Author Archive

In light of the recent Canucks disappointment, and as the great man said; “You miss 100 percent of the shots you never take.” -Wayne Gretzky. Without the courage, and perhaps insanity, to try something without a guarantee that it will be a successful endeavor, we can never really know for sure what we can achieve.

We all know what we gave up and what we gained from moving to Whistler. At some point 90% of us relocated here, whether for 6 months, 6 years or eternity, and never looked back. Well, some of them did, but that’s another story. Whistler has so much to offer in terms of work/life balance, opportunities in many industries, amazing culture (après included), and a year round ‘fantasy land’ reputation. Those of us fortunate enough to call this place home are surely in the 1% in terms of life happiness.

Sometimes, things come into our lives that shake it up a bit; a job opportunity, a lover, the travel bug, to name a few. These things should not just be ignored because of complacent satisfaction in the current situation, for as the age old saying goes, You Live Only Once.

Ladies, showing the world how Spring skiing is done, Whistler style

There will be opportunities, there will be changes, and I advise you, even if it seems tough, to seize them. Try something different, travel somewhere new, love someone else, work in a different country, because I guarantee it will solidify your relationship with Whistler and help you to recognize what made you fall in love with this place in the first instance.

Not saying at everyone feels like that, there’s thousands of people that are 100% happy and satisfied all the time here, and that’s not only frickin’ amazing but a testament to the awesome surroundings. However, some people may be more inclined to want for change, and when it comes, don’t be scared to take it, to run with it, to try it, to succeed or to fail at it. It’s all part of life, and learning and perhaps eventually, that road and journey will lead right back to where you started form.. Here.

Absolute perfection

After almost 7 years in Whistler, from boot fitting at Can-Ski, Wine Directing at the Chophouse and 3 years at the best company in town, Watermark Communications, I am heading south to try something new. I’ve always been a bit of a travel fiend, having grown up moving around, and love a new adventure, so San Francisco seems to have my name all over it. Why not head to a country where getting a work visa is tougher than the Canucks getting into the Stanley Cup finals (ouch, too soon?), where the economy is crashing faster than a Aussie on a 4-day bender, and where yearly rent, food, and living expenses are more than the National Debt. Why not? Because its an adventure, because I want to see where Kerouac was inspired, discover the Napa Valley, trail run Marin Headlands, walk the Golden Gate Bridge in the fog, listen to amazing live music, attend dance classes, try a new job in a booming industry, surf in Santa Cruz on my weekends, foster a new relationship, and so much more. I want to try, because if I don’t try at all then I’ll never know if I can succeed.

New beginnings

I’ve had absolutely the Time of My Life here in Whistler and it will ALWAYS be home, and I know I’ll be back (multiple times.. You can’t get rid of me that easily) but I just want to thank the Whistler Is Awesome crew, especially Michelle Leroux and Jeremy Postal for giving me the opportunity to be Miss Whis and spew words all over your computer screen, and for believing in me despite my connection to Australia. Cheers mates!

I want to thank Mountain Life Mag, namely FEET BANKS and Todd Lawson for also giving me a chance and supporting my mediocre writing skills. You’ve been not only great editors and mentors but great friends. I hope to keep working with you guys in the future!

A big Froning sized bear hug to my family at Crossfit Whistler. I know I’m loud, I know I dance at inappropriate times, I know I’m not the best, the worst, or the favourite, but you guys have all made me feel very appreciated and pushed me to do my absolute best during my 2 years at Crossfit, and I hope to bring a bit of Whistler to the San Fran box. You know, show ‘em how it’s done..

Huge ups to coaches Jordan, Jayde and Rob; thanks for all your support and perseverance. I am amazed at my improvement and it’s all because of you guys.

