Photo Essay: Snowboarding in Whistler, British Columbia
Whistler is a world class ski resort in British Columbia located about 125 km north of Vancouver. Though it has been a Canadian treasure for years, it gained huge international fame as the co-host of the successful Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics.
Whistler has consistently been voted among the top destinations in North America by major ski magazines since the mid-1990s, attracting over 2 million people annually. By many measures, Whistler-Blackcomb is the largest ski resort in North America with over 200 runs, 39 lifts and well over 8,000 acres of terrain.
The recent addition of the record breaking Peak-2-Peak gondola now connects Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains, giving skiers and snowboarders quick and easy access to both mountains, while also creating a popular tourist attraction for those that aren’t in to mountain sports.
We’ve put together a collection of photos that we snapped this past weekend (Jan 22, 2011) while snowboarding Whistler Mountain. We were fortunate to have the morning overcast replaced by a warm, blue bird afternoon, resulting in some fantastic photo opportunities and an awesome day on the mountain!
Whistler Peak – Highest peak in Whistler-Blackcomb at 2182 m (7160 ft.)
Skier picking his line from the top of Symphony Bowl on Whistler Mountain
Mid-Station and Peak Chair Lift on Whistler Mountain.
Blackcomb Mountain ski runs in the background.
Spectacular winter landscapes from the summit of Whistler Mountain
Nicole ready to ride Symphony Bowl
Endless beauty on a brilliant bluebird day in January
Views of Blackcomb Mountain from the Symphony Glades on Whistler Mountain
Symphony Bowl on Whistler Mountain. Unlimited space to play!
Feeding birds in the chair lift line
Glades on the backside of Whistler Mountain
Good times at the top of Whistler Peak
Symphony Bowl on Whistler Mountain
Ski Boundary on Whistler Mountain
The infamous Black Tusk – far right, the pointy peak in the distance
How to do you get to Whistler?
There are no commercial airports in Whistler, so if you are arriving by plane you will need to fly into Vancouver International Airport (YVR). There are buses, taxis and limo services that can transport you from Vancouver airport to Whistler Village.
The cost to take a limo or taxi from Vancouver to Whistler will probably run you between CDN$200-$400, and that’s only one way. We recommend hiring a rental car and driving yourself, but keep in mind that most Whistler hotels charge about $20 per night for parking. The Sea-to-Sky highway that connects Vancouver to Whistler has been given a complete renovation, making it very easy to drive (plus, it’s one of the most beautiful and scenic highways in Canada!).
If you don’t have a car or vehicle, you can easily catch a comfortable bus from multiple locations in Vancouver. For more information on transportation to Whistler, visit this website – Getting to Whistler from Vancouver
Thinking about a ski trip in Whistler?
If being close to the slopes is your primary concern, many Whistler resorts have timeshare complexes that offer ski-in/ski-out access from their luxury vacation condos. You can often rent these multi-bedroom timeshare condos for about the same cost as booking multiple hotel rooms
Have you visited Whistler? Where is your favourite ski resort?
Share your feddback in the comments section below!
What an awesome-looking mountain. If our time here until our RTW April isn’t already filled with ski trips to Tahoe with friends and relatives, we’d be really tempted to make a weekend ski trip north.
Favorite winter destination? Well, Yosemite and the Sierras of course!
Hey guys – thanks for stopping by!
Never been to Yosemite or Sierras but we’ve been thinking about doing a USA roadtrip that would include both. Likely in the summer months though, so we can camp.
We’ve never actually been snowboarding in the States, other than Mount Baker but that’s practically BC anyways.
If you like to ski/snowboard, there are few better places than Whistler. The Village life, entertainment and food is also top notch. Put it on your list! 😉
My brain and my fingers freeze only looking at these pictures, but I tweeted and stumbled.
Not a winter person I take it! 😉
I don’t know how to snowboarding so for me to ever get these type of shots is proably never. So glad I can see it from your post. They’re beautiful and seems like you guys had tons of fun at Whistler!
Thanks Sarah!
