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So this march break I was suppose to be going to smugglers notch in Vermont. Change of plans I am now headed to Blue Mountain. Have any of you been to both and can you compare the two. I read/heard that Blue has a ill terrain park( telus park) and thats mostly what I do. So leave a comment and compare the two.


Published On: 2/16/2009
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Yep, there's only 3 days left to enter our Find the Money Line contest.

Pretty easy stuff. All you gotta do is buzz around our new zone map, find the money line logo, and enter to win.

Why Find the Money Line? Because that's exactly what we'll be doing with our Big Mountain Experience trips lined up for later this winter. Pray for some snow and when it comes, we'll be getting lots of it!


Published On: 12/16/2008
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Amped & ready for our 3rd season of operations, Backcountry Snowcats, is giving you a chance to win a piece of the action. Located on the Hurley Pass north of Pemberton and south of the snowmobiling hub of Bralorne, Backcountry Snowcats has more epic ski & snowboard terrain than we know what to do with, and is always scheming new ways to get you to the goods. Hence the creation of their unique new Private Big Mountain Experience package - guiding small groups of 3-4 riders, with safety training and mountaineering techniques in the mix. Using Snow Cat access, sleds & ski touring to cover more ground, you're looking at an epic weekend of money lines. It’s an experience unlike anything you’ll find at other cat boarding or heli operations, and Backcountry Snowcats is looking forward to hosting the first takers this season.

To launch the new package and wet your appetite for winter, our 'Find The Money Line' Contest could be your ticket to $1000 in Backcountry Snowcats credit this winter. First explore the 15,000 acres of powdery bowls, chutes and glades with the new interactive maps, then Enter to Win.
Not a bad deal eh?

Someone is going to score $1000 towards a trip at Backcountry Snowcats, and you can chose to apply it to the package that suites you best. It’s enough to cover a 2-Day weekend trip, with 2 nights at the Backcountry Snowcats Lodge, snowmobile or Snow Cat rides to and from Pemberton, 2 days cat skiing/riding, and hearty catered meals during your stay. Or bring some friends and put the prize bounty towards a Private Big Mountain Experience or Custom Trip.

Check out our new site, enter the contest, and with any luck you’ll be shredding at Backcountry Snowcats this winter.



Published On: 11/14/2008
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The level of skill being displayed in all of the Whistler Blackcomb Parks is astonishing these days. The progression we are seeing in athletes is at light speed and tricks formerly reserved for the rare mutants are now being thrown with ease by local kids skipping school to ski and ride. (Don’t skip school!) This week I witnessed 16-year-olds throwing double back flips, 19-year-olds spinning corked 10s and a 4-year-old slide a four foot round bar. This progression has pushed the Park crew to step up and create the best possible playground for these athletes and then work backwards to ensure we have a smooth progression. The bar is being set high for the next generation and we are doing our best to evolve at the same rate.

The Parks all got new set-ups this week, some even seeing changes daily. On Whistler Mountain we changed up the top section to include a new barrel bonk in addition to the stump jibs as well as freshening up Bobcat with a never-been-tired-before combo box with a quad kink. There are also new jump styles on Chipmunk and two “Skate Style” spines with log and metal coping for every transfer trick imaginable.

The Choker Park saw the addition of the Quicksilver and Nintendo boxes set up in series as mellow up-boxes as well as the addition of a mini shack booter style step over jump. The Superpipe rebuild has resulted in the best pipe I have ridden in a long time and special props go out to Andy Morrison for his epic 17 hour shift grooming the pipe se we can all rip it this week!

The Terrain Garden continues to be one of the busiest parks with hordes of newbie riders getting their legs on the small jumps, mini spine, boxes and rails offered up in this line. We are hoping to add a few more basic flat boxes to the mix so trick development can progress here too.

The HL Park has basically been split into Lucas Land’s rail line for metal grinders and the main park for jumpers. The left line continues to be the BIG XL line while the right side offers up the L / XL multi-takeoff options.

If you have not been up in the parks yet this year, you are missing out! Don’t wait to see it in next year’s vids, come on up today.

