whistler, canada! whos been?
PassionFord Post Whore!!
Joined: Jun 2003
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From: South Beach
Lucky twat! 
I'll hopefully get there next year but just booked Merribel for the 10th of Jan. Prob get back there in March. But Whistler? Wow. Have a great time, it's about as good as it gets.
I'll hopefully get there next year but just booked Merribel for the 10th of Jan. Prob get back there in March. But Whistler? Wow. Have a great time, it's about as good as it gets.
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Professional Waffler
Joined: May 2003
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From: barry-south wales
i paid 3300 for 4 of us for 7 days, and i booked that with crystal holidays online, that includes carrage of boards aswell, but no lift passes, was that would of been another grand my friends owe me LOL
and no your not coming in my board bag!
big g,,, any info would be great!
i wanted to get out there this year as the year after they got the Olympics, so i guess its a nice place to board
and no your not coming in my board bag!
big g,,, any info would be great!
i wanted to get out there this year as the year after they got the Olympics, so i guess its a nice place to board
You will love it dude!!
here's some pics I took alst year to get you excited (let me know if they don't show up!)
My top tip is to make sure you have some flat light lenses for your goggles (I didn't need my normal lenses for the entire 2 weeks!)
here's some pics I took alst year to get you excited (let me know if they don't show up!)
My top tip is to make sure you have some flat light lenses for your goggles (I didn't need my normal lenses for the entire 2 weeks!)
Flat light lenses are almost clear with only a slight orange tint and let a lot of light through. Basically, when it is snowing or overcast/foggy, if you wear the lenses you normally wear in sunny europe, they will be too dark and the slope will look like a nice smooth carpet, when infact you are in a mogul field! flat light lenses will give you better definition so you can see the slope. As you have Oakleys there are loads of lenses available quite cheap 
Another tip is to get your lift pass early and search online to get really good discounts. We got ours from alluradirect.com who give a big discount when you book accommodation and lift pass with them, but they also give a discount if you haven't got your accommodation from them.
Another tip is to get your lift pass early and search online to get really good discounts. We got ours from alluradirect.com who give a big discount when you book accommodation and lift pass with them, but they also give a discount if you haven't got your accommodation from them.
The earlier you book them the bigger the discount you will get!
http://www.alluradirect.com/whistler-lift-tickets.cfm
You could save around $100 from there
http://www.alluradirect.com/whistler-lift-tickets.cfm
You could save around $100 from there
Those look about right Gareth, remember you already have your mirrored lenses for bright days so these are just for the dull days.
Here is a good example from France at the end of July this year believe it or not, i'm in my normal bright sunlight mirrored lenses, my girlfriend has her flat light lenses in... As you can guess I couldn't see much
Here is a good example from France at the end of July this year believe it or not, i'm in my normal bright sunlight mirrored lenses, my girlfriend has her flat light lenses in... As you can guess I couldn't see much
Part of the Furniture
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Seattle, USA (expat)
Fucking awesome. I live down in Seattle and head up there all the time to ride. In fact I’m heading up there on Wednesday for 5 days for thanks giving. If you got any questions about anything there just ask. When you heading there? If I’m there at the same time I would be happy to show you round the mountains.
PassionFord Post Whore!!
Joined: Jun 2003
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From: Manchestoh
Here she goes,
Then theres a PS
Hope it helps anyway
Right, here you are:
First of all when you're driving up to Whistler, the nearer you get it gets all like woody/trees with no shops really. Definetly keep your eyes out for bears - we saw one at the side of the road going up and one on the grass coming back.
Also if you drive up to Whistler (don't know if they're driving themselves or...) we stopped at a place called Shannon falls which was a bit of a park but it had a really nice, big waterfall in the centre of it. Its not too big either so its not a huge walk around. We stopped at another as well called Brandywine Falls which was huge and your stood sort of at the top of it.
Not sure where your mates staying in Whistler but if its a hotel called Club Intrawest then its really nice : )
Theres quite a few shops in Whistler with all the snowboardy/skiing stuff in, there were some good deals on when we were there, not sure how the prices compare with the rest of canada in general but depending how well the £ is doing its cheaper than over here. Theres a big nike shop etc there too.
Definetly go to the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Shop has the nicest chocolate ever! I recommend the avalanche toffee apple, whistler was the only place that i saw that did that one.
Depending where your staying in Whistler on the way into the centre (everything is sort of built around the centre) theres a little cafe place called Portobellos which is really nice if you want something quick to eat.
I would definetly recommend going up Blackcomb Mountain, the prices were really reasonable for what you get - wrap up warm its freezing at the top! Theres a little cafe up there that does really cheap drinks. The view on the way up and at the top is amazing, to get to the top it takes 3 cable cars and a bus. Definetly looks for bears on the way up we saw one when we were on the cable cars.
Hope this helps, we were only there 3 days. I think prices in general might be a bit dearer up there because its their peak seasonnow but i'm not sure. Not sure if your mates been to Canada before but if they're stuck for somewhere to eat on the way up, Tim Hortons is a good place, its fast food but healthy and they do really good doughnuts! Theres Wendy's too which is like McDonalds but nicer.
Tell them to have a really good time, wish i was going back!
First of all when you're driving up to Whistler, the nearer you get it gets all like woody/trees with no shops really. Definetly keep your eyes out for bears - we saw one at the side of the road going up and one on the grass coming back.