Cheers to my amazing team at Watermark, to Sue and Jasmine, JJ and Amy, Rob and Jaime, Kevani and Mei, Esther and Lilli; you guys have been my family and my mentors for the past 3 years. Being in your presence and working on the World Ski and Snowboard Festival and Cornucopia has taught me more than I could imagine and you’ve become unquestionably the best team and the best job I will probably ever have. This isn’t the end..

Watermark crew on the closing day of WSSF 2013

Last but not least, all my FRIENDS. You know who you are, and you’ve made the reasons why I’ve stayed in Whistler so pertinent. You guys have been the rocks on which we’ve all built lives here and I promise I’ll be back, more often than you’d like probably.

If anyone’s in San Francisco, please look me up, I’ll probably still be unemployed and have a bunch of time on my hands so we can hang out!

Peace Whistler, it’s been an absolutely pleasure. Jess Xox

“20 years from now you will be disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the one’s you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain

It’s a tale as old as time… Two dapper young men, Adam Teolis and Brian Bower, from the streets of soggy Ontario, bound to their homeland through labour intensive restaurant management work, determined to make it big, no matter what. A fleeting taste of the good life, powder face shots, long and challenging runs, an après scene like no other, and the boys were hooked, line and sinker. They knew, they just knew that Whistler was the place for them. But instead of resting on their laurels, enjoying the fruits of Mother Nature, like many new ski and snowboard addicts will find themselves doing; these two intrepid boys from the East surged forward. A vision to bring style, comfort and steeze to the slopes had been clouding their minds for many years past and now was their opportunity to see their concept come to fruition. From the facial warming ‘flandana’ (flannel bandana) concept of 2011, to the present day Winter Season of 2012/2013, TBApparel started making its mark on the West coasts’, nay, North America’s premier ski resort, Whistler Blackcomb. Production for the debut catalogue came from all over the world and it was a huge success selling through Evolution in Whistler, online and person-to-person.

TBA is currently marketing aggressively, as to be expected from such vivacious and determined characters, through the upcoming World Ski and Snowboard Festival (WSSF) held annually in Whistler.  Involvement in several events including the Olympus 72 Hour Filmmaker Showdown, Spring Fling at Tommy Africa’s, Evolution’s skateboard competition, The Inflatable’s Party with Outfunya at The Longhorn Saloon, and Fashion EXPOSED Swagger. Read more

In such a small town, with so many passionate, but transitional, workers, visitors and guests, it comes as no surprise that news travels fast, and often changes its tune at the drop of a toque. Rumours run rampent and are often misinterpreted, miscommunicated and misunderstood. Thus, it sometimes become apparent that someone needs to step forward and either quash or rectify the situation. So, here we are!

The World Ski and Snowboard Festival was created 18 years ago to increase the appeal of Whistler Resort during the then-quiet April shoulder season.

Today, the Festival has brought the month of April well into the folds of Whistler’s peak winter season, and has made Whistler by all accounts the busiest resort in the world during this month.

Here, we will delve into the intricate background and FAQ’s that people have about this wonderfully magical time of year. I urge you to submit any other questions, queries and conundrums and we will endeavour to smooth out the creases as best we can.

1. The Festival is not happening this year becuase TELUS is no longer the title sponsor. – This is a hard NO. The Festival, now known as the World Ski and Snowboard Festival (or WSSF, or just The Festival) is definitely going ahead, April 12-21, 2013. The Festival is still in partnership with other major sponsors including Olympus, Dose.ca, Monster Energy, Coca Cola and Bud Light, as well as community, hotel and media sponsors locally and nationally. Read more

The World Ski and Snowboard Festival relies on about 300 amazing and tireless volunteers to pull off one of the largest and most exciting festivals in North America every year. Amongst the Operations, Music, Media, Alpine and Accreditation volunteers are the creative cats of the bunch; the volunteer Bloggers and Photographers. These are coveted positions, covering the festival from the inside out, and getting involved and up close at every twist and turn. And in a fortunate turn of events for 2013, there are still 2 or 3 blogging positions open and available to a select souple of amazing and dedicated writers!