See the Photos



Published On: 2/29/2008
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What do “The Sex Tiger”, “Creamy Jeans” and “There Will Be Blood” have in common? Not much, but they’re all name ideas for Backcountry Snowcats newest line.

There’s only three weeks left to be a part of Backcountry Snowcats history, and score some free Cat-Snowboarding out of the deal. Think you can come up with a better name?  Bring it on.

Backcountry Snowcats, located on the Hurley Pass north of Pemberton and south of the cult-classic snowmobiling hub of Bralorne, has more epic ski & snowboard terrain than they know what to do with. It has been a mind-blowing season so far, with more storms and good times to come. With the recent nice weather the cat has been pushing roads higher and higher into the alpine, now within spitting distance of… the new line. The line that you get to name.

Enter the contest, come up with a name for one of the new lines, and if your line name is chosen, you win a weekend at Backcountry Snowcats to shred your new line, and many others. First explore www.snowcats.ca to learn about the area, then enter a name that best suites this unnamed line.

Someone is going to score a weekend worth $898 CAD, with 2 nights at the Hurley Mountain Lodge, snowmobile or Snow Cat rides to and from Pemberton, 2 days cat skiing/riding, and hearty catered meals during your stay.

To get your juices flowing, here’s some funny, clever, and random contenders that were received so far, all loosely related to cats, snow, and railroads:
‘Gladeator’,
‘One Track Mind’,
‘Boxcar Gnarly’,
‘The Sex Tiger’,
‘Smoking Bowls’,
‘The Humpyard’,
 ‘Bullet Terrain’,
‘There Will Be Blood’,
‘3:10 to Hurley’,
‘Gravy Train’,
‘Station 4:20’,
‘Derailed’,
‘Tighty Whitey’,
and ‘Creamy Jeans’.

The unnamed line is one of several mouth-watering, feature-filled, powdery, 3000 ft lines in the North Ridge zone. Topping out at 2300m with views of Bralorne 20km away, it drops for a 1000m (3300ft) descent of epic skiing and riding. Weave the glades, slash the gully walls, or just point it down the center. If this line doesn’t get your heart pumping, you’re already dead.

Come up with a clever name that's as unique as the terrain, and if it’s chosen, you win a cat boarding trip. If you don't win, go anyways. You won’t regret it.




Published On: 2/22/2008
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Name The Line - Win A Catskiing Weekend

Just 2 years young, Backcountry Snowcats, nestled up off the Hurley Road north of Pemberton and south of the cult-classic snowmobiling zone of Bralorne, has more epic ski terrain than we know what to do with. New cat roads and new lines are prepped every year, this year being no exception. With over 15,000 acres of alpine bowls, chutes, powdery pillows, glades, and burnt-tree badlands to explore in Backcountry Snowcats' tenure, we haven't gotten around to naming everything let alone riding it all.

We want your help, and you want a free cat skiing trip. Sound like a fair trade?

Enter the 'Name That Line' contest and come up with a name for one of the new lines, and if your line name is chosen, you win a weekend at Backcountry Snowcats to shred your new line, and many, many others. First explore www.snowcats.ca to learn about the zone and the company, then come up with a name that best suites this unnamed line. It's that easy.

Enter to Win - www.snowcats.ca

One person is going to score a weekend worth $898 CAD, with 2 nights at the Hurley Mountain Lodge, snowmobile or Snow Cat rides to and from Pemberton, 2 days cat skiing/riding, and hearty catered meals during your stay.

The unnamed line is one of several mouth-watering, feature-filled, powdery, 3000 ft lines in the North Ridge zone. Topping out at 2300m with views of Bralorne 20km away, it drops for a 1000m (3300ft) descent of epic skiing and riding. Weave the glades, slash the gully walls, or just point it down the center. If this line doesn’t get your heart pumping, you’re already dead.

Come up with a clever name that's as unique as the terrain, and if it’s chosen, you win a cat boarding trip. If you don't win, go anyways. You won’t regret it.


