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Whistler Blackcomb
Categories: Active Life Parks Hotels & Travel Ski Resorts Parks, Ski Resorts [Edit]
4545 Blackcomb WayWhistler, BC V0N 1B4
(800) 766-0449
- Hours:
Mon 8:30 am - 3:30 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
103 reviews for Whistler Blackcomb
103 reviews in English
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Review from Marina M.
1/31/2012
On the whole, Whistler was great. Lots of shops, lots of people, reasonable lines despite a great power day.
I'm going to concentrate my review on the Whistler Snow School, because I felt the instructions were a bit lacking when I signed up online.
In short, the snow school was GREAT. I took an all-day snowboarding lesson from Greg. At the end of the day I was exhausted and sore but quite pleased with my ability to (finally) not fall down.
For the n00bs, Whistler and Blackcomb are two different mountains. I took lessons at Whistler. Pick up your voucher at the Chandler Village location, which is exactly where you'll meet your instructor. I did not pick up my voucher the night before like they suggest, and I was just fine.
Go into Chandler Village (big building, center of Whistler Village, right down the stairs from the bus/shuttle stop) and follow the sign for the Snow School. You stand in line first to check-in and sign your waivers. You then go to the back of that same room and hot Australian guys will size you up and give you your snowboard, helmet, and boots.
Go down the stairs and pay $6 to rent a locker in which to stash your footwear, wallet, etc. Go back upstairs and go right out the door where you rented your equipment. The MAX4 tents are very clear. The snowboarding instructors are in light blue jackets, and you can just go up and they'll assign you to a group.
All-day lessons include lunch (lunch is not paid for, but you should expect to hang with your classmates at the Roundhouse).
Don't forget to bring cash to tip your teacher! Or you'll have to track him down later. (Doh.) -
Review from Chiri E.
1/13/2012
I recently came back from my first trip to Whistler and I'm totally inspired. No wonder this place is considered world class. Its HUGE!!! I need to be a pro skier so that I can conquer the black diamond at Whistler Blackcomb! Until then, green circles will guide my way haha
My observations & tips:
- EVERYONE IS GOOD LOOKING. man, woman, shemale, seriously everyone. everyone was super fit and had great attitudes. Foreign accents also a plus.
- So newsflash.. Whistler Blackcomb consists of TWO mountains.
- Lift ticket covers Gondola rides (I didn't know that first day).
- Start your day early!! Get there 8am or whenever it opens, especially if you are renting gear. It is really easy to let time slip by and spend the first couple of hours at the base of the mountain waiting for rental gear, lift tickets, the Gondola, etc. Get stuff early and get to the peak, stat.
- If you are a beginner, I suggest starting out with the family slope near the peak of the Whistler mountain. Wider slopes and fresher snow than starting at mid point.
- Have $$$ in the bank.
- Check on eBay for lift ticket coupons prior to your arrival.
- You can easily get food/drinks at the peak or lodges located throughout the trails. -
Review from y c.
1/6/2012
came here over christmas 2011, DAMN do i regret not bringing my board. the snow looked amazing, trails are groomed and either 1. it lacks people and is not crowded or 2. its so big that it doesnt appear crowded...definitely need to come back here to board.
the dine in restaurant at the top of whistler gondola was great, we got the chacuterie andsome other stuff, you wouldnt believe the quality they serve up...not like other resorts -
Review from Colleen P.
2/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
Whistler is an amazing place. I think it is important to note that I am a non-skier. It is a gorgeous place to go in both the summer and the winter. If you are a skiier or a mountain biker this is definitely a place you want to visit regularly. For me it is about the village, the great scenery and the restaurants. It is an amazingly beautiful place with something for everyone.
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Review from James W.
1/10/2012
OMG, I can't emphasize how big this mountain is. I thought the run would never end. For beginners this might be a BAD thing, but for anyone with some skills, you'll never want to ski anywhere else. Village is nice, with enough options to keep you occupied. Just be careful if you're a beginner, you might end not making it to the end of your run upright. Just wish there was a place in the states this good.
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Review from Chun M.
12/6/2011
Huge, HuGe, HUGE! What more can I say about Whistler-Blackcomb? We did 4 ski days out of the week and we barely covered 20% of the place. With over 8000 skiable acres and a vertical over 5000', you can stuff Vail and Aspen in there and then some. Snow conditions are generally good in most years with over 100" base during peak season. If you like black diamond trails, you have to try out the Dave Murray downhill course and follow in the footsteps (tracks?) of the big name Olympic athletes. The blue Peak to Creek trail is so long it will take you an hour to get down and the Peak 2 Peak Gondola is an awesome/scary ride between the 2 mountains.
We stayed at a multi-level condo on the Creekside and had ski on-ski off access with a short hike. Downside was that we didn't rent a 4-wheel drive (our fault). It snowed everyday we were there, but one day it was so heavy we couldn't get back up the mountain. There's no overnight parking at the bottom, but a nice lady took pity on us and let us park in her driveway, while we hiked it back up to our condo. Roads are plowed when it stopped snowing.
Apres ski life in the village is cool with a lot of shopping, eating & drinking. Some of the restaurants are incredible, but pricey.