This is a great chance to connect with the Festival attendees, staff and other volunteers, whilst honing your blogging skills and getting along to a number of parties, contests and events! Ideally you should be located in Whistler for the duration of the festival (April 12-21) and be available to cover a variety of events from arts to sports to music. Individuality and humour is much appreciated and we like, short, snappy and passionate blog posts, preferably once a day, but schedule and requests will be taken into consideration.

Interested parties should send a writing sample, and your contact details, along with any queries, to Laura at lgallant@whistlerblackcomb.com or Jess at jsmith@watermarkinc.ca to be considered for the position(s).

“So much to write and say/Yo, I don’t know where to start/So I’ll begin with the basics and flow from the heart” – Nas, “Loco-Motive”

For the last 18 years, the World Ski and Snowboard Festival (or, the festival formerly known as TELUS..), has been the ultimate season-ender party for skiers, snowboarders, photographers, filmers, artists and party animals alike. It marks the culmination of the last 6 months of shredding, hiking, shooting, drinking, sledding, creating, editing, and surviving. It pays homage to the tireless number of early mornings, late nights, first chairs and last calls. It brings the pros out to play on the Big Air and Slopestyle courses, provides a dancefloor at the base of the mountain, celebrates all that is awesome about mountain life and specifically about Whistler. At a time when most mountain resorts are shutting down, restaurants and bars are closing, people are being laid off and the skis are being hung up for the Summer, well, Whistler is still kicking it hard.

Michael Franti at WSSF 2012. Village going off!

The World Ski and Snowboard Festival returns April 12-21 and we don’t do things by halves. We also don’t do them quietly, so be prepared for a raucous 10 days of non-stop action; whatever your pleasure. For the first time in a long time, we hope not to hear the words “Can’t you bring the Black Eyed Peas back?”, NO; that was so 6 years ago! THIS year we’ve got NAS, K-OS, ARKELLS, QUESTLOVE, BEATS ANTIQUE, ANUHEA, SWOLLEN MEMBERS and more. Get stoked! Read more

The 18th annual World Ski and Snowboard Festival is rolling around quicker than ever this year! (either that, or time’s just flying faster with every year we age.). All of a sudden it will be April and the first signs of Spring will have sprung. We have just over one short month until the biggest party of the year arrives, and we can’t wait! The festival is the ultimate season-ender bash, with 10 days of free music concerts, arts shows, film and photo competitions, fashion show, skiing and snowboarding competitions and so much more. For anyone who hasn’t lived through WSSF before, you are in for a treat!

The festival will be held April 12-21, 2013 and organisers are urging everyone to get their tickets to popular events such as the Olympus 72hr Filmmaker Showdown (April 16th sold out, April 17th still available), Olympus Pro Photographer Showdown (sold out), Intersection, Bud Light Silent Disco, The END, and more! The schedule is online HERE and tickets can be purchased HERE.

If you’ve experienced a few WSSF’s, you’re new to town and want to meet more people, you’re interested in events, you love socialising or you simply want to get the ultimate festival experience, then you should really consider volunteering. The festival employs over 300 volunteers annually to assist with everything from logistics and operations, security, blogging and photography, media accreditation, on-hill action, music coordination, sponsor activation and more! The volunteers really are the cogs in this well-oiled machine, and truly make every thing happen at ground level. Without them, the organisers would be spluttering messes, fuelled only by Bud Light and Monster Energy. Not a pretty sight. So, please don’t let the hard-working team at WSSF lose momentum, or inspiration; come along and volunteer for the festival of a lifetime! There’s an awesome volunteer party and swag giveaways at the end of the festival, plus you’ll make a slew of new friends, learn about the event industry, connect with the right people and generally have a blast! At a time when things are slowing down in the village, the WSSF is here to inject a massive dose of fun, excitement and passion back into Whistler. We’d love it if you could join us!

