[F1EA]

Is it too early? Am I allowed to start these?

Been having dreams of snow lately. Apparently Rossland BC snowed 3 overnight in the past week. Whistler/Blackcomb has snowed at peak.

Epic Pass price got jacked up to $939 USD, unfortunately. Still bit the bullet.

Yup, it's happening. Lots of snow at higher elevations and interior BC already.

 

[F1EA]

Yo where tf is WB's marketing? I'm craving myself some Magnetic 2 or smth

It's been a slow season in terms of videos and stuff. Haven't seen a lot of big name videos coming out. Other than Manboys, and even they I think are no longer 'sponsored' by Whistler. I think they were last yr., so maybe some marketing budgets are getting cut...

 

[F1EA]

Did anyone brave opening weekend at Whistler? How's it looking?

I went opening day.

Was good and fun. It's looking pretty bad, but the ride is better than it looks... I didn't go today because I had some stuff to do. Might go tomorrow...

 

[F1EA]

Right on, I think I'm going to head up on Monday or Tuesday for my first day. I'll make sure to bring the rock board. Was it pretty busy with American Thanksgiving?

The overall mountain was not busy at all. Practically no lineups and plenty of parking everywhere. BUT the runs are crowded (because there's only a handful of runs open)... mostly with very beginning beginners. I rode Whistler side, maybe Blackcomb was better...

No real need for a rock board, unless you want to venture and explore, which is not very wise anyways because there is VERY little cover. So for the most part, just stay on the groomed runs and there's sufficient cover there to not need a rock board.

 

[F1EA]

Right on, I think I'm going to head up on Monday or Tuesday for my first day. I'll make sure to bring the rock board. Was it pretty busy with American Thanksgiving?

The overall mountain was not busy at all. Practically no lineups and plenty of parking everywhere. BUT the runs are crowded (because there's only a handful of runs open)... mostly with very beginning beginners. I rode Whistler side, maybe Blackcomb was better...

No real need for a rock board, unless you want to venture and explore, which is not very wise anyways because there is VERY little cover. So for the most part, just stay on the groomed runs and there's sufficient cover there to not need a rock board.

I went up today and sounds like pretty similar conditions. Before 10am runs were pretty open but after that it was a lot of dodging. Didn't hit a single line all day. Didn't even have a fully loaded chair all day, I could get use to that haha. The open runs between the ropes is well filled in but I went for a few ventures despite the low tide. Hiked the harmony bowl which was great for the top but the ride out and one little Traverse area chewed my board pretty good. Felt it the rest of the day... I'd recommend waiting a little longer for that area unless you're okay with chewing your rock board up haha. Blackcomb was less busy but still lots to dodge. Snowing lightly in the village at the moment so maybe we'll get a little refresh for tomorrow. Feels good to be back!

Ouch. Yeah everything mid mountain with no man-made snow is skull and bones.

I went Sunday again and it was the same; zero crowds but crowded runs. Not bad either way. Good time to get the legs back...

Lots of snow on the way this week though, so hopefully things fill up a bit.

 

[F1EA]

The Tide is Low...

 

[F1EA]

Thu was awesome, had some seriously deep pow and sweet powder turns once they opened Harmony and all the way til the end of the day...

Fri was a shit-show, and I may have contributed to it as I was riding with my 5 y/o who was pizza and french-frying the hell out of them groomers. And me falling-leafing and switch riding to keep him in my sights That said, he never once made for any of the lifts to stop. Great success. But my calves are dead and everything hurts.

Shane's photo up there ^^ tells the story of today (Fri). The lineup at main Village gondola was about the same.

Riding Sat again, but I don't have much hope as it's likely going to be incredibly busy and it was raining at the base all day.

 

[F1EA]

Extreme avalanche rating for Sea to Sky today - don't see that everyday

Latest forecast for Sea to Sky

Latest forecast for Sea to Sky

www.avalanche.ca

And you better believe it. It's crazy. Plus 70 kph wind gusts. There was NO CHANCE of alpine lifts opening today.

 

[F1EA]

Did anyone crack that Peak and Symphony opening yesterday? Must have been epic.....

 

[F1EA]

Big white and Revy were unreal! Pretty much 0 lines the whole trip besides when the Revy gondola broke down on Saturday. The snow was nice light powder and had fresh every day except Friday. The colder temps were pretty tolerable with a couple extra layers. 6 full days of snowboarding in a week is a new record for me! No injuries and shoulder feels great. Powder chair on Big White and a couple Revy hikes were the highlights. Lapping the stoke chair on Thursday was pretty epic too. Lucked out with powder days and sunny periods on both mountains.

Ah the land of pow and no crowds.........

 

[F1EA]

You get to try one board at a time, as many boards as you can as long as you can bring it back before 2. They can help set up the bindings if you like. No idea about inventory.

Also Showcase does demo/rentals. Not sure if it's for all the brands they carry or only for Burton.

 

[F1EA]

Discuss.

Whistler COO says Vail Resorts is listening to criticism

Haha by now it's got about 5,000 signatures in 7days...

I always thought the whole Vail 'merger' was a mistake. But... until there's a comparable resort at a comparable distance to Vancouver; there's no choice.

Anyways, the place is just too damn crowded. So for all I care, let it continue in decline so that people go elsewhere.

 

[F1EA]

Has anyone been up this weekend? Mostly skiied out hard pack or is there still some stashes to be found? I haven't been up in a while so I'm out of the loop.

I went on Sat. There were some leftovers. Nothing outstanding, but also it wasn't bad. There was enough fresh left to have some fun... zero lift lines too.

Rode Seymour today with my kiddos. Similar case, some leftovers here and there but fun and not too crowded.

I'll wait until new snow falls. Or if not, hopefully it's sunny and I'll go with the kids...

 

[F1EA]

Anyone riding Whistler this week? Has been ok conditions the last two days but wed and Thurs look promising, got both my k2's ready to go, will probably be doing fresh tracks Thursday View attachment 153078

Wed, Thu and Fri all look like good days. Thu looks like they might not open much in the alpine, but... there's always surprises.

I think I'm going Fri, dropping my kid off at Blackomb base for a day w his school. But whether I go depends on if get rid of this damn cold.... been in bed for 2 days already so I should be back to life by Thu. I'll know by Thursday if I can make it, i'll send you a PM if I'm going...

 

[F1EA]

Today, Seymour and Grouse both threw in the towel. That's it for the lower mainland, I guess.

And Big White. And Revelstoke. And Panorama. And Manning Park.

It's over. We lose.