Checked off Whistler on my bucket list of ski resorts to hit before I die. -
Review from Jeremy O.
11/8/2011
Great ski slopes. Caution: Not for bunny hill skiers, unless you don't mind being shamed by 4 years-olds. Nothing much to do past midnight, although there are a couple of nightclubs around. Apres-ski is a must daily, the village is most fun during and after ski hours.
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Review from Letie W.
7/7/2011
My husband and I drove the sea to sky highway as it was recommended by many friends. At the end of it all, we wound up in Whistler. We roamed the villages and didn't stay long as we had to turn back and drive to Vancouver. Beautiful town, overly expensive, and hope to return one day.
Free parking the the market place shopping center. We made the mistake, saw the very first parking sign, and headed that direction. $10/all day parking (and all we stayed was 2 hours).Listed in: Things To…
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Review from Ninette C.
3/29/2011
There's no place like Whistler, there's no place like Whistler...wait...is that not how it goes?
Really though, there's no place like Whistler.
I'll say it now: I am not an expert skier. I'm not even intermediate, but it doesn't take a double diamond to appreciate the vastness, options and beauty that is Whistler-Blackcomb.
I love the feel of this place. There are people of all ages and levels from all over the world working and sking/snowboarding here. The employees name badges even include what country they are from which I think is a nice touch.
No matter what level you are, there are multiple runs for you. I like to go to the top or halfway and ski down. (Besides the cool factor, the lift lines get long in the morning so I figure I may as well take one long ride than a bunch of them.) If you can't ski from the top, take a lift up anyway just to see the beauty of the mountains, the snow and the village below. You can always take a lift partway down again too (I've done that before) because there are so many runs, lifts are everywhereee. You also can take all easy runs down (for those at my ski level).
For the advanced skiiers, I've heard those double diamonds are unparalleled (but I can't say I've been.)
Keep in mind that a beginner's trail here can be up to say, an intermediate in Washington. Don't underestimate those colored markings!
I love the slower bits where you swoosh between the trees. It's much flatter but you keep going because of your momentum. Its so tranquil that sometimes I want to take my time there.
Pay the extra for the peak-to-peak gondola because its totally worth it. Again, its beautiful and a nice rest. My friend and I took the lift up Whistler near the end of the day. Then we took the gondola across to Blackcomb and skiied into our hotel on Blackcomb and it worked perfectly.
Everything here is world-class-don't worry about that at all. Trails are well-marked, there are abundant facilities and staff is well-trained. I noticed other skiers/snowboarders aren't very friendly or helpful unfortunately (look, my friend fell way above me...how am I going to get up there to help her up?!), but that's not the resort's fault.
I've been three times and I always think, "when's the 4th trip?!" -
Review from Jon D.
3/31/2011
Seriously - if God were a skier, this is where he'd/she'd ski.
I truly love Whistler/Blackcomb. I hadn't been here in about ten years (living too far away) and I was able to finally make my long-awaited return two weeks ago. I think I'd forgotten just how much I loved this place. It truly is the skier's paradise.
These two mountains are absolutely HUGE. You don't realize just how high you are and just how huge these mountains are until your last run of the day and you're making your way to the bottom. Um... can you say: *thigh burner*? There's terrain here for everyone and the whole mountain is very family friendly. If given the option, I'm slightly more inclined towards Blackcomb - but I think that's only because I tend to gravitate a bit more for steeper runs.
The prices at Whistler/Blackcomb are out of control. I mean really - out of control. Super expensive here. And the days of getting the benefits of the exchange rate are sadly long gone. The cost of a lift ticket makes skiing here a bit a luxury indulgence if you're not wealthy to begin with.
However, to Whistler's credit - the experience you get from just about everyone who works here is amazing! Probably the best customer service, and the friendliest employees I've ever come across. Everyone that I interacted with was nothing short of wonderful. Made it a little easier to swallow those Whistler pricetags when the person ringing you up was one of the nicest people you've ever come across. (hmmm... a strategic move on Whistler's part?)
I've been to plenty of other ski resorts. And a lot of times you encounter some pretty rude employees and even ruder skiers/snowboarders. This is not the case with Whistler at all. Best staff I've encountered and just some of the friendliest skiers I've ever had the pleasure of skiing with. One more reason to love our wonderful neighbors to the north.
If you come here on a sunny day, make sure you take the time to trek back to the Blackcomb glacier. It's probably the longest run (and runout) on the mountain - the powder back here is epic - and the views back there are worth the price of the lift ticket alone.
I agree with Ardi below, "Winter Paradise".
(One piece of advice though: if you're planning to drink any alcohol in Whistler, make sure that you buy it in Vancouver or at Duty Free before you get up here. If you think the ticket prices are bad - wait until you see how much a case of beer will cost you!)
Whistler/Blackcomb: Top 5 places to Ski on Earth. -
Review from John K.
3/18/2011
I don't know how you don't give this place more than 5 stars. It is the most amazing snowboarding I've ever done in my life. But I'm sure you don't need me to tell you that.