There will be a volunteer recruitment evening in mid-March at the GLC (Beer!); date and time TBA. To learn more about volunteering, and to sign up, click HERE.

This attitude can take its toll. It’s fun, exhilarating, spontaneous, usually alcohol soaked, but exhausting.

The Whistler lifestyle encourages constant activity. If you’re not skiing or snowboarding, you should be at yoga, at CrossFit, skate-skiing Lost Lake, running the valley trail, biking, at the gym, show-shoeing, or at the very least après-ing. Maintaining a social life in Whistler is a skill, and perhaps a job, of its own, and if you’re working a full-time or multiple jobs, as most of us are, then you’ve probably found that sleep is taking a backseat in favour of other more vigorous activities, and generally keeping your social life in tip top shape.

There are, however, a few tricks to get the most out of your day and essentially ‘re-set’ your body clock for the best performance possible.

According to an article in the Sydney Morning Herald, these are the most appropriate times for certain activities;

By the clock

7am Try for a baby. Hormone levels are highest and sperm counts peak. Blood pressure also rises, making it easier for you to get out of bed and walk around.

9am Schedule a surgical procedure. Medical staff are likely to be less fatigued.

10am Study for or sit an exam. You’re most alert from 10-11am; the brain is most rested. Get your blood pressure and cholesterol checked. Their levels can vary throughout the day but high-morning readings are more likely to indicate a health problem.

Noon Take medication. Joint pain, such as osteoarthritis, peaks in the afternoon and evening. Take medication about lunchtime to give it time to work. Negotiate a tricky deal. According to Kennedy, this is the best time for an argument because verbal reasoning skills peak about noon.

1-2pm Visit the dentist. Research shows that local anaesthetics last three times longer if given between 1pm and 3pm, and our pain threshold is at its highest.

2-3pm Take a nap. Your metabolism slows between 2pm and 3pm and this is when our bodies are programmed for a short sleep. ”Human beings are designed to have two sleeps: one nocturnal sleep and one short 20-40-minute nap in the middle of the day,” Kennedy says.

Mid-day snow nap - GoldenBikeShop.com

4-6pm Exercise. More Olympic records have been broken in the late afternoon than at other times. Lung capacity is at its maximum and core temperature is raised, speeding nerve impulses and improving co-ordination. Research shows that strength and endurance climb about 5 per cent between 4pm and 8pm, compared with morning hours, so you can push yourself harder. Your muscles are warmer, too, which will help you avoid injury. ”There is more risk of heart attack early in the morning, so older people, especially, should exercise towards the end of the day,” Kennedy says.

5-7pm Chow down on carbohydrates. Refuel energy stores up to two hours after exercising and your muscles will thank you. Your muscles can best take up energy consumed and your body is less likely to store kilojoules as fat. This is also the ideal time to enjoy a glass of wine because your liver is more able to metabolise the alcohol.

10pm Enjoy some horizontal dancing! Libidos hit their peak in the late evening.

Stay social: Crystal Hut apres - Whistler.com

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/diet-and-fitness/reset-your-body-clock-20120206-1r0h6.html#ixzz1ldjDEn3X

It’s that time of year again. The mild temperatures have melted some of the snow in the valley, the tree branches are tentatively poking their heads out from under their winter-long cover, and the smell of Spring is in the air. With Spring, comes sunshine, patio apres, and WSSF. The World Ski and Snowboard Festival is the flagship Whistler event, combining world-class skiing and snowboarding competitions with the largest free outdoor concert series in North America, cultural and lifestyle events to amaze and inspire, endless apres and nighttime events from sponsors Bud Light  and Monster Energy, and so much more. WSSF celebrates all that is incredible about this awesome town, and draws crowds from all over the continent, giving us a chance to show the world how lucky we are to live in such a rad environment.