Backcountry Snowcats - Catskiing and Snowboarding, Pemberton, BC

Published On: 1/11/2008
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Boom. It's that time of year again, Doglotion.com is bringing TGR's latest
Ski & Snowboard Film premiere to Whistler- ‘Lost & Found’ -
a 16mm/HD Ski & Snowboard Film, presented by JEEP.
Packed with local talent, this is the must see premiere of the season.
Add in a rockin’ after party at the Longhorn Saloon to usher in the 07.08 season,
plus swag giveaways and athlete appearances – and you’re in for an epic night.
Get Ian McIntosh to autograph your chest, then sit back and enjoy the show.

And the icing on the cake… rumours have it Doglotion.com will present the
World Premiere of Paul Cotton’s ‘Gaper Day 2007’ short film; a mockumentary of the biggest Whistler-end-of-season ‘celebration’ yet. Daffies, twisters, rock grinds, one-pieces, stretch-pants, Mexican wrestlers – exposed on the big screen like never before.

DETAILS

When: 2 shows (7 & 9pm), on Friday September 28
Where: MY Millennium Place Theatre, Whistler
What: Ski & Snowboard Film premiere of 'Lost & Found'
Bonus: World Premiere of Paul Cotton's Gaper Day 2007 short film.
Tix: $9.99. All ages, available in advance at Ticketmaster.ca or
at MY Millennium Place Theatre, in person or by phone 604 935 8410. Get them in advance, sold out in years past.
After Party: "Fire, Ice, & DYNAMITE" The Party. At the Longhorn Saloon.
Swag give-aways, DJ, drink specials, bring it on.
They're welcoming FIREBALL to their family of drinks, and the FIREBOMB specials will be going down hard.
No cover charge. (Sorry no minors). Bonus points and anyone rocking a Fire, Ice & DYNAMITE costume.
Need inspiration? Think Willy Bogner film with breakdancing monoboarders in one-piece suits.
 
And someone's going home with a pair of new
DYNASTAR TROUBLE MAKERS!

About the film...

LOST AND FOUND is the story of the extraordinary season of 2006.07 as seen through the eyes of world-class skiers and snowboarders. With global drought persisting and ski resorts closing around the world, athletes are forced to follow the snow, sending them deep into the uncharted north country of Alaska and Canada – including of course – the
Whistler area. Filmed almost entirely in North America, LOST AND FOUND is a testament to the terrain and conditions that only exist in the Western Hemisphere.

It wouldn’t be complete without mind-blowing performances by some of our favourite Whistler athletes, Ian McIntosh, Dana Flahr, Kye Petersen, and Victoria Jealouse. McIntosh returns to try one-upping the films best breakthrough performance in last year’s film – his own – while Flahr is pumped on his return from injuries, and it shows. Once again, the Whistler crew pretty much shows the pros how we rock here in Whistler, and well, how last winter rocked us.
This film will take you into the vast, unexplored Tordrillo Mountains of Alaska, proving that some of the best big mountain riding in the world is still completely undiscovered. Athletes take advantage of the bountiful winter in British Columbia, hit disturbing park features in Aspen and score over-the-head powder pillows at Skeena Heliskiing.
The winter of 2007 was feast or famine; LOST AND FOUND documents the feast.

Sponsored by: JEEP, The North Face, Rossignol, Dynastar/Lange, Powder Magazine, Recco, Apple, Outside Magazine, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and Burton
Local Sponsors: DYNASTAR, Glacier Shop, Rossignol, Whistler Blackcomb



Published On: 9/22/2007
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  Cypress Mountain’s New “Lions Express” High Speed Quad Chair well underway!

 More Lifts, More Terrain, More Vertical, More Excitement!

 WEST VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA Cypress Mountain is pleased to announce the  Lift Towers for the New “Lions Express” High Speed Detachable Quad Chair were flown into place today! This is a major milestone in our expansive summer development program!