There was a good 3 feet of snow came down in the 5 days before I arrived. Then the weekend I came out was sunny and perfectly clear without a cloud in the sky. Let's just say that I came at one of the most amazing weekends that you could.
Powder? Yes please. Groomed trails after? Yes please.
Now you're probably wondering which mountain is better? I would say that Blackcomb mountain is slightly better than Whistler mountain. Blackcomb has wider slopes and they have a good variety. 7th Heaven is my favorite area in Blackcomb. For Whistler, you need to take Peak to Creek. The view is amazing.
The village has plenty to do, lots of hotels at the village. All I need to say is that if you're from the East Coast, make sure you work out your leg muscles for the endurance test that you'll go through skiing/snowboarding at Whistler. -
Review from J H.
3/14/2011
Definitely an experience that every skier / snowboarder must do once in their lifetime. I've skied several places in Colorado, Washington, and California, but Whistler is the best for terrain - bar none.
The massive size provides terrain that is limitless. The common misconception is that Blackcomb Mountain is the "little brother" of Whistler Mountain. In fact, they are roughly the same in size and combine for 4,000 acres total. Each mountain will take a minimum of a full day to cover, and really you'll need 3 full days to experience it all. High Speed Express lifts galore, and many have wind / snow shields to protect your face as you head up. The Peak to Peak gondola lets you hop between the two mountains in less than 10 minutes, provided you can deal with the jaw-dropping height that feels more like a helicopter ride than a lift. Whistler Village is gigantic and actually quite easy to get lost in, while Blackcomb Village is small and manageable.
Why do I no give 5 stars? Well, I've become accustom to Squaw Valley in Tahoe this year, and would say I've become spoiled on 40 degree days with plenty of sunshine. Sun is not plentiful at Whistler in December, although we did get treated to a break late in the afternoon of day #1. Temperatures were coooold (low 20s, dipping down in to teens by afternoon), so make sure you California people come prepared. That being said - enjoy! -
Review from Diana L.
12/5/2011
I'm a perpetual ski/snowboard beginner, which means my friends will drag me to a ski resort, where I'll take a beginner lesson, then not set foot an another ski resort for 5 years. Repeat. This year, for my buddy's birthday he wanted to go skiing. We live 4 hours away from world class Whistler, so figured why not? We spent about four days/three nights at Whistler early in the season (beginning of December), learning to snowboard. I've got nothing bad to say about it, but here's a few points...
- Gorgeous. Huge. International. Wild. Mountains are beautiful, and we were blessed with sun every day we were there, so got some spectacular scenery, especially on the gondolas going to the top, and on the Peak to Peak. Everything was covered in snow - just beautiful..
- Snowboard school - pretty good lesson with Sandy. They limit group lessons to no more than 4 people per instructor, so we got plenty of personal attention. One thing I wish I knew - the Full Day lessons include a trip up to the lodge at the top for lunch - so much for our frugal plans to lunch in our room, but the food was pretty good up there. On the plus side, they reserve tables for the school groups, so we didn't have to fight the massive crowds for a table. Gotta love the poutine - fries covered in gravy and cheese - yum.
- The entire staff at the Whistler Blackcomb resort was great - friendly, helpful, not an attitude in sight. They all must love their jobs, and must all be treated right to be so damned cheerful all the time. Made for a really pleasant experience.
- As Washington state (US) residents, we were eligible for the EDGE card, which gives us a bit of a discount on lift tickets and such. If you can get an EDGE card, get one BEFORE signing up for lessons, which means going to Guest Services before going to the ski/snow school counter. Since we went early in the season, not everyone in the staff knew what they were doing, and the advice was not always accurate. We could have saved a few bucks if we had done things in the right order, but ah well. Next time.
- Speaking of money, yeah, everything is pretty pricy. Regular price lift tickets is just shy of $100 - yikes! Another reviewer said this is not the best place for beginners - true, and I'm sure I would have appreciated it more if I was a better skiier/snowboarder, but it was still a great experience. -
Review from Leah C.
12/27/2010
I LOVE Whistler Blackcomb! I'm from California and have been skiing/snowboarding the sierras since I was 3 years old. People have been talking about Whistler since I was little and on a random little road trip me and my husband decided to drive up to check it out.
We went on a day that was going in and out of cloudy and clear, but the snow dumped the night before! Guess what that means?!?! Powder galore!!!!
The runs were really long and wide, and are available to all skill levels. At some points it seemed like were were the only ones on the mountain, not nearly as busy as I thought it would be.
One thing that I immediately noticed about Whistler is that there are way more skiers than snowboarders, unlike Tahoe where the mountains are packed with snowboarders.
The new Peak 2 Peak gondola allowed us to go up and down both mountains which was AWESOME! It was like skiing in 4 Heavenly's!
It was definitely colder than Tahoe! It felt like my fingers and toes were going to get frozen off. So my husband had to buy a beanie and face mask and I had to buy hand and feet warmers, but well worth it!
I wish I could come to Whistler every season!!! -
Review from Rock L.
1/13/2011
If you are reading this review, You Must go to whistler. 2 HUGE Mountains. On top of each mountain peak is a connecting gondola. Each peak has a huge cafeteria.