Since many of us have experienced a number of WSSF festivals, most of us know which events we’re planning on going to, and which nights we need to schedule off work in advance. But since there’s also over 2.1 million yearly visitors and seasonal workers, there’s a whole slew of people who are unaware that the premiere events will sell out in a matter of days, and that you need to go in with a game plan in order to come out on top at the END.

To give you all a fair warning and a heads up, the E-STORE (online ticket store; imperitive to your whole WSSF experience) opens TODAY. Yes, today. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.

Every year the Olympus 72hr Filmmaker Showdown is the first event to sell out, because it’s a combination of local flavour, humour, intrigue, filmmaking prowess, disasters, and time-sensitive creativity. With only 3 days to film and edit a 3-5 minute short film that is good enough to win the huge $10,000 Best in Show prize, this is not a competition for the faint of heart and uneducated. Anyone can enter, you don’t even need to register in advance, but only one team will walk away victorious. Actually, that’s not quite true. As previously mentioned, tickets to the 72hr Filmmaker Showdown are the most highly coveted tickets available, so the organisers on the festival took some advice from the desperate, tearful crowds that missed out on tickets from years past, and have added a second night to the schedule. The orginal night, Tuesday April 16, will show all 10 finalists and the Best in Show award will be presented, and then all 10 films will be re-screened on Wednesday April 17 and a People’s Choice award of $5,000 will be handed out on that evening. This gives everyone a chance to attend one of the most highly anticipated filmmaking events of Whistler’s calendar year and see two teams leave the Whistler Conference Centre and head straight to the bar, $10K and $5K richer.

Another event that sells out exasperatingly quickly is the Olympus Pro Photographer Showdown. Showcasing action sports photographers bodies of work from their lifetime collection, Pro Photo is a visually inspiring evening of spectacular photographic creativity. Whistler breeds and nurtures action and extreme sports athletes, and accomplished videographers, creative souls and forward thinkers. To cater for this proliferation of talented individuals, Intersection was created. Armed with POV cameras and 7 days, action sports teams set out to create a 5-7 minute film that embodies the snow-sports culture in Whistler. Featuring on-snow footage, terrain-park footage, and all within 100km of Whistler, this is the ultimate showdown of skiing, shredding and filmmaking talent. The teams will sweat, they will yell, they will probably cry. But they will keep their eyes on the prize of $15,000 and the bragging rights of Best in Show at Intersection 2013! If you haven’t been to this event before, you are missing out on a true assault on the senses. Get your tickets, Now!

So, don’t just sit their thinking about what you’re going to do for lunch today, who’s going to win the Superbowl this weekend (the 49ers, by the way..), or whether March madness will happen again this year (yes, it will. It ain’t over yet), get your credit card out, dust off your trigger finger, and get purchasing at www.wssf.com/estore so that you’re not that sorry soul with hands splayed, peering through the misty glass into the bustling Grand Foyer of the Whistler Conference Centre before Filmmaker, Pro Photo, Intersection, The BEGINNING, The END, The Mountain Multiplicity Show, etc. Tell your friends, tell your family, tell your neighbours, or better yet, buy a whole bunch and become the most popular person on the block come April 12.. Just don’t miss out, and don’t say we didn’t tell you!

Even though we’re a relatively small community, we’re a loving one. A giving one. And the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation is indicative of this. Led by President Dave Brownlie, and run by the gregarious ‘Fairy Godmother of Whistler’, Mei McCurdy, and her diminutive powerhouse of a colleague, Jaime Kerrigan, the Foundation is a registered non-profit organisation that “is dedicated to providing financial support to registered non-profit organizations whose activities provide benefit to residents of the Sea to Sky Corridor in the areas of health, human services, education, recreation, arts and culture and the environment with an emphasis on children, youth and family programs.” Couldn’t have said it better myself. Both Mei and Jaime are passionate community-driven event professionals, and strive to create the most exciting and inspiring occasions possible, whilst benefiting charities and organisations along the Sea-to-Sky.