“Where the Sunrise Quad was previously located, Cypress is installing a brand new High Speed Detachable Quad Chair, appropriately named the “Lions Express Quad Chair,” said Joffrey Koeman, Director of Sales & Marketing. “This new high speed lift will wisk our guests up Mt. Strachan in only 4 minutes and getting them closer to the breath taking view of The Lions, a Vancouver Landmark located within Cypress Provincial Park. The previous ride time was approximately 10 minutes.” said Koeman. 

Also underway are 9 new Ski Runs on the east facing slope of Black Mountain representing a 40% overall expansion to the Ski Area. To service this new area Cypress is relocating the Sunrise Quad Chair and re-launching the chair as the Raven Ridge Quad Chair. This will be the first major expansion of terrain on the North Shore since Sky Chair was opened in 1987!   

For this upcoming winter season Cypress will have 51 Ski Runs accessed by 9 lifts!  To see all the plans for the coming year or to purchase winter season passes please visit www.cypressmountain.com



Published On: 9/18/2007
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  Yes it’s time to ride bikes again.  We’ve had a long winter and still have 300cm plus of snow on top. Fanatykco is once again filled with the best product for our market. From our top selling bikes from Norco to race specific Foes, Knollys and indestructible Chromag products we have what you need to have a great time on Whistler terrain.

 Our retail shop is now open for servicing, if your ride need a little love just give us a call at 604-938-9455 and book your appointment now. Need to upgrade forks or pedals or even get some new rubber, come by and ask one of our pro’s about what will fit your needs. Our body armor is here also, come and get a new helmet by Giro, Bell, gloves by Fox or just some new shorts from RaceFace, Sombrio or Troy Lee we have it all.

 Our Rental shop will open in mid May, a few days before the W/B bike park opens. Again this year we have surpassed ourselves to offer the best rental bike in the valley, bar none. Our Norco A-lines will be decked out with full Shimano Saint Groupo and FSA hardware for the best performance bike around.



Published On: 5/2/2007
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Events/News - Whistler Blackcomb: Up to 80cm in WHISTLER Forecast
By: WhistlerBlackcomb


The parks are getting blanketed again, and the big mountain terrain is getting prime…

With 3 months left in a winter season that extends to June 3, Whistler Blackcomb surpassed its annual average snowfall before the end of February. As of February 20, the resort had received 1026 centimetres or 404 inches of snowfall this year, with the annual average sitting at 1,006 centimetres or 396 inches. Now days later it’s already up at 1041cms or 410 inches, and to top it off… there’s up to 80 cm’s (32 inches) in the forecast for this week!

Record breaking snowfall in November, solid snowfall throughout December and January, and currently tracking to be the second snowiest year on record by the end of February, Whistler locals are enjoying an epic season. February has seen more sunny skies in the earlier part of the month, until deep winter returned to the resort this past weekend, and it doesn’t look like it’s ready to quit any time soon.

Here’s the forecast… http://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/weather/forecast/index.htm

Enjoy. Again.
 


Published On: 2/23/2007
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Park & Pipes - Whistler Blackcomb: G TEAM ON B
By: WhistlerBlackcomb


We are very lucky to have 7 dedicated Park groomers on Blackcomb, Marty Gautrey, Oleksander Iskat, Kirby Litzenberger, Jason Josling, Lucas Ouellete & missing from the photos, Tim Austin & Andy Morrison. Marty is the lead hand & Kirby & Andy are our pipe shapers. Our grooming team is the best ever, bringing grooming experience & a Park background to the team. Nothing happens in our parks & pipe without our Groomers who continue to deliver quality building & grooming each night.

 

The Park staff take care of the hits during the day & the lead hands, Fred Lepage & Eric Gendron, pass on the maintenance & new build requests to Marty & Olex @ the start of their grooming shift. Our Groomers use Pisten Bully snow cats & specifically the Park Bully model. Specialized combing teeth have been added to the Park cat blades for even better ramp shaping when back blading. The Park groomers also use forks which attach to the snow cat blade to move & install the rails. We all owe a huge thank you to our Park groomers on Blackcomb for all their hard work & dedication in bringing you the best Parks & Pipe experience. Here’s a little back ground on our drivers:

 

Marty Guatrey – Lead hand & grooming the B Park since 1990. Marty started in Lake Louise, made the move to Whistler & has been working in the Parks in winter & Bike Park in the summer. Marty likes working with the younger crew & enjoys skiing what he builds. “I love building jumps. It’s challenging to build & progress with the skiers & snowboarders needs. It’s great to watch people having fun & enjoying my work & I do have a beautiful work environment”.