I have been to tahoe, and mammoth and it does not compare. Tons of trails for all levels. Also they have Nintendo Park for people that want to hit some jumps, rails, and more.
If you stay in the Village it is just 5-8 min walk to the Lifts. You will moat likely pass through the village Which are filled with tons of restaurant, shops, and more. -
Review from Jerry W.
5/11/2011
This is one of my absolute favorite places in the world. It has 8100 acres of ski-able terrain, and a longest run of 7 miles (11km). I also like the fact that most skiers snowboarders here are also of pretty good ability.
On a Saturday during peak season, creekside gondola can have some large morning lines. I think all of the locals decide to come here since parking is free and its a few miles closer than the whistler/blackomb gondolas.
The freeway on the way up to whistler (from vancouver) is extremely well maintained and easy to drive on. Whistler has a great little city and Vancouver isn't too far a venture for dinner and a night on the town. -
Review from Steve T.
11/10/2010
I love this place. It truly defines the word epic.
For any snowboard or skiing fan, this is one of the greatest places to go in North America, if not the entire world. The terrain is quite varied and it feels nearly impossible to ski the entire resort. In fact, of the 4 years that I have gone here, I still haven't been on about 50% of the trails (mainly cause I keep sticking to the same areas). When the weather is good, it is absolutely beautiful. Sometimes, I wonder if I could quit my day job and get a job as a liftie and go snowboarding all the time.
Stuff to know:
- The sea-to-sky highway is quite stunning if you drive it during the day. Now that the Olympics are over, it is much easier to drive than before. That being said, I still wouldn't recommend driving it at night in the rain or snow... there were a few times when I thought I would drive off the road when the construction was still going on and visibility was minimal.
- I'm a snowboarder, but sometimes it feels like this place has a lot more skiers than boarders. Must be a Canadian or European thing. Everyone is pretty friendly though.
- IMHO, Blackcomb is better than Whistler. Both are still excellent. Recommend the 7th Heaven and Horstman Glacier areas on Blackcomb as well as the Symphony/Harmony/Peak chairs on Whistler. Seems to be more flat cat track areas on Whistler though, which is kind of annoying for us boarders that tend to get stuck.
- At the end of the day, it can get kind of crazy trying to get down to the village. Lots of traffic all funneling towards the bottom can sometimes mean having to dodge folks who are probably going way too fast or too slow.
- Rent a condo/apartment in the village from a private owner, through something like alluradirect. Seemed to be a better deal than going through Intrawest, unless they have a special condo + lift tix combo going on.
- Best time to go seems to be Feb/March. I actually prefer early March as I've had some epically good days of powder (not sure if there is more spring rain/precip or what). On the other hand, it can be hard to catch powdery bluebird days here... there have been a few times where I could barely see 2 feet in front of my face or had to deal with high winds, so be prepared for that. But when it's good, it's damn good. Remember: it might be raining in the village, but it could mean that it's dumping snow up top.
- For WA/BC residents, get an EDGE card for discounts on lift tix. For other US residents, try getting lift tix at REI or Top Foods in WA state for a slight discount over window rates.
- The exchange rate used to make this place a great deal compared to the overpriced resorts in CA or Colorado. The rate isn't so favorable any more, but all things considered, it's still a pretty good value.
- Would recommend going if you already feel comfortable on blue/intermediate slopes or better back at home. There's a lot of terrain for beginners, but I feel like it's kind of a waste to go to WB and miss out on a lot of the intermediate/expert terrain because you are still learning how to ski/snowboard. On the other hand, if you're a beginner, you will probably improve much quicker here than anywhere else (out of necessity).
- I thought the peak-to-peak gondola would be lame when it was first built, but it has turned into a pretty useful way to get over from one mountain to the other. This comes in especially handy during adverse weather conditions that may cause lifts to close on one mountain but remain open on the other. Two thumbs up now that they've decided to include access to the p-to-p gondola into your lift ticket.
- Check the lift status before you arrive or on the status board at the gondola entrances in the village. This can save you a lot of time if you can figure out what areas are opening up first, especially since the gondola ride up alone can take 20-30 minutes. For the most part, I stay high up in the alpine areas... no reason for me to really go further down the mountain until the end of the day.
- If you're not dead tired at the end of the day, the village is definitely a cool place to hang out in the evenings. I found myself going to bed pretty early every night because I was just exhausted from waking up early in the morning and boarding all day.
Can't wait to go back... -
Review from Georgia S.
1/15/2011
Exquisite & Colossal in so many ways. And now that the winter Olympics has graced the scene, it solidifies Whistler Blackcomb as an iconic ski village that is hands down my favourite. Skiers and boarders unite! There are so many runs here you could not possibly get through them even with a seasons pass!
NOT CHEAP. $159 for 2 Adult half day lift tickets. $212 for a FULL x 2.
Peak to Peak Gondola is 11 minutes of stunning snow capped Cascade views.
The mountain caters to every level from the "magic carpet" training belt at the base to the double black diamonds on the glacier at the peak.
