Designed for the world’s most passionate powder skiers and snowboarders

GOLDEN, British Columbia – Rivaling the luxury of chartering a spaceship to the moon, buying a personal robot or a fire engine red Ferrari, is a season ski pass worthy of the Neiman Marcus Christmas Catalogue. For $100,000, passionate skiers and snowboarders can purchase a pass that provides season long access to the world’s most expensive powder experience. The Platinum Heli-Skiing Season Pass, just launched by Great Canadian Heli-Skiing (GCH), offers skiing aficionados unlimited vertical access to the best powder skiing in the world.

This winter season, owners of the pass will have the luxury to choose to ski every day in the heart of the world’s premiere heli-skiing belt, British Columbia’s Interior Mountains. Passholders will have a personal powder concierge to keep them up-to-date with conditions and forecasts, and to assist in the pursuit of a perfect powder day – the choice is whether to heli-ski everyday or only on select days. For the entire heli-skiing season, December 26 to March 28, and even during the sold out peak season of February, this exclusive ski pass surpasses all heli-skiing bookings and guarantees a seat on one of GCH’s powerful A-Star B2 Helicopters every day.

Photos: Whistler Blackcomb

Mother Nature Skips Fall, Delivering 6 centimetres of Snow Overnight

WHISTLER, BC, September 22, 2008 – Whistler Blackcomb received over 5 centimetres of snow in the alpine overnight making Whistlerites wonder if Mother Nature forgot a season. The first day of fall, Whistler Blackcomb mountain tops are covered with at least six centimetres of snow. With 65 days until the winter ski season and 79 days until the opening of the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola on December 12, the countdown is on.

Visit whistlerblackcomb.com

WHISTLER, BC, September 18, 2008 –Whistler Blackcomb’s PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola will officially open to the public December 12, 2008. This engineering marvel is set to become a new Canadian tourism icon, and will forever revolutionize the way visitors experience this four-season resort.

“This spring we had to move massive amounts of snow so it was a slow start but we have been able to stay on track with each construction phase,” says Rick Temple, PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola Construction Manager. “To be at this point in construction at this time is unheard of. Typically for a lift installation you are fighting the weather in November to get things done. However due to the incredible work by everyone involved we are ahead of schedule. We are very excited to have our official opening day announced and are looking forward to the day when our guests can experience this gondola.”

Fitzsimmons Creek small hydro project begins construction after six year study

WHISTLER, BC, September 12, 2008 – Construction has begun on a renewable energy project that will offset the total annual energy consumption at Whistler Blackcomb. The Fitzsimmons Creek Hydro Project, located entirely within Whistler Blackcomb’s operating area, will produce 33.5 gigawatt hours of hydro electricity per year – the equivalent of powering the ski resort’s winter and summer operations including 38 lifts, 17 restaurants, 269 snowguns and countless other buildings and services.

The 7.5 megawatt hydro project is being developed by Fitzsimmons Creek Hydro Limited Partnership, part of a joint venture between Innergex Renewable Energy and Ledcor Power Group. “Whistler Blackcomb is a strategic partner in the project, their efforts to facilitate the water rights licensing and coordinate the various stakeholders allowed the project to move ahead,” says Jamie Horner, Project Manager for the Fitzsimmons Creek Hydro Project. Whistler Blackcomb is directly involved in the construction and environmental stewardship of the project.

Photo: Joanna Johnstone / Whistler Blackcomb

Twenty-eight Sky Cabins arrive from Switzerland including two with glass floors

WHISTLER, BC, September 8, 2008 –The completion of the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola ropework and the arrival of 28 Sky Cabins set the stage for what will be the biggest construction milestone of the lift installation – the first Sky Cabin to cross the record-breaking 3 kilometre/1.88 mile, unsupported span between Whistler and Blackcomb mountains.

Canadian Ski Council Industry Recognition and Excellence Research Award Awarded at annual conference

WHISTLER, BC, July 28, 2008 Whistler Blackcomb’s employees were recently recognized for delivering exceptional guest service during this last winter season. The company has been named National Winner of the 2008 Canadian Ski Council Industry Recognition and Excellence Research Award, awarded recently at the Canadian Ski Council’s (CSC) annual conference.

Whistler Blackcomb ranked highest amongst Canadian ski resorts for customer loyalty, customer satisfaction and a strong commitment to boosting participation in skiing and snowboarding. Results were based on customer service and satisfaction questions that were included in the CSC national consumer profile and satisfaction survey.

Session B

Camp of Champions Session B from Camp of Champions on Vimeo

Episode 2 of Whistler Blackcomb's summer video podcast series is now online. The Summer Adventure Snowcast, presented by TELUS introduces viewers to the exciting activities and events that take place during the sunny season.

In the episode, "Alpine Experiences", Meredith explores Whistler Blackcomb's summer alpine adventures, from a mountain top BBQ at 6,000 feet, to hiking in Whistler's high alpine and finding out why the snow is pink. She also checks in with Rick Temple for an update on the new PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola, which is scheduled to open in December 2008.

Photo: Brad Kasselman / Whistler Blackcomb

P2P Website Home to Question of the Week And E-Newsletter “The Wire”

WHISTLER, BC, July 15, 2008 – The engineering feat of connecting Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains has inspired many questions and the PEAK 2 PEAK Question of the Week hopes to satisfy enquiring minds. Members of the community are invited to submit their questions surrounding the building and operation of the Gondola. Whistler Blackcomb will choose one question each week to answer in the local newspapers and will feature all questions and answers on the PEAK 2 PEAK section of whistlerblackcomb.com.