Whistler Blackcomb 2014-2015 — Official Thread
^ let me know if you want to ride! =)
Today was a good day for me, I even managed to take a selfie with a Whisky Jack!!!!
AN EPIC WEEKEND IN WHISTLER
I’m claiming the best weekend snow trip of my life. I was busy on Friday so Michelle took the car went to Whistler with Lucky (our dog) and without me, but Rhys came to the rescue and picked me up at 6am on Saturday morning. It was dark, wet, and cold—but my excitement level was sky-high. Not living in Whistler this season has really made me appreciate my days snowboarding. I can honestly say I don’t think I’ve ever enjoyed snowboarding quite as much as I have this year. Snowboarding can inherently be frustrating as our progression plateaus; sometimes it can even feel like we’ve taken a step backwards. I think everyone goes through this for different reasons and at different points. These days I just focus on having fun—not worrying about what other people are doing, not worrying about learning double corks—just enjoying being on a snowboard with fun people who share my passion for being in the mountains. I feel if you’re having fun and enjoying snowboarding, progression will come naturally. That’s when I progress the most.
Continuing with the story, we stopped in Squamish for the standard quick breakfast and coffee at Tim Horton’s, before making our way to Whistler. It was puking snow on the highway and there was clearly going to be a lot of fresh snow on the mountain. We got to Whistler super early, got ready at the car, and we were in line at Creekside Gondola for first lifts. Up we went.
As expected, the conditions were great. The groomers were soft, smooth, and fast. There was powder all over the sides of the groomers, and the trees were starting to develop a nice deep cover. I dipped in and out of the trees, spraying powder with every turn. We lapped a few times fast and hard before the weekend crowds made their way up the mountain. What an awesome start to the day. We eventually rode down to the village as the main chairs were starting to get backed up. We decided to go up Blackcomb which was clearly less busy. Up and up we went, all the way to the glacier. If the alpine is open on a day like today, well, that’s where we should be. This was one of the best decisions of the day. The glacier had a somewhat firm, semi deep cover that was really nice to turn down. It wasn’t quite the light fluffy powder you can get up here, but it was super fun to ride nonetheless.
From here, we continued down. Lulu was having a bit too much fun, riding perhaps a bit too fast, and had a really decent crash. She was such a trooper, spitting out blood and a part of her tooth, icing her sore knee for a couple of minutes, before riding down with the rest of us. Bruised and battered—but not down and out.
Back over to Whistler for the afternoon where we kept shredding until last lifts. By the end of the day it was absolutely puking again; snow was building up incredibly quick. I went through the same trees I rode in the morning, and my tracks were completely filled in. As exhausted as we were at the end of the day, we knew we were in for something special tomorrow.
The snow was coming down hard and the valley was getting covered. Lucky was loving it and the anticipation for tomorrow was steadily building. I want to say thanks to Finney for letting us crash for the night! Legend this dude is.
Continued below…
Continued…
I was up first thing in the morning to news of another 24cm overnight. As tired as I am, hearing about snowfall like that gets me out of bed super quick and the adrenalin starts pumping. I went outside, took some quick snaps, got ready, and went into the village. Rhys and Deano were up on Blackcomb, but I was itching to ride some of my spots on Whistler and also hoping they would open the alpine as Peak stayed closed due to winds the day prior. If it opened, it was going to be epic. The gondola lines were big, so I shot straight up Fitzsimmons and Garbanzo chairs—no line whatsoever.
The trees were deep, powder everywhere. Deano and Jacqui (Deano’s GF) decided to join me on Whistler. One thing I really enjoy is showing friends new spots, and possibly even pushing them a bit. Deano followed me through some of the trees and we also ended up riding Crabapple to the village—the run was closed and ungroomed but we took the risk anyway. Not too bad.
After a solid morning, all I wanted to do was go up Peak which was still shut. Still, the chairs were back on the lift and patrol stopped bombing. It was only going to be a matter of time. Dan was already in line, I talked Deano into joining me, and off we went to get in line at Peak chair.
The vibe was positive and the classic snowball fight ensued—which Deano and Dan were more than happy to join into. Given visibility wasn’t great, and Shale Slope seems to be a bit wind affected, we decided to head straight VD Trees. I’ve been waiting for the right conditions and I felt today was the day to do it. We made our way across the ridge and after a short hike, we were at the top of the trees. What happened next made my weekend. Just as I had thought, the trees were super deep and the run down was nothing short of spectacular. Big powder turns, pillow lines, and smiles on everyone’s faces. It was so deep that we got stuck towards the bottom where it flattens out a bit and we had to do a short hike out which is usually avoidable (whatever, it happens).
The weekend was finally catching up with me, and with the looming drive back to Vancouver, I decided to call it a day. I went up for one last run with Dan from the Roundhouse to the village, which was a super enjoyable run in itself.
We packed the car, Lucky jumped in, and we made our way back to Vancouver—not before the standard stop at Tim Horton’s for some energy food and a warm drink.
To everyone I got the pleasure of shredding with this weekend, and there were many of you: Thank you! There’s seriously nothing better than snowboarding with great friends who are all super positive and loving life because of the incredible mountains we have at our doorsteps. I can’t wait to do it with you again!
@rhys and Jez: I saw at whistler website, it was 20cm now it’s only 9cm. Let me know tomorrow if you wanna go or I might have to find a ride. 9cm maybe deceiving cuz lately the forecasts is a bit on the low side and the actually snow that fell was higher (e.g. sunday forecasted 12cm and it fell 24 cm).
Great report. Hopefully I’ll get the pleasure of riding Whistler with you one day. And maybe I can show you Sun Peaks or another mountain! 
Pillow lines and Tree lines… #frothing…
VD is the best on a pow day and especially if peak has been held off for a bit!
I just wish VD itself was longer. Lots of different ways to do it to extend though.
Super jelly
Got the #Nojez board ready and strapped and ready to go for tomorrow morning. Going to get to the vill about 8am, grab a coffee and a croissant and get in the line to go shred!
How did it handle the pow?
Awesome post mate, gets me so excited to come early April. We are only there for 12 days (MRS and I) and staying with Dan and Lu. Hopefully some snow left and hopefully get to do a it of backcountry as well, fingers crossed. So stoked for you guys, the snow looks insane.
PS i hate you Dan, all those Persher pow pics i was sending you in June/July to make you jealous, they are nothing hahaha
So it went from 20cm overnight to trace overnight tonight. So I am probably not gonna go tomorrow, unless they changed the forecast again.
Yeah snow-forecast is saying
It wasn’t too bad a day today!
Went up to Blackcomb glacier and 7th heaven as well as crystal…. hopefully we get a top up as I can hear the snow melting into water right now.
VD Trees is fucking epic, that run was the best snow i have ever ridden. Waist deep in some places. Whilst the hike out was killer. It was oh so worth it!
I have Christmas Day and Boxing Day off so im riding them.
Got the #Nojez board ready and strapped and ready to go for tomorrow morning. Going to get to the vill about 8am, grab a coffee and a croissant and get in the line to go shred!
How did it handle the pow?
yeh pretty good! I am interested to take my YES typo out in a similar sort of day depth wise to compare. My right quad was burning all day from leaning back though!
What board is it Dean?
It’s a Slash Happy Place.