The chairs close at 3 but if you make it to the top and work your way down you can easily stretch out your day until 3:30 or 4pm. If your legs are worked by then, you're a stud.
There are at least 3 lodges on the mountain- complete with bars, bathrooms and fireplaces.
More than once I stopped mid-way on a run, looked around and had to take in the views. I have heard summers here are perfect for hiking, and ATV tours, zip lines and fishing too.Listed in: Mini Vay Cay
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Review from Diana T.
12/23/2010
What is there not to like about this place? So much snow. So many paths. Lots of trails for all levels. You can ski right into The Village to shop, and eat. There is even a pharmacy, market and liquor store for all you needs. I also love how there are so many resorts and that my own timeshare is the 2nd building from the lift.
Maybe the only bad thing is driving in/out of here. The roads are well taken care of and there are two lanes all the way from Vancouver but still scary to drive if you are unprepared. Unfortunately, I also have to wear 3-5 layers to snowboard because I'm so use to California weather. -
Review from Erin U.
11/8/2011
It just doesnt get any better, Ive snowboarded alot of mountains and Whistler is still my favorite! Perfect day includes riding blackcomb if your a snowboarder and skiing whistler mountain if your a skiier. You can ride both but I find each mountain is best for one or the other. Personally I put in a half day on Black comb then I ride the peak to peak over to Whistler mountain lodge because it has the sweetest peak lodge and cheap(16) dollar pitchers of kokanee and if its sunny a kickass mountain top patio for the massive lunch you will probably be craving. Then I usually finish my day on whistler mountain riding the peak to creek. The longest run on both mountains and so beautiful. Finish your day at the local clubs or go for an amazing dinner. Best possible time of year to visit is the Telus ski and snowboard festival end of season and so much fun. huge bands everyday at the base of the mountain and tons of people and parties. Pride is always fun too.Hurry up snow, I wanna get up there...Also a tip for newbies, look back when you are riding up the gondola, god Canada is beautiful :-D
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Review from Brendan G.
1/10/2011
I was visiting a friend in Seattle and we drove up for the weekend. I had heard all the hype about Whistler and was curious to see for myself what made it so great in so many people's eyes. I've boarded in Tahoe, Colorado, and New Mexico and I can easily say that ...
Whistler blows everything out of the water!
here are some highlights of visiting Whistler
-never repeat the same run with almost limitless terrain
-very good snow and consistently getting powder dumps
-stunning views on clear days
-riding the Blackcomb glacier might be one of the best runs in North America, 6.5 miles long starting with a wide expansive bowl that typically has fresh powder.
-village is tons of fun with great bars and good mix of tourists and locals
-staying in the village allows you to walk to the gondola and food/bars. We parked our car and didn't get back in until we were leaving
Whistler is not a good place for beginners but for the intermediate to advanced boarder or skier nothing compares. -
Review from Ally S.
3/26/2011
This is how you ski when you haven't in 15 years.
1. Go to Whistler.
2. Do it before April.
3. Go for more than 2 days.
4. If you can, hire an instructor in a small group (3), someone who really knows the hills and will CHALLENGE you.
5. Fly directly into Vancouver, not Seattle.
My experience was just that. I am almost afraid to go back because I don't know how I could possibly duplicate it.
I flew into Vancouver, rented a car and toted my lucky ass up to Whistler. What a fantastic drive and the longer days with great weather this time of the year lends to magnificent vistas from the hills.
I was fortunate enough to do a small group instructor during late season skiing where none of the other people in the group showed up! So it was one on one. Not likely to happen in the heat of the season. This guy gave me the bunny slope treatment for about 1-1/2 hours, then off to the regular runs. Yes! You get to go to a special line on the lifts. He definitely challenged me, and we did stuff I know for sure I wouldn't have done on my own. What a blast!!!
By the way, you might think you don't want to mess with customs or the international flight business, but it's well worth it over driving from Seattle. The friends that I met there went into Seattle instead, I got there way ahead of them and drove to Whistler while people were still at work in town, so traffic wasn't bad. You will want to have your GPS with you, and I only screwed up once on my drive out there (yes, even with the GPS) just outside of downtown. -
Review from saul m.
4/26/2011
Best April skiing ever!
When I ski, I usually go to Seymour or Cypress just outside Vancouver. I love the water & city views from Cypress & the privacy of Seymour.
First time skiing Whistler. It was a warm sunny day. Views from the top...simply spectacular!
Whistler runs seemed 3 or more times longer than on Seymour or Cypress. Even the green runs on Whistler where steeper, more challenging, more exciting. Despite the warm weather, the snow was firm & well groomed. Marshalls along the slopes provided assistance & advice.
While it was Easter weekend the crowds were manageable. Our group of 4 waited no more than 5 minutes at any lift. There were restaurants at base & on the mountains.
Whistler is pricey, $90 for an adult day lift pass; $50 for ski rental. So try to find a 1/2 price pass @ Costco or a ski shop.
While I like Whistler Village, it does look like it was all built by 1 upscale developer. The architecture, landscapping, whitewashed boulders seem too uniform. Like a town from the "Stepford Wives."
Accomodations & dining near the village seem over priced. After all Vancouver is only 2 hours away.