Their next endeavour is the upcoming TELUS Winter Classic, which features a jam-packed weekend of ski, food, wine, beer and entertainment events. From ‘Ski with a PRO’ day, to beverage-soaked ‘Wine-tastic’ and the sensory-driven ‘TELUS Technicolor Dream Mountain-top Gala’, there’s an event to tantalise every taste bud and get you reaching deep into those pockets to help support the Foundation’s charity partners.

The driving force behind this fabulous event, Mei McCurdy weighed in on the impact that the Foundation has on the community; “The TELUS Winter Classic is the largest fundraising event of the year for the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation and this year we are celebrating our 20^th anniversary! All proceeds from the event will be distributed to well deserving charities throughout the Sea to Sky Corridor focusing on children, youth and family programs.  The Foundation donates over $600,000 annually and since 1992 we have raised and donated over $7.5 million dollars.   The mandate of the Foundation has always been to help organizations whose activities benefit and enhance the lives of residents in the Sea to Sky Corridor.  Without this event and the support of our corporate sponsors, local businesses and volunteers,  we would be unable to make such a positive impact.  The TELUS Winter Classic is a two day event with many different components including the Accenture Ski With A Pro Day and the Thornhill Real Estate Group Race Classic.  There are two evening events that are absolutely phenomenal.  The Whistler Winetastic! event on the Friday evening features over 140 International Wines, Sprits and microbreweries  and delicious bites from some amazing local restaurants.  The grand finale of the event is our Gala  at the top of Whistler Mountain on Saturday night.  We transform the Roundhouse beyond recognition and this year our theme is Technicolour.  It really will be an evening you won’t want to miss.  We try to attract people to attend by producing an event  that is fun and exciting and at the end of the day people feel great that they’re involved in something that’s all about giving back to the community.”

The Whistler Blackcomb Foundation Facebook page is also holding a fantastic contest where you can win tickets to the Wine-tastic event. Contest closes on January 21, so get over to their page and like away!

To read more about the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation, click here.

Information and tickets to the skiing, and food and wine events can be found here.

What does that 10 second countdown mean to you? The sparkly hats, the champagne popping, the kiss at midnight? Is it the end of one thing and the beginning of something else? Or perhaps it’s just an excuse to leave the past behind and make a run for the future. Whatever New Years means to you, it can’t be bad that we’re encouraged to make resolutions about how we aim to live our next 365 days. In all honesty, these self imposed pacts should be made wherever and whenever the urge occurs, at any point during the year, but if it helps to have millions of others doing the same thing as you, at the same time, then so be it.

New Years by Dave Buzzard

According to The Independent, the Top 10 most common New Years Resolutions for 2013 were:
1. Save more money
2. Get out of debt
3. Get fit/lose weight
4. Change job/career
5. Quite smoking
6. Give up alcohol
7. Spend less time working
8. Spend more time with family/friends
9. Give up chocolate
10. Move house

Living in Whistler puts a different perspective on these resolutions. Perhaps it’s the beautiful environment we live in, the relatively laid back work situations we enjoy, the constant fresh air and the adventurous nature of the inhabitants, but Whistler’s resolutions speak volumes about how awesome this place truly is.

A small snippet of 2013 New Years Resolutions from the mouths of Whistler based babes:

• Eddie Hicks: Not change a thing.
• Lyz Desjardins: Photobomb as many tourist pictures as possible! It’s a great challenge.
• Brando Hitchon: To get married to the coolest person I know!
• Jesse Millen: Slow down, appreciate, and make the most out of every day. Very cliche but times are changing and can’t let life pass you by.
• Ben Wilcox: I am having too much fun today to think about tomorrow.
• Laura Briggs: To be irresponsible with money… and get fat. I’m pretty sure thats the recipe to happiness… or at least a really good year.
• Nick Campbell: My buddy Carno has cut out plastic bottles altogether; laundry detergent, dish soap are hard to find though. