Ski in Whistler - talk to me
Discussion
Was just about to book Morzine again (first time skiing last year) but then spotted Whistler which isn't that much more expensive and it's got me thinking.
Bad points - longer flights and mostly SC or B&B
Good points - somewhere different to try, looks a fairly big place so more to eat/drink? service must be better than at French resorts. Maybe tag on a couple of days in Seattle afterwards or some other Northern US city that you would not normaly visit.
If anyone has being and can give me some info that will be great. I am a beginner/average skier and will be wanting to improve with instruction. Blues/Reds mainly.
cheers
Bad points - longer flights and mostly SC or B&B
Good points - somewhere different to try, looks a fairly big place so more to eat/drink? service must be better than at French resorts. Maybe tag on a couple of days in Seattle afterwards or some other Northern US city that you would not normaly visit.
If anyone has being and can give me some info that will be great. I am a beginner/average skier and will be wanting to improve with instruction. Blues/Reds mainly.
cheers
Paddy_N_Murphy said:
Went years ago - great Snow / boarding.
Snows every night kind of pow.
The ways it is maybe different to the European set up is how, unlike the European 'Village up a Mountain' it is far more of a spread town. You are likely to need to bus to and from your digs to the slopes - a car even. That to me equals a ball ache.
Also the Apres certainly was not the same 'type' as Europe.
I agree & its so much colder. Snows every night kind of pow.
The ways it is maybe different to the European set up is how, unlike the European 'Village up a Mountain' it is far more of a spread town. You are likely to need to bus to and from your digs to the slopes - a car even. That to me equals a ball ache.
Also the Apres certainly was not the same 'type' as Europe.
Whistler is a fantastic mountain ( two mountains ), loads of skiing and great terrain.
It's a long flight ( 10 hours + ) and a long transfer ( 3 hours + ) from Vancouver.
The village has loads of bars / restaurants and night life and there is a fair bit of accommodation near the slopes. Some accommodation is a bus ride away but there are places in walking distance if you search around.
I've been once and looked again this year, we found it much more expensive than it used to be. For us the flight prices and lift pass prices looked a lot more then Europe, also most deals are self catering so you have to factor in food.
The village is also quite low ( 600 metres ) so it can rain as well as snow ( not nice ). Weather is a bit unpredictable but if you get a good week the skiing is fantastic and vast.
The mountain restaurants tend to be big self service cafes and don't really have the charm of the little mountain huts strewn around most European resorts.
Definitely worth going though, I will definitely go back sometime soon.
It's a long flight ( 10 hours + ) and a long transfer ( 3 hours + ) from Vancouver.
The village has loads of bars / restaurants and night life and there is a fair bit of accommodation near the slopes. Some accommodation is a bus ride away but there are places in walking distance if you search around.
I've been once and looked again this year, we found it much more expensive than it used to be. For us the flight prices and lift pass prices looked a lot more then Europe, also most deals are self catering so you have to factor in food.
The village is also quite low ( 600 metres ) so it can rain as well as snow ( not nice ). Weather is a bit unpredictable but if you get a good week the skiing is fantastic and vast.
The mountain restaurants tend to be big self service cafes and don't really have the charm of the little mountain huts strewn around most European resorts.
Definitely worth going though, I will definitely go back sometime soon.
PinkFatBunny said:
Was just about to book Morzine again (first time skiing last year) but then spotted Whistler which isn't that much more expensive and it's got me thinking.
You must be looking to stay in some swanky digs in Morzine if this is true! Whistler is the most European like resort in North America most find as it has a purpose built village. Out on the mountain dinning is mostly canteen based, I did my instructor quals in Canada and the North Americans and Canadians don't really stop for a long leisurely lunch like allot of Europeans like to. You'll find lift queues to be far more civilised but unlike in Europe the locals have a first to the lift culture. Lifts and infrastructure are top notch.
In NA Km's of runs are quoted rather acreage, but Whistler and Blackcomb have more than enough to go at. Given your level you won't really be in to off piste but another difference is that in Canada there is in bounds and out of bounds, in bounds everything is patrolled and avi checked, in Europe it's a on your own head be it kind of attitude. You'll maybe find that the pistes aren't so immaculately groomed over the pond, particularly the stuff aimed at intermediates and above. The grading system is also a little different. The euro and NA scales are difficult to relate, even in theory. American single black diamond runs, in particular, tend to embrace runs that might be graded red or black in Europe. American double diamonds start with runs that would be genuine blacks in Europe, but go on to include much steeper runs than you will find in any European pistes.