We had a blast, but by the end of the day we were all exhausted. Did I mention the runs are long! -
Review from Pam O.
2/13/2011
This is the most beautiful place in the whole world.
Skiing here can be amazing, frightening, exhilarating, intense, relaxed, beautiful, awesome, foggy, warm, cold, windy, snowy, sunny...
Whistler is pretty amazing. Being from the north east, I've never seen anything like it. There is some amazing terrain for expert skiers as well as plenty for the newbie.
I cannot wait to ski here again, simply amazing. -
Review from Patricia Y.
2/26/2011
By no means am I a hardcore skier, but being at a place like Whistler makes me want to ski that much more. I've skied around Lake Tahoe and Seattle before, but nowhere compares to Whistler. It's a world class ski resort! The views are breathtaking. We were lucky enough to ski on a day right after it dumped, so we had fresh powder and sun the entire weekend!
My favorite thing about Whistler and Blackcomb is that you can go to the peak and ski easy runs all the way down the mountain. It's really catered to all ski levels. The Peak 2 Peak gondola is really nice as well, and gives you spectacular views of Whistler and Blackcomb mountains. For non-skiers, you can ride the gondola up to the almost-peak and take some scenic pictures.
On weekends, especially holiday weekends, it can get crowded. But the mountain is so large that everyone is spread apart so it never feels that cramped. Be careful, you might get lost because this place is so big! However, there are hosts and volunteers all over that can redirect you to where you need to go.
For those that live in Washington and Canada, you can get an Edge card that will get you discounted lift tickets. Cheaper than if you were to get it at REI or any other discount ticket distributor. I believe it was $76 CAD + 12% tax.
Overall, Whistler is highly recommended. I would suggest a minimum of 2 days worth of skiing here, one day for Whistler, and another for Blackcomb. I didn't have time to check it out, but I also heard the Blackcomb glacier is another amazing area to ski. At the end of you day, you can enjoy a nice cold beer from the many restaurants/bars located steps from the chairlifts. :) -
Review from Art P.
3/27/2011
Can only describe Whistler with two words:
Winter Paradise -
Review from Emily W.
1/4/2011
Whistler-Blackcomb was AWESOME!
Two massive mountains = limitless runs.
Predictable powder is ideal for planning.
There's nothing in the world like the peak-to-peak gondola.
The international crowd makes for interesting conversation.
All the lift attendats were so friendly. :) -
Review from Will M.
2/9/2011
Getting to and from the mountain can be a pain, but once you finally get there it is worth it. The sheer size of this resort is incredible and you get to ski or snowboard BOTH mountains. I only wished I lived closer and the USD to CAD exchange rate improves :)
Stats: 8171 acres, 200 trails, 38 ski lifts -
Review from Curtis C.
1/22/2011
Amazing resort. This place has great terrain, and the snow is usually pretty good. The amenities are top notch with everythng from clubs to family establishments.
The only negatives the crazy high prices and the early closing time for the mountian.
Bottom line is that if you have money to blow on a top notch resort, this is the one for you. -
Review from Ryan M.
10/5/2010
By far Whistler is the greatest place I have ever gone snowboarding. I could easily go back there every winter. I wish I had a winter house there or at least within driving distance.
I went to Whistler a few years ago. It was an experience of a lifetime. The mountain, city, trails, everything is beautiful here. First off you come here thinking that the runs would be only for experts. FALSE! these are some of the best runs that I have ever been on. I'm far from an expert snowboarder, and all the runs I went on were perfect for my ability. I love mountains where you can go to the top of the mountain and not have to worry that the runs to get back down will kill you, and Whistler gives me and others at my skill level the opportunity to go to the top! I'm not saying that the terrain is very easy, its not. The terrain is challenging, spending even one day here will make you a much better snowboarder or skier.
Also the village of Whistler is the epitome of a ski town. This is my most favorite ski town I have been to.
If you have options of places to visit for a winter trip, I would put Whistler Blackcomb at the very top of the list, you will not regret it!Listed in: Snowboarding
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Review from OJ M.
10/14/2010
I am still in awe... I never thought I would come to canada for anything... now I have a reason...
This place will have a place in my heart forever....
I will return. -
Review from Viv C.
8/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
Gorgeous place. Absolutely breathtaking. Before I go any further, this is a review for summer. Oh, and yes, there is summer skiing! The place is very beautiful, the restaurants are plentiful, shopping is grand, and the atmosphere is almost unreal. Even in summer! I can only imagine this place in winter. must be wonderland. There are many activities in the summer months also. We did some biking and the peak 2 peak gondola. I wish we had more time to do the zip-lining. This place is not too far from Vancouver, but staying over one night, gave us more time to enjoy this beautiful place. I would love to come back!
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Review from Mario S.
4/5/2010
If I were to be swallowed by an avalanche and die at a ski resort, and then slip into purgatory (forced to roam the slopes until The Rapture) I would want it to be at Whistler/Blackcomb.
