about the history of the area and its Indigenous people.

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Is Whistler Europe? No, it’s not. But it shouldn’t be. The Town of Whistler offers much of the same experience as I’ve found in the Alps, while the mountain offers the uniquely Canadian twist that makes skiing here so special.

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It’s the best of both worlds and somehow even better.

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Where to stay: It doesn’t get better than the Fairmont Chateau Whistler. Located just steps from the Blackcomb Gondola, the Fairmont Chateau Whistler delivers all the luxury you could ask for. This is not your typical ski-in, ski-out hotel. The health club features three heated outdoor pools, steam rooms, multiple saunas and hot tubs, all with mountain views. You’ve got dining options, too. I loved Portobello and the après vibe at the Mallard Lounge, but you won’t want to miss Wildflower, either. The rooms are large and the vibe is decadent. It’s everything you could want from a luxury ski-in, ski-out experience.

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Fairmont Chateau Whistler
A view of one of the many pools at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler. Photo by Tourism Whistler
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The Pass:?There’s no better way to experience Whistler-Blackcomb than with an EPIC Pass. The pass gets you unlimited skiing and riding at the resort, but also gets you access to more than 80 resorts across the U.S., Canada, Europe, Japan and Australia — including the Resorts of the Canadian Rockies ski areas close to Calgary. The pass also gets you discounts on food on the mountain.

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Can’t miss run for experts: My personal favourite came after climbing Spanky’s Ladder, which provides access to some incredible off-piste areas in the Garnet, Diamond, Ruby and Sapphire bowls, but I’ll take this opportunity to suggest one of the Extremely Canadian guided experiences I did on the first two days of my trip. Extremely Canadian is for advanced skiers only and while it’s not a ski school, you’ll get lots of tips – and in my case, instruction – as you’re guided through Whistler’s toughest terrain. It’s a huge mountain, so having someone take you straight to the steep stuff is a huge help and I can honestly say that in two days with my guide (the awesome Chappy), my skiing improved more than it has since my very first day trying to get down a bunny hill. Extremely Canadian offers one and two-day clinics and is an incredible way to explore the best terrain Whistler-Blackcomb offers.

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Can’t miss run for intermediates and beginners: I’ll keep this one short because, with over 200 marked runs, there’s no way I can pretend I skied everything. But you won’t get off a lift and find yourself getting stuck surrounded by blacks and double-blacks. Whistler-Blackcomb has so many beautifully groomed runs and a world-class ski school, too. It’s not just an experts’ mountain.

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Where to eat on the mountain:?I feel comfortable saying that Whistler-Blackcomb has the best on-mountain food options of any resort in Canada I’ve been lucky enough to ski. You can eat healthy or choose from all sorts of culinary traditions. Personal favourites included the ramen at Elevation Bowls at Expressway, the gnocchi at Glacier Creek and the venison chilli at Raven’s, which is Whistler’s first Indigenous-inspired restaurant. You’re spoiled for choice, whether you’re at Whistler or Blackcomb.

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Where to eat off the resort:?You’re not short on options in Whistler itself, that’s for sure. Feeling like fondue? The Chalet at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler’s fondue rivalled anything I had in Switzerland. Craving Latin American? The décor at the recently opened Balam is gorgeous and wouldn’t be out of place in the most stylish global city, and the food – and ceviche in particular – is unbelievable. If Spanish is more your thing, don’t miss Bar Oso. The tapas are incredible and the montaditos are practically worth the visit to Whistler on their own. Fine dining is part of the Whistler experience, and the town delivers.

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Where to relax:?After my third day on the mountain, my muscles needed a break. Enter the Scandinave Spa. After a badly-needed massage, I spent 90 minutes quietly immersing myself in the cycles of hot, cold and relaxation installations, surrounded by old-growth rainforests and mountains. It was divine.

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daustin@postmedia.com
www.twitter.com/DannyAustin_9

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