Gibbons Whistler has purchased the World Ski and Snowboard Festival from Whistler Blackcomb (WB).
“We feel it’s the best move for the viability of the festival,” said Marc Riddell, director of communications with Whistler Blackcomb.
“We’re really pleased to be working with Joey [Gibbons] and his team, who we think are really going to take this festival to the next level.”
Neither party would disclose what the festival was sold for, but did confirm there will be no job losses.
In 2018, WB scaled back the long-running, season-ending festival from its traditional 10 days to six after Watermark Communications stepped down from organizing the event.
That year, WB’s in-house producer Crankworx Inc. and Gibbons Whistler co-produced the event. Then, in 2019, it was pared down again to just five days, leaving the community to speculate about the festival’s future. While Gibbons was involved in the 2019 event, it was not as co-producer.
“We’ve been involved in it in different capacities for forever,” said Joey Gibbons, CEO of Gibbons Whistler. “It’s been super special for me over my lifetime and I’m passionate about seeing it continue.”
Gibbons Whistler will have sole ownership of the festival, but Riddell says WB “will do whatever it takes to help Joey and Gibbons.”
Geoff Buchheister, WB’s new COO, added that he thinks the sale is the right move for the festival.
“I’m a newer arrival to the community and I’ve spent some time with Joey and it’s clear to me that the future of this festival is in great hands in this company because of that history and passion,” he said. “We want it to live on. It’s got such deep roots in the community’s culture. We want to be an advocate for that. We think Joey and his team are the right ones to take it forward.”
With the ink still wet on the deal, Gibbons said the first step for planning next year’s festival is consulting with artists, athletes, and the community. To that end, the format of the 2020 event remains to be seen.
“A lot of the soul of our community comes from artists, athletes, and entrepreneurs,” he said. “If we can give them as blank a sheet as possible, I’m super curious to go through a process with them and see what comes out of it.”
He has been working towards having a bigger role in the festival for many years—long before Vail Resorts purchased WB, Gibbons added.
“I’m excited these guys are giving me the opportunity,” he said. “I’ve been trying to get an opportunity with the mountain for a long time.”
When asked whether the purchase means more stability for the festival’s future, Gibbons offered up some math.
“I’ve been involved in Whistler my whole life. I plan on being here the rest of my life. I want to be older than 100, so I have a good 60 years to sort it out,” he said. “Our plan is to continue to work with this event. I think it celebrates everything we’re about.”
