US Airways - January 2013 - (Page 34)

Adventure experience. “The reason Vail and Whistler compete is they were well-planned. But the thing is, I can still ski at Vail all day. I can’t at Whistler,” he says, laughing, clearly suggesting that’s a good thing. Of course, back in 1991, my brothers and I, full of youthful indiscretion and bravado (plus the residuals of the previous night’s tequila), headed straight to the top. As I leaned over one windswept cornice, I immediately understood the phrase “tighten your sphincter.” Whistler Blackcomb has plenty of intermediate and beginner routes for skiers still coming through the ranks. But what sets it apart is the sheer expanse of topend terrain — including frighteningly steep, rock-lined chutes and a labyrinthine network of glades — that will challenge even the best skiers. The proof is in the next generation. Local skiing legends such as the late Trevor Petersen and the late Dave Murray have posthumously passed the torch to their offspring, including big-mountain skier Kye Petersen and ski-cross champ Julia Murray. “Whistler has an amazing history,” says Julia, whose favorite Whistler memory is racing her mom in a straight-line tuck on the downhill course named after her father. “It was a gem found in the mountains, and it still has that same special vibe. Styan, who raced with Dave Murray on the Canadian ski team known as the Crazy Canucks, agrees. Today’s Whistler Blackcomb, particularly the village, has changed dramatically. But the mountains, and the mountain culture, remain the same. “Both are stunning,” says Styan. “You’ve got two huge mountains that you can’t find anywhere except for Europe. It is, in my mind, a special place.” Brion O’Connor is a contributing editor. He loves all winter sports, and loves to write about them. Sun Bowl off Harmony Chair, Whistler Mountain I don’t care whether you’re a skIer, a snowboarder, or an Ice clImber; the mountaIn Is the leveler. —Greg stump, filmmaker, Blizzard of Aahhhs and License to Thrill Whistler,” says Stump. “I don’t care whether you’re a skier, a snowboarder, or an ice climber; the mountain is the leveler. It’s so dangerous. Nobody talks smack. You can’t.” In short, words mean little. It’s all about the performance. Conversely, every resort marketing person loves talking — about statistics, that is, and Whistler Blackcomb’s are staggering. The side-by-side behemoths (Whistler is 7,160 feet, while Blackcomb tops out at 7,494) offer 5,020 and 5,280 vertical feet respectively, more than 200 marked runs, 8,171 acres of terrain, 16 alpine bowls, and three glaciers. In sum: a breathtaking variety of terrain. Now mix in an average annual snowfall of more than 460 inches (nearly 40 feet); 37 lifts, including the spectacular Peak 2 Peak gondola, to keep people moving uphill; and a burly, no-holds-barred mountain mind-set, and you’ve got all the makings of a Canadian winter wonderland. Growth at Whistler Blackcomb has come sporadically since Franz Wilhelmsen pitched a mining hill called London Mountain for the 1968 Winter Olympics. Though the bid failed, Wilhelmsen’s company, with support from the provincial government, opened the resort in 1966 under its new moniker, Whistler — a name that derives from the whistling call of a local species of marmot. “Franz’s view of making Whistler Mountain came from what he knew about European resorts,” says Stump. “The mountain was designed for skiers.” Neighboring Blackcomb, built by the Aspen Ski Company, opened in 1980, igniting a vigorous competition with Whistler, and the winners were the skiers and snowboarders. Since the resorts combined in 1997, development has been robust in part because of the new highway, built for the 2010 Winter Olympics. But that development hasn’t hurt the area’s appeal. “I’ve been going to Whistler since before the roads were paved and will probably retire there some day,” says Bob Styan, a former Canadian downhiller. “The characters and the people that are still there after 40 years — it’s a real community. There’s history there. It’s not just a man-made ski resort.” Styan also points out that development at Whistler, much like Vail in Colorado, followed a sound design, and the growth hasn’t compromised the ski photo courtesy of tourIsm whIstler/chad chomlack 34 january 2013 usairwaysmag.com http://www.usairwaysmag.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of US Airways - January 2013

US Airways - January 2013
Table of Contents
CEO Letter
From the Editor
Did You Know?
Making It Happen
Hot Spots: Fantasy Trips
Hub Crawl: Boston Logan International Airport
Wine & Dine: Martinis
Adventure: Scotland Golf
Adventure: Skiing Whistler Blackcomb
Great Escapes: Quintero Golf Club
Gear Up: Pet Gifts
Travel Feature: Aruba — Little Island, Big Presence
US Airways Vacations
Celebrate San Francisco
The Cactus League
Must Read: Because I Said So!
Great Dates
Puzzles
Readers Resource Index
Your US Airways Guide
Video Entertainment
Audio Entertainment
U.S. and Caribbean Service Map
International Service Map
Airport Terminal Maps
US Airways Fleet/Customs & Immigration
Passenger Info/Contact US Airways
US Airways MarketPlace®
Window or Aisle?

US Airways - January 2013