And yes, we did have tons of fun. It’s a great place to spend the weekend (we’re lucky to live so close!)
Great photos! I love that you can feed birds right on the lift line. Looks like an amazing place to ski and snowboard. Being adventurous Canucks, are you advanced snowboarders?
What great looking mountains. It looks like a fabulous place to hang out for a while.
I love the shot of the bird too. Amazing!
We were lucky to have the weather cooperate with us that day. A clear day opens it right up, giving you snow-capped mountains for miles in every direction. Amazing.
Whistler looks wonderful — have to ski there sometime. However, I have to admit that I’m just an intermediate type skier and a couple of the pics of Symphony Bowl look a little scary. I mostly ski at Northstar at Tahoe (really good skiers have referred to it as Flatstar, but it’s got plenty of challenges for me). We also love to stay at the kind of rustic ski-on/ski-off condos there – very comfortable.
Oh don’t worry about your ski level, there are so many runs and sections for all skill levels. These shots were from the peak and bowls, which you’d likely stay away from if it makes you nervous. Beginner to intermediate skiers would stick to about mid-mountian terrain, where there are loads of green runs and less vertical drop.
There are a lot of ski-in/ski-out accomodations on the mountain, but most of the rustic condos and cabins are located just outside the village. Hopefully you’ll get a chance to check it out someday – I’m confident you’d loved love it!
Hey guys, looks incredible. I’d do it just for the amazing views! Lucie and I haven’t felt the cold for well over a year now and I actually miss it. Will definitely put BC on my list and get there soon, particularly as my snowboard is building up dust…
Sounds great. Where are you guys now?
I’m a skier, but have sadly not made it to Whistler. Guess I got lazy living in Calgary with Banff and Lake Louise so close, but I really want to get there, I’ve heard it’s fantastic!
Wow! Spectacular photos! Too bad they didn’t have this much snow during the Olympics 😉
Thanks!
The snow up at Whistler was okay, it was the local mountains in Vancouver that we’re in big trouble. Warmest February in over 100 years! What are the chances of that?? Good times though
last year we drove up and did some back country skiing at the newly opened olympic nordic center. It was awesome. I can’t wait to go back.
Now, if the CDN dollar wasn’t parity and we could find another sick deal at the Fairmont…
We’re digging the CDN dollar being at parity! 😉
Did you stay at the Chateau Whistler? That’s a great hotel.
I don’t ski, or snowboard, but these pictures are fantastic. I love looking at mountain pictures, even though I perpetually complain about winter and the show. The feeing the bird shot is really cool.
The birds are pretty cool, but freaky. If you’re not aware of them (which many people are not), they will try to take your food if you’re snacking in the chair lift line. They are so used to people that they are not afraid. Sometimes they come at you pretty fast and scare the crap out of you!
exposure on snow and ice shots are tough — these (as usual) are great shots. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Michael
Want. to. go. NOW.
What an incredible looking place. Living in Missouri, we don’t get too many skiing/snowboarding opportunities, but we have been to Colorado several times to ski, and we LOVE it. I’d love to get up there sometime in the future.
And wow, those pictures are just awesome. The last one is my favorite. There’s just something about the ruggedness of snow-covered mountains. I just love them!!
Ya, I guess there’s not a lot of big mountain skiing in Missouri! Thanks for the kind words. We had a great subject 😉
This winter has been so snow packed (at least here in the east coast). That means it is a MUST for me to go skiing or snowboarding. Whistler looks really beautiful.
Get out there! 😉
OMG guys- gorgeous photos!!! i was getting chilly just looking at them, but on the other hand the place looks so beautiful it definitely seems worth bundling up for. and that bird photo?! unbelievable. i really want to try snowboarding!
Thanks Lorna! I got pretty lucky with the bird photo… it came in so fast, I was barely got the shot off in time!
the views are amazing, the photo of you feeding the bird is great. how did you do that
Thanks!
My favorite winter destination? Quebec, Canada. I wish I was there now for the winter carnaval.