Oleksander Iskat – Works opposite shifts to Marty & leads the team on Marty’s days off. Olex has been grooming in the Park for 5 years & also has been a key member of the Bike Park in the summer. “I get to build what I want to ride & have the freedom to build an idea. I try to make everything I build as safe as possible. I may not ride the biggest hits but I’m happy to see people progress on our features”.

Jason Josling – 2nd year in the park grooming. J was mostly in the Terrain Garden last season and now grooms the main Nintendo Park & helps out in the Highest Level when needed. “I’m still learning but feel I’m 100% better than last season. My job takes precision, a skilled eye & attention to detail. I try to make everything safe, rideable & fun”.

 
 left to right: Oleksander, Lucas, Kirby, Marty & Jason

Lucas Ouellette – 1st season grooming & worked on the Parks day crew last season. Lucas is mostly in the Terrain Garden but is also working on the secret jib & jump section in the Highest Level Park “I like building stuff & hitting it the next day. It can be lonely @ times yet peaceful inside the snow cat. I crank up the punk rock tunes & build the jumps.”

Kirby Litzenberger – 6 seasons @ Whistler & specifically grooming the super pipe. Kirby took a couple of seasons off but we are stoked that he is back on our pipe team once again. Top riders know when Kirby has cut the pipe, it rides perfect. Kirby built his first pipe in 1988. “It takes vigilance to build the best pipe possible. I want to build & maintain the best pipe. Being rated #2 for pipe is not good enough. Southern Cali is all hype”.

Tim Austin – 2nd year Grooming the Parks & also came from Park day crew. Tim rides what he builds & rides hard. Tim started grooming the Terrain Garden his first season & is now involved in the main Nintendo Park grooming team.

Andy Morrison – Our longest serving groomer with over 16 years of grooming experience, Andy works on the winter & summer Glacier half pipes. Andy has been pipe shaping for over 5 years & has used the Pipe Dragon & the Zaugg Pipe shapers.


left to right back row: Lucas, Oleksander, Marty. Front row = Kirby & Jason

 



Published On: 2/5/2007
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PNW by Theory-3 Media and Poorboyz Productions & Distribution: PNW presented by Theory-3 Media and Poorboyz Productions & Distribution
By: Theory3Media


For immediate release:

PNW -

Turn Left, Turn Right, Exit Here, Entering, Welcome to...change the
song, pass the chips, are we there yet? From the creators of
[PHOTO]PLAY, we present to you…PNW... Through the creative vision of
Theory-3 Media, in association with Poorboyz Productions &
Distribution we bring to you a 2 Disc, 2 version, high-definition
skiing documentary covering the uncontrolled locations and the endless
possibilities held by the Pacific Northwest.

PNW will not be just your typical rider segmented film, but rather a
production documenting the travels and locations visited by focusing a
unique group of athletes and an entire season on endless areas of
Alaska, British Columbia, and Washington. The film's layout will be
broken up into segments covering the intricate highway systems, with
the joint travels of a few select athletes and crew linking the areas
of the PNW into a smooth flowing production. With lots of research,
and the impulsive choices of athletes and crew, we expect the body of
the film to be made up of random highway towns and certain specific,
but also unplanned backcountry sledding/touring locales. The skiing
within the film will cover all aspects of backcountry jumping, big
mountain skiing, urban/terrain park skiing, and the ideal combination
of all the above.

→NOTE: We will also include 1-2 additional segments within the PNW
documentary covering special event's, super park shoots, special trips
from outside of the Pacific North West. These segments will be tied
into the film with a PNW hook to be used as a recess between other
segments for issues with weather, athlete schedules, etc within the
Pacific North West.