Also if you drive up to Whistler (don't know if they're driving themselves or...) we stopped at a place called Shannon falls which was a bit of a park but it had a really nice, big waterfall in the centre of it. Its not too big either so its not a huge walk around. We stopped at another as well called Brandywine Falls which was huge and your stood sort of at the top of it.
Not sure where your mates staying in Whistler but if its a hotel called Club Intrawest then its really nice : )
Theres quite a few shops in Whistler with all the snowboardy/skiing stuff in, there were some good deals on when we were there, not sure how the prices compare with the rest of canada in general but depending how well the £ is doing its cheaper than over here. Theres a big nike shop etc there too.
Definetly go to the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Shop has the nicest chocolate ever! I recommend the avalanche toffee apple, whistler was the only place that i saw that did that one.
Depending where your staying in Whistler on the way into the centre (everything is sort of built around the centre) theres a little cafe place called Portobellos which is really nice if you want something quick to eat.
I would definetly recommend going up Blackcomb Mountain, the prices were really reasonable for what you get - wrap up warm its freezing at the top! Theres a little cafe up there that does really cheap drinks. The view on the way up and at the top is amazing, to get to the top it takes 3 cable cars and a bus. Definetly looks for bears on the way up we saw one when we were on the cable cars.
Hope this helps, we were only there 3 days. I think prices in general might be a bit dearer up there because its their peak seasonnow but i'm not sure. Not sure if your mates been to Canada before but if they're stuck for somewhere to eat on the way up, Tim Hortons is a good place, its fast food but healthy and they do really good doughnuts! Theres Wendy's too which is like McDonalds but nicer.
Tell them to have a really good time, wish i was going back!
All Welshmen shag sheep
Hope it helps anyway
Part of the Furniture
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 176
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From: wales
i was there a few years ago done a bit of ski bike riding and some white water rafting place is awesome but so is Vancouver where you have grouse mountain,stanly park and a very large pedestrain suspension bridge that i cant remember the name of lol.
Part of the Furniture
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Seattle, USA (expat)
Well I have just got back from Whistler after some early season snowboarding and the conditions where terrible but it is still very early in the season here.
The new peak to peak gondola looks awesome but isn’t opening till the 12th December. To use the peak to peak is going to cost about 10 bucks more on your lift ticket but it is going to turn a 40 minute journey from one mountain to the other down to about 11 minutes.
There is still alot of construction going on in the Village and on the sea to sky highway leading into Whistler due the Olympics but that will all stop once the season is in full swing.
Anyway I’m heading back up there in January. I can’t wait.
The new peak to peak gondola looks awesome but isn’t opening till the 12th December. To use the peak to peak is going to cost about 10 bucks more on your lift ticket but it is going to turn a 40 minute journey from one mountain to the other down to about 11 minutes.
There is still alot of construction going on in the Village and on the sea to sky highway leading into Whistler due the Olympics but that will all stop once the season is in full swing.
Anyway I’m heading back up there in January. I can’t wait.
PassionFord Post Troll
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: West Sussex
we were supposed to be going last year but with 12 in our group not everyone could afford it so we went to arc200 instead which probably cost more lol
ive just had my boards serviced and the guy who does them for me is going to whistler end of jan, he goes every year and apparently its the best place on earth if your a boarder ! especially if you like off piste stuff . He also reckons that helli drop runs out there are awesome so fuck everyone in my group im doing a lastminute booking in feb .
on the subject of goggles i bought a pair of these quicksilver photo chromatic or whatever theyre called last year that are supposed to be ideal for canada and its conditions ,they really werent cheap but they go a light shade of silvery orange when its normal and almost black when hit by bright lights but you can still see out of them perfectly in all conditions, the oakley's i had before were shite in comparison .
make sure you give us a report when you get back and post up some decent pics you lucky bastard
ive just had my boards serviced and the guy who does them for me is going to whistler end of jan, he goes every year and apparently its the best place on earth if your a boarder ! especially if you like off piste stuff . He also reckons that helli drop runs out there are awesome so fuck everyone in my group im doing a lastminute booking in feb .
on the subject of goggles i bought a pair of these quicksilver photo chromatic or whatever theyre called last year that are supposed to be ideal for canada and its conditions ,they really werent cheap but they go a light shade of silvery orange when its normal and almost black when hit by bright lights but you can still see out of them perfectly in all conditions, the oakley's i had before were shite in comparison .
make sure you give us a report when you get back and post up some decent pics you lucky bastard
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From: Seattle, USA (expat)
PassionFord Post Whore!!
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From: Chester
Im going to Banff in Feb.
Never been on a snowboarding holiday before but had lessons at the chill factory in manchester.
Think ours is £800 and something for 2weeks with Inghams. And me mum reminded me today i owe her £300 for the lift pass!!!
Lift passes are more expensive over there apparently.
Never been on a snowboarding holiday before but had lessons at the chill factory in manchester.
Think ours is £800 and something for 2weeks with Inghams. And me mum reminded me today i owe her £300 for the lift pass!!!
Lift passes are more expensive over there apparently.
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Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Seattle, USA (expat)
Part of the Furniture
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 174
Likes: 0
From: Seattle, USA (expat)
4 runs (approx. 6,000 - 10,000 vertical feet, or 1,800 - 3,500 vertical meters of skiing)
You get 2 guides that ride with you for the whole day.
Last edited by gareths09; Dec 1, 2008 at 12:49 AM.