As a ski ghost, I think that I would protect people from coyotes in the alpine areas and soften their falls on the icy patches near the base. Also, if someone dropped their glove on the lift, I would bring it to the top before they got there, then they would be like, "whoa, where did that come from?" And when my powers got strong enough, I would protect people from avalanches and guide them to the bottom when it's really foggy. -
Review from Yee Gan O.
10/9/2009 9 photos
I would like to dedicate review number 900 to my favourite ski resort in the world, Whistler / Blackcomb. I had the great privilege to ski here a couple of ski seasons ago when I visited with some friends from the UK
The main downside for us Brits is the long 12 hour flight from the UK and subsequent jetlag but the limousine transfer (cheapest transfer option for a group our size, believe it or not) and stunning views along the Sea to Sky Highway made it a great start to the holiday. It was also nice that it was a relatively quick transfer time at 2 hours rather than 4 hours to places like Banff / Lake Louise and also that the road was straight rather than a winding path up the mountainside as in a lot of European resorts.
We stayed in the Blackcomb Benchlands area, which may seem a bit of a way out of town on the map but don't fear - there 's a frighteningly efficient free shuttle bus service which runs every 10 minutes religiously. It never failed to arrive on time during our stay
Whistler main village and Village North are one combined area - very well planned and well laid out with lots of retail therapy available as well as cuisine from all over the world. It has been developed since the 1980s and the organised structure to town reflects this, unlike some of the haphazard European ski resorts. There are cinemas, supermarkets and internet cafes in town
All the trees in town looked lovely decorated with lights. We didn't have time to enjoy the many off-piste distractions like the many spas, a tube park, Ziptrek, forest walks, snowmobiling, helicopter rides, bungee jumps, etc. There's a free Fire and Ice show every Sunday evening at the gondola base. Upper Village is smaller but Whistler main resort is easily accessible by shuttle.
The 2 mountains offer every conceivable type terrain of skiing you would want. We had intended to try cat-skiing but with the record breaking snowfall in Whistler that year, we found an abundance of fresh powder everywhere in the main ski area. The terrain parks are well organised with signs marking the size of jumps/rails/boxes, making it a lot safer for us terrain park novices. The queues were civilised and well organised with single person lines making sure that all the lifts are always used to full capacity. We were there over Martin Luther weekend, one of the American bank holiday weekends and never had to queue more than 10 minutes even over this busy period and most of the time, the queues were mainly walk-on. The main lack of capacity we found was in the restaurants and booking is essential.
Another lovely touch is the ability to easily access and ski the off-piste Blackcomb glacier, which is technically back-country, making us all feel like proper intrepid adventurers! We just went through the marked gate and carried our skis like proper off pisters, negotiated the slightly scary ridge across Blowhole and were rewarded with a wide expanse of powder to play on and whoop our way down back to civilisation
We also found the ski school instruction to be excellent with English speaking instructors and smaller classes leading to more progress. Our instructor for the free lesson we received with our chalet booking was excellent and we booked private lessons with her. This enabled us to tailor the lesson to our needs exactly.
Whistler is very proud to have won the 2010 Winter Olympics and all over the resort, there were lots of reminders as the resort gears up. There is a lot of development at Creekside base, the finishing area for the downhill events - we couldn't resist a blast down the men's downhill and ladies super G courses. There is also a lot of work along the stunning Sea to Sky Highway from Vancouver to upgrade it, which can lead to delays but the road works have been suspended over the winter.
It's been a dream to ski Whistler for a long time and it lived up to its promise. It certainly matches the French super-resorts like The Three Vallets, Tignes/Val d'Isere and Les Arcs/La Plagne.
I wish the Whistler/Blackcomb all the best for the forthcoming Olympics in 2010 -
Review from Jeremy S.
8/6/2008
Getting here is a bitch, but Whistler/Blackcomb is the best ski resort in North America imho (taking into consideration size, conditions, and value).
Over the years I've visited three times, the most recent being 2003. In 2002 I spent 4 days straight taking their snowboarding classes and went from a beginner to a solid intermediate seemingly overnight.
Snow quality around Christmas and New Years does vary and wasn't great on at least one occasion, target later in the winter for better snow. The exchange rate is typically favorable, though recently of course the dollar is as good as toilette paper.
The ski village at the base is excellent and has all you need, restaurants, nightlife, and solid hotels. I've had so much fun skiing and boarding on these two mountains they hold a special place in my heart. -
Review from Rosie C.
8/14/2008
Hands-down, my favorite mountain!
I've been during summer and winter seasons. It's a must see if you're in British Columbia - easily accessible by car, train, or bus.
Oh yes. I'll be there in 2010!! -
Review from Bora K.
1/12/2010 1 photo
Whistler is such a beautiful resort and it snowed the first two days we were there so I really wanted to take advantage of it and go snowboarding but I was a little gun-shy after fracturing my tail bone in Mammoth last year.
I figured the best way to gain a little confidence and play it safe would be to take a lesson so I could refresh my memory of the basics and get used to being on a board again. The ski school was just steps away from our hotel so armed with a pair of heavily padded hockey shorts on underneath my clothes, I signed myself up for a beginner's group lesson and joined everyone out front.