In addition to the feature 'documentary', the PNW product will include
a 2nd DVD focusing on a re-edited, rider segmented film, with new
footage from outside of the PNW, and a slightly more 'typical' layout.
The riders will be giving his folder's worth of footage, and will
choose each specific shot for his ideal additional segment. It will
also include an athlete commentary covering who, what, when, where and
why, that rider chose those shots for his specific segment. We hope to
achieve two exciting films that can truly cover the dynamic that makes
up the sport of skiing, the Northwest and everything the riders, and
production crew put into their short run snow filled season.

Check www.theory-3.com for week by week updates, and more information!


Published On: 1/20/2007
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Park & Pipes - Whistler Blackcomb: POW PARKS
By: WhistlerBlackcomb


It's been epic snow in Whistler with powder conditions almost daily. Not that you should be spending that much time in the park in conditions this awesome, but that doesn't stop the crew.



The Park teams have been digging out rails, building, fences, signs, etc. with shovels & snow cats! Lots of new snow & more groomers coming on line means the Parks will expand just in time for the holiday season. Expect to see more rails & hits going in on the Habitat Park as we expand onto the Bobcat line and add more M – L features including some of the new rails.

Over on Blackcomb, the Highest Level Park will also see more of our new technical rails being installed along with more hits & jibs on the main Nintendo park. We should have the Terrain Garden ready just before Christmas. 

Huge props to the day & night Park teams for dealing with all the snow. Ullr, you’re doing a great job so far this winter!  
 
 


Published On: 12/18/2006
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Park & Pipes - Whistler Blackcomb: Open Season for the Highest Level Park
By: WhistlerBlackcomb


The Highest Level (HL) section of the terrain park on Blackcomb is now open! Entry to the HL Park from now on requires a mandatory helmet and HL Park pass. Park staff will be @ the HL Park entrance checking guests for the photo ID HL passes and helmets prior to entry. HL park passes can be bought @ any Guest Relations counter.

HL park passes for the 06/07 season are $18. All potential HL park users must sign the 4 page HL park waiver to obtain the photo id HL Park pass. If you are under 19, a parent or guardian must sign the HL park pass waiver on your behalf. The Highest Level Park pass is only required to access the Highest Level section of the terrain park on Blackcomb & the only park @ Whistler Blackcomb which requires this pass & helmet to enter.

New this year, every HL park pass sold comes with a free Parks sticker so ask for it when you sign up for your HL Pass. We have 4 table tops in a row, 2 stand alone tables, several rails & more to come! Expect to see the table tops grow in height & length. The Parks team will also be adding some of our new, more technical rails over the next weeks.
 


Published On: 12/11/2006
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Grouse Mountain is proud to announce that all Terrain Parks are now open! Paradise Jib Park has a handful of fun hiking jibs located on the Paradise Rope Tow. Rookie Terrain Park under the Screaming Eagle chair is full of fun features including rollers, a jump, a hip and the newest Grouse jib "The Pole Jam". The Advanced park includes 2 XL jumps, "The City Hip" and a large jump. The Advanced Park is located on the Screaming Eagle Chair. New jumps and jibs getting place on snow weekly. Come up, say hi to the Park Crew and enjoy shredding all of our parks!!

Published On: 12/6/2006
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Events/News - Whistler Blackcomb: WB Keeps Getting Better
By: WhistlerBlackcomb


It just keeps getting better at Whistler Blackcomb. Started with an absolutely epic official opening weekend - with the earliest Glacier Express and Peak Chair openings in our history. Good times...
Since then, cool temps (ok very cool temps) allowed us to blow man-made snow in the subalpine to compliment the natural snow and build a solid base for the season to come. With that solid base, skiing is now open right to the valley - giving us 5000+ vertical and 6000 acres to play with. Spread the small early season crowds around that much terrain and we're in for stomping grounds all to ourselves.

Anyone who skied Sunday-Mon knows what we're talking about... pick you're line and go for it, with nobody in sight to cross your track. Enjoy it.

And hey, there's another 10-20cm's in the forecast.


