Whistler Blackcomb 2014-2015 — Official Thread
WHISTLER BLACKCOMB 2014-2015 — OFFICIAL THREAD
The new Whistler Village Gondola. Photo: Mitch Winton
This is the official 2014-2015 thread for all things Whistler. Please introduce yourself, tell us your plans, and share your stories, photos, and videos as the season goes on. Please feel free to ask any questions and ask for advice — we are here to help! I’m looking forward to catching up with old friends and making a lot of new friends.
New members: Boardworld is a super friendly community and new members are always welcome! Many of us know each other on here, but it’s only because of the forums. Don’t be shy. Register an account and get on it. The more, the merrier. 
We just received the official news we were waiting for. With the favourable pre-season conditions, Whistler Mountain is opening five days ahead of schedule, this Saturday, November 22nd. There have been significant snowfalls in the alpine and it’s looking good to go.
Just some words of advice: Please be careful during the early season. Whistler Blackcomb has a lot of exposed areas, and early season injuries are not uncommon. Use common sense, take it easy, slowly build up your strength, and let Mother Nature fill in the exposure before you go crazy.
OK, let’s start with a roll call. Who is going to be in Whistler this season? Who’s shredding on opening day?
Short URL for this thread: http://bit.ly/whistler1415
If you’re visiting Whistler, please join this Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/boardworldwhistler/
While we wait, here’s last season’s When in Whistler episodes…
WHEN IN WHISTLER — 2013-2014
Presented by BOARDWORLD
PRESS RELEASE:
WHISTLER BLACKCOMB OPENING AHEAD OF SCHEDULE SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 22
Cold Temperatures Make Early Opening Possible
WHISTLER, BC November 18, 2014 – Much to the delight of eager skiers and snowboarders, Whistler Blackcomb will be opening five days ahead of schedule on Saturday, November 22. The decision to kick off the winter season early was made possible after natural snowfall at higher elevations was followed by a streak of below average temperatures, providing prime conditions for snowmaking.
“Our snowmaking team has been working hard to take advantage of this early season cold snap in Whistler and has converted over 60 million gallons of water into snow over the past few weeks,” says Doug MacFarlane, Director of Mountain Operations at Whistler Blackcomb. “Their efforts, combined with the natural snowfall we have already received at higher elevations, has enabled us to get things rolling early again this year. And with more natural snow in the forecast for later this week, it should be a fun opening weekend.”
Whistler Mountain will be opening five days ahead of schedule on Saturday, November 22 with five lifts running. Guests will have the option to upload from either the base of Whistler Mountain via the Whistler Village Gondola, featuring brand new cabins, or the Creekside base via the Creekside Gondola. Blackcomb Mountain will open, as scheduled, on Thursday, November 27, 2014.
“With all the excitement of opening day, we want to remind guests early season conditions will apply, especially off piste,” says MacFarlane. “It is important to obey all mountain signage, ski and ride on open runs only and stay within the operational area marked by ‘Temporary Boundary’ signage.”
First upload on the Whistler Village Gondola and Creekside Gondola will begin at 8:30am, with last upload at 2pm on November 22, with mandatory download off the mountain. Emerald Express, Big Red Express and the Franz Chair lifts will be running, allowing access to 1800 vertical feet of skiing and riding terrain. Runs set to open include Upper and Lower Ego Bowl, Upper Whiskey Jack, Upper Franz’s, Papoose, Orange Peel and Pony Trail. There will also be a small terrain park accessible from the top of the Emerald Express chair and green learning terrain serviced by a Super Carpet at Olympic Station. Guests can keep updated on the most current lift status information at http://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/the-mountain/lifts-and-grooming or from mobile devices via the Whistler Blackcomb LIVE app, powered by TELUS.
Opening day guests will have the first chance to experience the brand new Whistler Village Gondola cabins installed this fall. The new Sigma “Diamond” level walk-in cabins dramatically improve the experience for skiers, snowboarders, and sightseers with eight passengers able to sit comfortably on bench seating. The new cabin configuration also gives guests the option of bringing their ski/snowboard equipment inside with them or storing it themselves in the outside racks provided.
Opening day will be the first time skiers and riders at Whistler Blackcomb will experience the benefits of the newly introduced RFID technology around the mountains, including mountain access gates at most lifts. Guests are reminded to store their new RFID Access Cards in a left-side pocket away from cell phones, credit cards and foil in order to reduce signal interference at the access gates. For more information about RFID at Whistler Blackcomb, visit http://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/rfid.
Whistler Mountain dining locations set to open on November 22 include Essentially Blackcomb Cappuccino Bar and Garbo’s Grill in the Carleton Lodge, Dusty’s Bar & Grill and Dusty’s Backside in Creekside, the Roundhouse Lodge on Whistler Mountain, and the Garibaldi Lift Co., Whistler’s world-famous location for après.
Whistler Blackcomb Guest Relations in Whistler Village is currently operating daily from 9am to 5pm. The Blackcomb Day Lodge and Creekside Guest Relations will also be open from 9am to 5pm daily beginning Wednesday, November 19. All three locations will be open from 9am to 7pm on Friday, November 21 and from 7am to 5pm on Saturday, November 22. From November 23 onwards only the Village and Creekside Guest Relations will operate daily from 8am to 5pm until Wednesday, November 26 when the Blackcomb Day Lodge will open again in preparation for Blackcomb Mountain opening for skiing/riding on November 27. The Hours of Operation for all Guest Relations locations can be found at http://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/the-mountain/hours-of-operation.
Beginning November 22, Whistler Blackcomb’s Snow Report will be updated daily throughout the season and can be accessed online or by calling 604-932-4211 in Whistler, 604-687-7507 in Vancouver, or toll-free at 1-800-766-0449.
Soooo who’s coming riding on sat? I have work at midday but will hopefully get a few turns in before. Then you should all come get loose at Longhorn and buy me sneaky shots…
I’m shooting a little edit on opening day for BW, anyone want a cameo? :D
I am DOWN. can’t bloody wait!
yes Dan ill happily appear in your edit
I think we are going to be there for opening day too. I’ll let you guys know our plan as soon as I know. So Dylan, you going to line up at 4am for us? 
I’m down for a cameo. I vote Dylan walks down from staff and lines up for us.
I’m down! Jez or Rhys can you let me know ASAP when you guys are leaving cuz I need to buy a shuttle ticket if I can’t get a ride with you guys.
Skip, I forgot alysha has work till 6pm Friday so theres no real benefit going up friday so thinking saturday (i.e 6am departure). guest services open 8am so want to be there easily before. Hopefully people (Dylan + Jez) will be in the que and we can get her pass done before lifts open at 8:30am.
I’m down for a cameo. I vote Dylan walks down from staff and lines up for us.
Down from staff or up from Longhorns?
I’m down for a cameo. I vote Dylan walks down from staff and lines up for us.
Down from staff or up from Longhorns?
What? 
Yesss, thanks Rhys. Just texted you.
Thanks Dylan you’re a champ! hahaha might want to take a sleeping bag to keep warm, or just stay drunk.
Ugh, dayam they’re always opening early. I won’t get to Van until the 10th, so I’ll see most of you folks then. =)