I think I'd only go if I were going to ski for at least 10 days and couple it as you say with a city break. Whistler is famous for it's powder and high snow falls which at your level may be a little wasted, due to the villages low altitude if it's snowing on the hill chances are it will be raining in the village.
I'll be going to Canada myself for the first time in a while in March, fly into Calgary ski Banff, Lake Louise etc the head towards the coast and Whistler.
Try Breckenridge (Denver, Colorado).
We go twice a year and there is loads to do outside of skiing,
Beaver Run is best place to stay as it is true ski in ski out, building 4 is the best location within the complex.
Best to book yourself as cheaper.
Been all over and this is acknowledged as probably one of top 5 places to go in the world - not silly prices either.
If interested let me know and can talk.
We go twice a year and there is loads to do outside of skiing,
Beaver Run is best place to stay as it is true ski in ski out, building 4 is the best location within the complex.
Best to book yourself as cheaper.
Been all over and this is acknowledged as probably one of top 5 places to go in the world - not silly prices either.
If interested let me know and can talk.
PinkFatBunny said:
Was just about to book Morzine again (first time skiing last year) but then spotted Whistler which isn't that much more expensive and it's got me thinking.
Bad points - longer flights and mostly SC or B&B
Good points - somewhere different to try, looks a fairly big place so more to eat/drink? service must be better than at French resorts. Maybe tag on a couple of days in Seattle afterwards or some other Northern US city that you would not normaly visit.
If anyone has being and can give me some info that will be great. I am a beginner/average skier and will be wanting to improve with instruction. Blues/Reds mainly.
cheers
Been going for >20 years. Have had a place there for >10 years. So I'm pretty biased (have skied in France a fair bit: 3V, Portes du Soleil, Argentiere; and St Anton). Bad points - longer flights and mostly SC or B&B
Good points - somewhere different to try, looks a fairly big place so more to eat/drink? service must be better than at French resorts. Maybe tag on a couple of days in Seattle afterwards or some other Northern US city that you would not normaly visit.
If anyone has being and can give me some info that will be great. I am a beginner/average skier and will be wanting to improve with instruction. Blues/Reds mainly.
cheers
Flight is about 8h40 wheels up to wheels down. The rest of the time wasted faffing around with air travel is time you'd spend going to anywhere from LHR. Transfer is now close to 2h. With luck, you can be on the road in your Avis hire car 40mins after exiting the plane.
Accom is not catered chalet style. We do a supermarket shop first morning, or get stuff delivered the day before. Quick breakfast theme out. Lunch on the mountain. Snack with beers after skiing, and evening meal out. There are tons of really good places to eat, incl a couple which are worth a Michelin star. Also some amazing sushi and steaks, if that floats your boat.
Service is great. Very welcoming. Ski school is highly positive (ETA: right from the off Canadian ski school focussed your technique on a very stable GS race style platform. Spend a lot of time in ski school there and it will work well for you). Lift queues, such as they are, are polite and orderly.
Temps - well, duh, if you go in the middle of winter it will be cold. We go at Easter, when you can have knee deep pow in the morning and sunshine in the afternoon. In fact you can have the full four seasons in one day: because it is close to the coast the whether is variable and not fixed as it is inland. It can rain in the village, but it is v rate for it to rain all the way up, so somewhere fresh snow is falling.
ETA: you don't get many bluebird days out there, esp in proper winter. Storms don't blow in, dump, and move off. This means you can find you're skiing in flattish light a lot. Once you've maxed out the help that a good pair of goggles can provide, you shouldn't shy away from this, because these conditions are very good for forcing you to ski on feel from your legs, rather than on visual input from your eyes. Sounds a bit arsey, I know, but it's true, and it works.
Ski area is huge. As said there is no on piste/off piste concept as there is in Europe. Draw a line around the edge of the ski area, and everything inside that area is fair game, patrolled and avalanche checked. If you're minded to you can cruise fast groomed blues all day (there are no reds, only green/blue/black). Or you can find something to scare you. A lot (double blacks). If you want to practise moguls, you'll have to look a long way to find somewhere better.