There are a variety of lessons you can choose from ranging from private lessons, half day lessons, group lessons. I chose the the full day group lesson with the lift ticket incorporated (I don't think there's a half day option when you sign up for a group lesson any way). When you sign up for the class, the give you a voucher to the rental store and you can get a helmet and wrist guards to rent for free. The lesson began at 9:45 a.m. and we had 6 people in our group, everyone pretty much all beginners.
My instructor Andrew was very thorough and really focused on the basics, having us practice everything he taught at least 2-3 times each. Even though it was a group lesson, he did work one on one with almost everyone and made sure to point out what might help improve our skills in the specific challenges we were all having. He adjusted my bindings for me after observing my stance and I really appreciated it because I felt much more comfortable and felt like I improved afterward.
For novices or those who are a little rusty and want some review, I would totally recommend the snowboarding lessons at Whistler. The cost of the lesson with the lift ticket itself is quite a deal because it isn't much more than the cost of the ticket itself and the school seems to have organization and method down to a tee. I appreciated the thoroughness of my instructor as well as all the extra pointers he gave everyone and the lesson itself made me feel a lot better about being in the snow again.
Photos and more can be found here on my favorite blog- http://www.alamodejour...Listed in: Good times in Whistler, BC
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Review from Kevin C.
1/23/2009
Any body who is an avid skier or snowboarder should pay a visit to Whistler/Blackcomb at least once in their life time. Even if you are not into skiing or snowboarding, at least take the gondola up to the top of the mountain for a breathtaking view.
I was here about 4 years ago. It was much cheaper to fly into Seattle, rent a car and drive to W/B. Don't forget your passports and have it with you as you drive through the border. Otherwise, you'll get called in for questioning.
We stopped by a 7/11 because they had a 2 day pass with access to both resorts at a much cheaper price than the resorts. It was heaven. Like that cliche 'kids in a candy store."
Even though there was not as much snow as we had anticipated the year that we went, we still got to explore much of the 2 mountains.
I would come back here again...after I go to Park City Utah and the swiss alps... -
Review from Skylar L.
8/7/2008
#200 review and I could think of no better place.
Here's the quick review: Go. Go if you're good. Go if you're bad. Go for summer hiking and biking. Go for winter for skiing and snowboarding. Go if you love shopping. Go if you love food. Just...go.
The first time I went to Whistler was early 2001. I had never snowboarded before and by the end of the full-day "Ride Tribe" class I was connecting turns. I was so pumped I went home and bought boots and bindings because I was so going to start snowboarding.
The second time I went to Whistler was late 2004. I hadn't stepped on a snowboard since the first time I went to Whistler. I was totally planning to snowboard between my Whistler visits, I just didn't find the time. So it was basically back to basics. Not completely, I made it to Group 2 the first day and Group 3 the next, but that isn't saying much. I went home and new I was going to go back to Whistler and work a season after I graduated college.
The third time I went to Whistler was October 2006. With my car loaded up and SWAP visa in hand, I was ready to start my six months in Whistler. I got hired on the spot at the job fair as a Lead Hand, got employee housing by getting to the housing office at 4am the day of the excess room giveaway. I then got appendicitis (I don't think this was related). I met some of the greatest people in the world that winter. I am still extremely close to more people from Whistler (who are now scattered across the world) than from college. I highly recommend working a winter here if there is anyway possible.
Living in Whistler means living the mountains. I went from being an -- less face it -- awful snowboarder to a pretty damn good snowboarder AND skiier. Between the two mountains, every desire can be met. Beginners and advanced skiiers and boarders should head over to Whistler while intermediates should explore the glories of Blackcomb. Blackcomb is also the mountain with the beginner, advance and "extreme" parks.
I would recommend getting a lesson the first time you go to Whistler/Blackcomb so you can better learn the mountain. It's so big that after 45+ days I barely scratch the surface. Secret trails are everywhere, but unless you are a really good skiier or boarder I would say to keep on the beaten track. I found myself on a triple diamond when I was searching for the last of the powder one day.
OK, so this isn't the most complete review ever. I don't know how it could be. The mountain encompasses a huge part of my life. It also encompasses a huge part of the world. Be safe on HWY 99, be safe on the Mountain and you'll have the time of your life.
Oh, and since this wasn't the greatest review ever, please PM me if you have any questions about this amazing place.
Last and not least -- to do Whistler/Blackcomb properly you must do a duel mountain. Ask a local what that is. All I'm saying is, start at Dusty's and don't forget to make it up to Horstman Hut and Crystal Hut as they close earlier.Listed in: Active Whistler
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Review from Shiho F.
8/6/2008
Um yes please. Our high school field trip was to these mountains. We had a great time in their village. I remember a few things about this trip getting Cuban cigars, buying booze or trying to ( we were 16 at the time), first time I tried Mongolian BBQ, first time I visited LUSH (the store not your friend), first time I ran up a flight of stairs to the top of a building after watching your best friend kiss your best guy friend. Oh the memories. Good thing she is still my best friend.
To be honest I know the mountains are pretty jainormous but I don't remember skiing! I remember everything but skiing so I'm guessing the weather was horrible or I was just acting like a little high school girl.