John Teitzel photo.


Published On: 11/29/2006
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Fernie Alpine Resort and Lake Louise Mountain Resort have announced the dates of their Freeski events for the 2006/2007 season. Further, after the success of last year’s Fernie Junior Freeski competition, Junior events have been added to Lake Louise Mountain Resort and Kimberley Alpine Resort, in addition to Fernie. The total prize pot available for the entire series (adults and juniors) is expected to be close to $20,000.

 

Kimberley Alpine Resort Junior Freeski Competition

The Junior Series will kick off January 27 & 28, 2007 at Kimberley Alpine Resort. There will be separate categories for the guys and the gals and for ages 7-11, 12–15, and 16-18. They’ll be judged on line choice, control, fluidity, technique and aggressiveness.

 

Smith Optics Lake Louise Big Mountain Challenge

In February, Lake Louise’s Powder Bowls will take centre stage and host freeskiers from across Canada and the U.S. for the 5th Annual Smith Optics Lake Louise Big Mountain Challenge. Over 100 competitors are expected to take part in the multi-day event, which includes Registration and Venue Inspection (February 21), a Qualifying Round (February 22), Semi-Final Round (February 23) and Final Round, Awards Ceremony and Wrap-up Party (February 24). February 25 is held as a weather day.

Lake Louise’s Junior competition will be held the weekend prior, February 17 & 18. Age categories will be 7-11 years, 12-15 years, and 16-17 years of age.

 

Smith Optics Fernie Freeski Competition

Athletes will be challenged by Fernie Alpine Resort’s intense terrain and legendary powder. The event will kick off with the Junior Fernie Freeski Competition on March 10 & 11. For the adults, athletes will be challenged by Fernie’s intense terrain, and the top prize will go to the one who skis the best line, being judged on line choice, control, fluidity, technique and aggressiveness. Fernie Alpine Resort has the best ingredients for this event – epic terrain and deep powder! The event will follow a similar format to the Lake Louise Big Mountain Challenge, with Registration and a Venue Inspection (March 14), Qualifying Round (March 15), Semi-Final Round (March 16), and Final Round, Awards Ceremony and Party (March 17). March 18 will be held as a weather day.


The event will wrap with a party on Saturday, March 17th in Fernie Alpine Resort’s legendary Griz Bar.


 

Athletes competing in both the Smith Optics Lake Louise Big Mountain Challenge (February 21-25) and the Fernie Freeski Competition (March 14-18) will be eligible to win in an additional category: Champion of the RCR Freeski Series.

Registration for all events will go live online at www.skikimberley.com, www.skilouise.com and www.skifernie.com later this fall. Please visit resort websites for a complete events listing.


 

Spectators watch the 2006 Finals at Lake Louise Mountain Resort



Published On: 10/30/2006
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Whistler Blackcomb has acquired Whistler Heli-Skiing in a transaction that significantly increases Whistler Blackcomb’s skiable terrain and offers guests over a half a million acres of skiing and snowboarding terrain. The purchase adds Whistler Heli-Skiing’s tenure of 494,000 acres throughout the Whistler backcountry to Whistler Blackcomb’s 8,171 acres of in-bounds skiing, creating a ski area of 502,171 acres or 785 square miles.

 

The four previous owners of Whistler Heli-Skiing – Doug O’Mara, John Hetherington, Andrew Wilkins and Ken Hardy – will continue to be actively involved in the business. They will continue to provide management and expert guiding for Whistler Heli-Skiing while Whistler Blackcomb will provide added sales, marketing and operational support.

 

“Whistler Blackcomb is very excited with the new opportunity to grow the Whistler Heli-Skiing business,” says Dave Brownlie, Whistler Blackcomb’s Chief Operating Officer. “Under the continued expert management and guiding of Doug, John, Andrew and Ken, and with the valuable marketing, sales and operational infrastructure that Whistler Blackcomb can provide, the business is poised for even greater success. There are huge opportunities for us to market heli-skiing alongside our current in-bounds experiences.”