If you want to split it with a city break, Vancouver is a beautiful city. Next choice after that would be SF. But personally, I think you're better off doing the cities in summer and sticking to the slopes in winter.
Tons more info available, incl how to sort out logistics of a trip. Ask away in this thread or by pm.
Edited by anonymous-user on Saturday 24th November 16:00
Greg66 said:
Been going for >20 years. Have had a place there for >10 years. So I'm pretty biased (have skied in France a fair bit: 3V, Portes du Soleil, Argentiere; and St Anton).
Flight is about 8h40 wheels up to wheels down. The rest of the time wasted faffing around with air travel is time you'd spend going to anywhere from LHR. Transfer is now close to 2h. With luck, you can be on the road in your Avis hire car 40mins after exiting the plane.
Accom is not catered chalet style. We do a supermarket shop first morning, or get stuff delivered the day before. Quick breakfast theme out. Lunch on the mountain. Snack with beers after skiing, and evening meal out. There are tons of really good places to eat, incl a couple which are worth a Michelin star. Also some amazing sushi and steaks, if that floats your boat.
Service is great. Very welcoming. Ski school is highly positive (ETA: right from the off Canadian ski school focussed your technique on a very stable GS race style platform. Spend a lot of time in ski school there and it will work well for you). Lift queues, such as they are, are polite and orderly.
Temps - well, duh, if you go in the middle of winter it will be cold. We go at Easter, when you can have knee deep pow in the morning and sunshine in the afternoon. In fact you can have the full four seasons in one day: because it is close to the coast the whether is variable and not fixed as it is inland. It can rain in the village, but it is v rate for it to rain all the way up, so somewhere fresh snow is falling.
ETA: you don't get many bluebird days out there, esp in proper winter. Storms don't blow in, dump, and move off. This means you can find you're skiing in flattish light a lot. Once you've maxed out the help that a good pair of goggles can provide, you shouldn't shy away from this, because these conditions are very good for forcing you to ski on feel from your legs, rather than on visual input from your eyes. Sounds a bit arsey, I know, but it's true, and it works.
Ski area is huge. As said there is no on piste/off piste concept as there is in Europe. Draw a line around the edge of the ski area, and everything inside that area is fair game, patrolled and avalanche checked. If you're minded to you can cruise fast groomed blues all day (there are no reds, only green/blue/black). Or you can find something to scare you. A lot (double blacks). If you want to practise moguls, you'll have to look a long way to find somewhere better.
If you want to split it with a city break, Vancouver is a beautiful city. Next choice after that would be SF. But personally, I think you're better off doing the cities in summer and sticking to the slopes in winter.
Tons more info available, incl how to sort out logistics of a trip. Ask away in this thread or by pm.
^^^ThisFlight is about 8h40 wheels up to wheels down. The rest of the time wasted faffing around with air travel is time you'd spend going to anywhere from LHR. Transfer is now close to 2h. With luck, you can be on the road in your Avis hire car 40mins after exiting the plane.
Accom is not catered chalet style. We do a supermarket shop first morning, or get stuff delivered the day before. Quick breakfast theme out. Lunch on the mountain. Snack with beers after skiing, and evening meal out. There are tons of really good places to eat, incl a couple which are worth a Michelin star. Also some amazing sushi and steaks, if that floats your boat.
Service is great. Very welcoming. Ski school is highly positive (ETA: right from the off Canadian ski school focussed your technique on a very stable GS race style platform. Spend a lot of time in ski school there and it will work well for you). Lift queues, such as they are, are polite and orderly.
Temps - well, duh, if you go in the middle of winter it will be cold. We go at Easter, when you can have knee deep pow in the morning and sunshine in the afternoon. In fact you can have the full four seasons in one day: because it is close to the coast the whether is variable and not fixed as it is inland. It can rain in the village, but it is v rate for it to rain all the way up, so somewhere fresh snow is falling.
ETA: you don't get many bluebird days out there, esp in proper winter. Storms don't blow in, dump, and move off. This means you can find you're skiing in flattish light a lot. Once you've maxed out the help that a good pair of goggles can provide, you shouldn't shy away from this, because these conditions are very good for forcing you to ski on feel from your legs, rather than on visual input from your eyes. Sounds a bit arsey, I know, but it's true, and it works.
