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11/16/2009 - Opening day in a ski resort generates more excitement than any other day of the year, and in Whistler Village this morning that was no exception. Keeners started lining up yesterday afternoon to get the first gondola up, and by 7:30am this morning, the lineup stretched throughout the Village. With 122 centimetres (48 inches) of snow falling in just over week, and an opening day that was bumped up by 12 days, the excitement was warranted.
“Oh man, it’s so good to be up here,” says Matty Richard, pro Whistler skier. “It's the best way to start a season, so much snow. It's good to see everyone is so pumped to be up here, couldn't be better!”
And Whistler Blackcomb’s own web editor Brad Meraly, who rode 185 days last season, claims this opening day was “absolutely amazing, with Christmas-like conditions and lots of dry, cool powder! Everyone had huge smiles; it was my best opening ever on Whistler.”
Lifts started turning a little earlier than planned to get everyone up on the slopes as quickly as possible. “The anticipation in the lineup, and the sheer glee on peoples’ faces as they charged out of the gondola was awesome,” says Stuart Rempel, Whistler Blackcomb’s senior vice president of sales and marketing. “Our operations team, in cooperation with Mother Nature, has done an incredible job getting things open earlier than planned. We will continue to work to open up terrain and lifts as operations and weather allows.”
For those still waiting to get their passes, EDGE Cards are available at the early bird pricing until November 23, offering skiing/riding from as low as $58.40 per day on a 10-day EDGE Card. And this Sunday, November 15 is the last day to book a vacation package (lift and lodging) at the early booking rates of up to 39% off – guaranteed to be the lowest price of the season.
“Certainly this is an exciting year for all of Whistler as we prepare to host the world during the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games,” continues Rempel. “Whistler Blackcomb’s terrain remains 90% open throughout the Games, the new Sea to Sky Highway is now complete, and the resort is at its prime ready to open our doors to the world. With some great deals on packages throughout the winter, and slopes that are expected to be quieter than usual, there is no better year to come visit us.”
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