 

“This announcement is great news for Whistler as it presents an opportunity to package guest products that are unique in the ski resort vacation market,” says Doug O’Mara from Whistler Heli-Skiing. “There are very few places in the world where a world class ski resort can provide its guests with a heli-ski experience on glaciers within a five minute flight from the village. With Whistler Blackcomb’s strong sales and marketing efforts, the opportunities to create unbelievable packages and attract new guests to the resort will be significant. My partners and I are very happy to be able to take Whistler Heli-Skiing to this next level with Whistler Blackcomb.”

 

Another major benefit of the two companies joining forces is the incredible wealth of shared snow science knowledge that will now be available to both companies. Some of the most experienced mountain guides and ski patrollers in the business will now share years of snow data collection and snow study. In a business that relies daily on the predictability of its forecasting and reporting, this shared intelligence will be a significant asset.

 

The 25 year-old heli-ski company, the only one based in Whistler Resort, will still operate as Whistler Heli-Skiing, and will be a wholly owned subsidiary company of Whistler Blackcomb. For further information on either company, visit www.whistlerblackcomb.com or www.whistlerheliskiing.com



Published On: 9/8/2006
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My Journal: Kicking Horse
By: Stid_Fou


Finaly established in Golden, BC. The resort is unfortunately not walking distance from the town but the comments about the skiing seem to be, in majority, awesome. Now I just have to sit and look by my window, waiting for the snow flakes to start covering the town so I can head up there to test the terrain!
Anybody coming up here to ski let me know :o)


Published On: 9/7/2006
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Rossland, BC-Red Mountain Resort announced its dates for the 2007 Canadian Open Freeskiing Championships to be held January 6th-15th at Western Canada’s oldest ski resort, featuring over 100 of the world’s best freeskiers. The weeklong event carries a cash purse of $10,000 for the competitors that best tame the steep, chutes of Mount Roberts, one of Red’s five mountain peaks.

“We are really stoked to host this event for the 6th consecutive season, making this Canada’s longest running and most legendary Open big mountain competition. Red welcomes athletes, sponsors and media to Rossland, to enjoy our mountain hospitality and a superb competition on our world-class terrain”, states VP of Sales and Marketing Erik Kalacis. “For spectators, Mount Roberts is an ideal setting to view these unbelievably talented athletes. The competition, the skiing and the after-parties will surely deliver a highly entertaining event.”

The format of the competition will follow IFSA Big Mountain Freeskiing guidelines, which dictates that participants ski the mountain creatively, unrestricted by gates or formal course layouts, while they take aggressive lines and make big drops on Roberts’ varied and challenging terrain. Judges of the championship will evaluate skiers on five categories – line choice, fluidity, technique, aggression, and control. Jeff Holden, head judge of the competition last year, returns to lead his team of judges for another year.

Event Schedule:

Date Event & Location
Saturday Jan. 6th, 2007 Junior Event, Ages 12-17, Lynx Line
Thursday Jan. 11th, 2007 Open Qualifier, Ages 18+, Lynx Line
Friday Jan. 12th, 2007 Semi-Finals, Mount Roberts
Saturday Jan. 13th, 2007 Finals, Mount Roberts, Awards Ceremony
Sunday Jan. 14th, 2007 Weather Contingency Day


Registration is open to skiers 18 years and older. On January 11th, contestants will begin qualification on the mountain’s most difficult in-bounds run, Lynx Line, in order to secure one of the 50 sought-after semifinal slots. Finalists will compete the following two days on backcountry and technical Mount Roberts, adjacent to the resort, before winners are announced on January 15th.

New last season and returning due to its unbelievable popularity and turnout is the Junior event for kids ages 12-17. Held on Lynx Line underneath the Motherlode Chair, youths will participate in a one-day event on January 6th. Teams from as far away as Utah and Vermont have signed up to test their skills on some of the most challenging terrain in the region against the newest “up and comers” from the Kootenays.

Registration forms and more information on the 6th annual Canadian Open Freeskiing Championships will be available after October 1st by logging on to www.redresort.com



Published On: 8/21/2006
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