Ski area is huge. As said there is no on piste/off piste concept as there is in Europe. Draw a line around the edge of the ski area, and everything inside that area is fair game, patrolled and avalanche checked. If you're minded to you can cruise fast groomed blues all day (there are no reds, only green/blue/black). Or you can find something to scare you. A lot (double blacks). If you want to practise moguls, you'll have to look a long way to find somewhere better.
If you want to split it with a city break, Vancouver is a beautiful city. Next choice after that would be SF. But personally, I think you're better off doing the cities in summer and sticking to the slopes in winter.
Tons more info available, incl how to sort out logistics of a trip. Ask away in this thread or by pm.
Edited by Greg66 on Saturday 24th November 16:00
Love Whistler, would go every year if I could I haven't boarded in Europe since I discovered US/Canada
Like-for-like I'd choose going to Whistler over Europe every time - and off again at the end of January and probably end of February too. But as has been said, it can get real cold you can be without blue skies for quite long periods. My personal bug-bear of Whistler is later in the season when [hopefully] its a bit warmer and sunnier. Because it's 2 'triangular' shaped mountains, as the lower runs get slushy and tired you've lost a whole lot of skiing as you're funneled on to the narrower top portions of the mountains. I've not been since the peak-to-peak lift was put in, so at least you can get from mountain to mountain more easily. Plus I've never had the luck of the real feather-light powder you get in Colorado or California. Re your comment of visiting Seattle afterwards - do-able, and Crystal Mountan (maybe an hour's drive from Seattle?) has some good skiing too.
But if you've made the leap of considering North America, don't dicount the option of either Colorado or Tahoe. Fly in to Denver and it's few hours drive up to Summit County. Then do Vail, Copper Mountain, Beaver Creek, Arapahoe Basis, Aspen [Ajax] and Snowmass. Stay in/near Vail and all are drivable - Aspen is a bit of a trek, but still do-able for a day-trip. I know folks rave about Breckenridge, but I'd do all the aformentioned areas before I'd do Breck. Vail and Aspen in partcular are great areas.
Personally though I like Tahoe...so much I bought a shared owndership condo in the Marriott - which must say something as I'm normally a cheapskate. OK it's a 3 1/2 hour drive up from San Frencisco, but it's usually got great weather (most storms are through in a couple of days, then back to blue skies), great snow (usually), incedible views skiing with the lake in the background and it's just that bit different with the casinos as apres-ski. As well as Heavenly, day trips to Squaw Valley and Kirkwood are worthwhile, plus there are quite a few other ski areas round the lake
Much as I like Whistler, I'm only going there since my daughter is studying in Vancouver and I'm adding it on to visits there. If I was paying a trans-atlantic fare just to go skiing I'd do Colorado or Tahoe in preference. And if you haven't skied in North America before, then I'd choose Colorado over Tahoe as a taster.
But if you've made the leap of considering North America, don't dicount the option of either Colorado or Tahoe. Fly in to Denver and it's few hours drive up to Summit County. Then do Vail, Copper Mountain, Beaver Creek, Arapahoe Basis, Aspen [Ajax] and Snowmass. Stay in/near Vail and all are drivable - Aspen is a bit of a trek, but still do-able for a day-trip. I know folks rave about Breckenridge, but I'd do all the aformentioned areas before I'd do Breck. Vail and Aspen in partcular are great areas.
Personally though I like Tahoe...so much I bought a shared owndership condo in the Marriott - which must say something as I'm normally a cheapskate. OK it's a 3 1/2 hour drive up from San Frencisco, but it's usually got great weather (most storms are through in a couple of days, then back to blue skies), great snow (usually), incedible views skiing with the lake in the background and it's just that bit different with the casinos as apres-ski. As well as Heavenly, day trips to Squaw Valley and Kirkwood are worthwhile, plus there are quite a few other ski areas round the lake
Much as I like Whistler, I'm only going there since my daughter is studying in Vancouver and I'm adding it on to visits there. If I was paying a trans-atlantic fare just to go skiing I'd do Colorado or Tahoe in preference. And if you haven't skied in North America before, then I'd choose Colorado over Tahoe as a taster.
