Just like the superstition of never calling last run, I tend to avoid proclaiming the end of winter skiing. I’ve skied too many pow days in May to make that blunder. But with spring rain abound, melt-freeze cycles in effect and T-shirts and shorts popping up around the valley whenever the sun shows up for 10 minutes, I’m resigned that any powder from here on in will be an unexpected bonus.
We’re in the midst of another World Ski and Snowboard Festival (WSSF), and while I feel this event has struggled for relevance in recent years, I have to hand it to the Gibbons team. They’ve not only kept the WSSF alive (through the pandemic years and everything), they’ve managed to sprinkle it with some fresh ideas. I thoroughly enjoyed the Coffee + Creatives talks earlier in the week, learning from the media professionals who succeeded in their own Whistler-grown careers. Back again for 2025 are the more familiar jibbing competitions, film and photo showdown and nightclub parties at Gibbons venues. On the hill, the spectacle that is the Saudan Couloir Ski Race Extreme takes place today (April 11), a true heritage event you need to see for yourself. Less competitive but likely to draw a bigger party crowd is the Slush Cup on Sunday, April 13, definitely one for the younger Whistler.
Riding the Glacier Express chair in the sun the other day on my way to another round of slushy Spanky’s laps got me thinking that some things on the mountain never get old. The terrain has changed with the glacial ice melting and sinking, but uploading for afternoon Blackcomb laps is something I’ll never tire of. It’s just too damn fun.
But over the years here, some things did start to get old. Here are a few of my opinions on what’s still great on our beloved local mountain, and what could be better.
Never gets old: Blasting groomers at high speed
Is there a truer representation of alpine skiing? Powder gets the hype, but at a busy resort, powder can also feel scarce. And what does Whistler Blackcomb have a lot of? Groomed runs with just enough steep incline to lay those edges over and haul ass out of that turn.
Did get old: Skiing out of control
I love skiing fast, but I also know when to pull it back. Whether you’re dropping into the Saddle or West Cirque, it’s on you to make sure you can shut it down quickly if an intermediate skier happens to wander into your path.
Never gets old: Jumps and side hits
Catching air time is one of the best feelings in skiing. Nailing your pop for a second or two of floating through the air, then touching down smooth? Hard to beat that, pow or no pow. Big drops aren’t on my menu as much as they once were, but if you ski away from launching a 20-footer, you’re having a good day on skis.
Did get old: Terrain Park
I know what the freestyle kids would say to this. “The terrain park didn’t get old, Vince. YOU got old.” Fair enough. While I enjoyed my moments in the park in my 20s (it felt great stomping a 540 and skiing out switch), it only took a few falls in my 30s to put my park days behind me.
Never gets old: Sunny pow days on Peak Chair
I’m a Blackcomb skier to the core, but when you have a clear day and fresh snow on Whistler Peak, you don’t want to be anywhere else. The Peak zone has changed dramatically over the last few years with most entrances to Whistler Bowl either inaccessible or a gong show of skiers falling over the moguls, and each other. But it’s still some of the best skiing in the world.
Did get old: Peak Chair lineups on sunny pow days
The best days skiing the Peak aren’t with the deepest pow, they’re those sleeper hits when the forecast was off and no one was expecting it to be that good. The Peak lineups on sunny pow days have gotten to the point where even I’ve questioned whether it’s worth the wait. Of course, I’ll feel differently after my run. But if the line starts to creep up to the T-bar, it’s time to ski something else.
Never gets old: Blackcomb storm days
I was at a birthday party last week where a ski patroller was proudly sporting a T-shirt that read: “Blackcomb Ski Patrol - Opening the Alpine First Since 1980.” In addition to the hard work those patrollers do every pow day, the lift system and terrain just work so much better for gradually opening up more of the mountain and keeping skiers skiing.
Did get old: Blackcomb’s bifurcated alpine
The demise of the Horstman T-bar years ago meant you had to traverse all the way to 7th Heaven in order to access the dozens of ski lines into Jersey Cream Bowl. Chainsaw Ridge is one of my favourite spots to ski on either mountain, but alas, the crowds chasing the sun over to 7th means it’s rarely worth the time investment. Thankfully, more Spanky’s laps helps fill the void.
Vince Shuley will never tire of skiing Whistler Blackcomb. For questions, comments or suggestions for The Outsider, email [email protected] or Instagram @whis_vince.