My favorite pic above is the one of the bird. That’s one spoiled bird!
We have yet to make it to Quebec. I’ve heard a lot of great things about it, especially Quebec City. Hopefully soon! 😉
Whistler is literally one of my favorite places in the world. I have been snowboarding for years but I have to admit I was first introduced to Whistler on “College Weekend” when I bunch of underage college kids take advantage of the low Canadian drinking age and play in the snow.
I have visited multiple times per year and the couple of times I couldn’t afford a lift ticket were very sad but I have been able to snowboard AND enjoy the bar scene almost every visit.
We spent NYE 2008 and 2009 at Merlin’s Bar and met tons of great people!
I miss it!
Ah yes, good ol’ Merlins! Cheap jugs of beer and a mountainous serving of nachos… good times! We often stay in Upper Village so Merlins is our watering hole of choice.
Whistler’s such a cool place, we’ve actually been bouncing around the idea of relocating there. 🙂
Great shots. I just cross country skied for the first time last weekend at the Callaghan Valley and was super impressed by what it had to offer. Close to Whistler (13 kms away) but if felt like a different world.
I’ve heard it is a fantastic course. I’ve been meaning to give it a go for a while but can’t seem to find the time. The last time I went cross country skiing was probably 15 years ago though, so I’ll need a tune up!
Amazing photos my friends. You look like you’re having the time of your lives. I love the photo of feeding bird while in line..incredible shot…such grace and poise frozen in time in a memorable pic!! Great job!!!!
Thanks Jeff! I’m very happy with how that bird feeding picture turned out. Literally a split second and he was gone.
Absolutely STUNNING photos of Whistler! Wow!!! 🙂 You delighted this Canadian’s heart with these images today. 🙂
Thanks Krista! It was another fun day on the slopes 😉
Gorgeous! There is nothing like the beauty of snow covered mountains. It seems like you can truly find those places of isolation at the top of the world, it would seem.
Indeed! Thanks for stopping by Suzy 🙂
Hi guys, great pics….I can never stop looking at pics of snow!
I’m a fellow snowboarder that is used to the slopes in europe, but Im heading round the world in April and the first stop is Vancouver. I am hoping to do a bit of boarding while I am out there and saw this site!! (grovel!!)
Do you have any tips on places to stay, or even things to do other than snowboarding?? Also, with the poor Feb whether last year, hows things looking at the moment….a white long season?
Thanks
Awesome! Sorry for the late response… yes, we have lots of recommendations! Send us a note through the contact form.
Cheers!
Gorgeous photos… I’m definitely going to have to get to Whistler sometime and complete my review of Canadian ski fields…
I’m new to Canada – you have it so good here in terms of snow!
Great photos guys! LOVE the one with the bird!
Thanks Aaron! Yeah, the bird photo turned out great. We got lucky on that one 🙂
You guys actually make me want to ski…I’m a surf gal! Great shots!
Thanks! We’ve surfed a few times… it’s certainly not an easy sport! 😉
Amazing photos, guys! Unfortunately ski terrifies me!
Thanks Dina!
The mountain can be quite intimidating at times, but you can always take it slow and practice on the bunny hills 😉
Oh, these pictures are wonderful! Making me a bit homesick, there, thanks guys 😉
That’s one downside of always being on the road, I guess – you miss out on the wonderful perks of being home 😉
Thanks for the pics, I enjoyed them!
Indeed! This was our first full winter season back in Vancouver in 2 years. As much as we love traveling, there’s no place like home! 🙂
I’m excited to check Whistler out when I visit Vancouver for TBEX! Good times 🙂
Not to over sell it, but you’re going love Whistler!
It’s just as awesome in the summer months, in fact, its pretty awesome all year around 🙂
We were there in early June 2010. What a beautiful place – the downhill bike riders had taken over the ski lift and the slopes – a great idea. After going to the top we sat in the sun at an outside bar area in the village surrounded by flowering plants and had some drinks. It was very special. I think it is more magical in winter after seeing your photos though. Jan