tvrolet said:
Like-for-like I'd choose going to Whistler over Europe every time - and off again at the end of January and probably end of February too. But as has been said, it can get real cold you can be without blue skies for quite long periods. My personal bug-bear of Whistler is later in the season when [hopefully] its a bit warmer and sunnier. Because it's 2 'triangular' shaped mountains, as the lower runs get slushy and tired you've lost a whole lot of skiing as you're funneled on to the narrower top portions of the mountains. I've not been since the peak-to-peak lift was put in, so at least you can get from mountain to mountain more easily. Plus I've never had the luck of the real feather-light powder you get in Colorado or California. Re your comment of visiting Seattle afterwards - do-able, and Crystal Mountan (maybe an hour's drive from Seattle?) has some good skiing too.
But if you've made the leap of considering North America, don't dicount the option of either Colorado or Tahoe. Fly in to Denver and it's few hours drive up to Summit County. Then do Vail, Copper Mountain, Beaver Creek, Arapahoe Basis, Aspen [Ajax] and Snowmass. Stay in/near Vail and all are drivable - Aspen is a bit of a trek, but still do-able for a day-trip. I know folks rave about Breckenridge, but I'd do all the aformentioned areas before I'd do Breck. Vail and Aspen in partcular are great areas.
Personally though I like Tahoe...so much I bought a shared owndership condo in the Marriott - which must say something as I'm normally a cheapskate. OK it's a 3 1/2 hour drive up from San Frencisco, but it's usually got great weather (most storms are through in a couple of days, then back to blue skies), great snow (usually), incedible views skiing with the lake in the background and it's just that bit different with the casinos as apres-ski. As well as Heavenly, day trips to Squaw Valley and Kirkwood are worthwhile, plus there are quite a few other ski areas round the lake
Much as I like Whistler, I'm only going there since my daughter is studying in Vancouver and I'm adding it on to visits there. If I was paying a trans-atlantic fare just to go skiing I'd do Colorado or Tahoe in preference. And if you haven't skied in North America before, then I'd choose Colorado over Tahoe as a taster.
Tahoe is another one, I've stayed in Heavenly as you say you can have sleepy California or Vegas within 50 meters. Only thing I noticed was the runs were quite short. Squaw and Kirkwood are great also.But if you've made the leap of considering North America, don't dicount the option of either Colorado or Tahoe. Fly in to Denver and it's few hours drive up to Summit County. Then do Vail, Copper Mountain, Beaver Creek, Arapahoe Basis, Aspen [Ajax] and Snowmass. Stay in/near Vail and all are drivable - Aspen is a bit of a trek, but still do-able for a day-trip. I know folks rave about Breckenridge, but I'd do all the aformentioned areas before I'd do Breck. Vail and Aspen in partcular are great areas.
Personally though I like Tahoe...so much I bought a shared owndership condo in the Marriott - which must say something as I'm normally a cheapskate. OK it's a 3 1/2 hour drive up from San Frencisco, but it's usually got great weather (most storms are through in a couple of days, then back to blue skies), great snow (usually), incedible views skiing with the lake in the background and it's just that bit different with the casinos as apres-ski. As well as Heavenly, day trips to Squaw Valley and Kirkwood are worthwhile, plus there are quite a few other ski areas round the lake
Much as I like Whistler, I'm only going there since my daughter is studying in Vancouver and I'm adding it on to visits there. If I was paying a trans-atlantic fare just to go skiing I'd do Colorado or Tahoe in preference. And if you haven't skied in North America before, then I'd choose Colorado over Tahoe as a taster.
I've heard it rains a lot at lower levels (seems when it's dumping snow up top, it's dumping rain lower down) and I hate skiing in the rain...
No first hand experience, but a number of people have raised the issue when I've asked them about Whistler.
I'd vote for Colorado (although I've enjoyed skiing in Banff/Lake Louise). Locals put us off Vail, they mostly seem to ski Breckenridge and Beaver Creek, which both have some incredible skiing (the Golden Eagle is up there near Kitzbuhel, I think), but I've not skied Vail personally so can't compare.
M.
No first hand experience, but a number of people have raised the issue when I've asked them about Whistler.
I'd vote for Colorado (although I've enjoyed skiing in Banff/Lake Louise). Locals put us off Vail, they mostly seem to ski Breckenridge and Beaver Creek, which both have some incredible skiing (the Golden Eagle is up there near Kitzbuhel, I think), but I've not skied Vail personally so can't compare.
M.
Edited by marcosgt on Monday 26th November 18:31
marcosgt said:
I've heard it rains a lot at lower levels (seems when it's dumping snow up top, it's dumping rain lower down) and I hate skiing in the rain...
No first hand experience, but a number of people have raised the issue when I've asked them about Whistler.
It all depends on the temperatures. It snows plenty in the village over the course of the seasons. On days when it's raining down low, we stay high on the mountain...No first hand experience, but a number of people have raised the issue when I've asked them about Whistler.
Edited by anonymous-user on Monday 26th November 18:31
Best place in the world for skiing IMO. - go!
It's somewhere where there is a place for all budgets, cheap digs out of town that are self catering, or fully pampered holiday at the four seasons hotel where you can walk 100metres to the lift and have someone else carry your skis and boots
It might be rainy at the bottom but that usually means it is snowing half way up the mountain
Plus - the canadian people (and other season workers) are nice. It takes a couple of days to get used to random people speaking you, saying hello and engaging in conversation without an ulterior motive to sell you something. And they aren't French....
It's somewhere where there is a place for all budgets, cheap digs out of town that are self catering, or fully pampered holiday at the four seasons hotel where you can walk 100metres to the lift and have someone else carry your skis and boots
It might be rainy at the bottom but that usually means it is snowing half way up the mountain
Plus - the canadian people (and other season workers) are nice. It takes a couple of days to get used to random people speaking you, saying hello and engaging in conversation without an ulterior motive to sell you something. And they aren't French....
Thanks for all the good info.
Looking at flights now and trying to find direct - which is harder than it sounds! Ideally MAN > VAN would be ideally but can shuttle down to LHR if needed.
Found a flight back to Iceland for £220 direct, then a couple of nights there and a £50 EasyJet to Manchester ...bargain!
I must say I prefer the North American choice and style of eating out to the French.
Anyone recommend digs in Whistler? budget would be around £1000 for a week for 2. Or more if it was worth it.
Looking at flights now and trying to find direct - which is harder than it sounds! Ideally MAN > VAN would be ideally but can shuttle down to LHR if needed.
Found a flight back to Iceland for £220 direct, then a couple of nights there and a £50 EasyJet to Manchester ...bargain!
I must say I prefer the North American choice and style of eating out to the French.
Anyone recommend digs in Whistler? budget would be around £1000 for a week for 2. Or more if it was worth it.
I've stayed in the Crystal Lodge in the heart of the village twice now, it's got everything you need in terms of room etc, there's a bar downstairs with a cheap Italian restaurant (spaghetti factory) I don't think they do breakfast in the hotel but there's literally 10-20 places that do breakfast when you fall out of the hotel. It's also a two minute walk to the Whistler gondola, Blackcomb gondola is about 10 mins but you could go up Whistler and grab the peak to peak.
I've also stayed in Creekside which is a mile or two from Whistler village, rented a huge house there with a group, ski in ski out but there isn't much nightlife there so we had to drive back to the village, creekside does have a chair up to Whistler mountain but you end up going back down to get back up if you can understand that.
HTH
I've also stayed in Creekside which is a mile or two from Whistler village, rented a huge house there with a group, ski in ski out but there isn't much nightlife there so we had to drive back to the village, creekside does have a chair up to Whistler mountain but you end up going back down to get back up if you can understand that.
HTH
a311 said:
PinkFatBunny said:
When does the ski season last til in Canada?
At a guess well into May as there is a glacier, not sure if this closes and re-opens which is common. OK just looked and glacier is open 23rd June to 29th July.The last few years there's been no shortage of snow late season.
Greg66 said:
The usual routine at Whistler is that towards the end of April some of the out lying lifts don't run. Then one mountain shuts down completely. When the glacier opens, the other shuts down completely. At the end of July, that's it until the following November.
The last few years there's been no shortage of snow late season.
Thanks for the infoThe last few years there's been no shortage of snow late season.
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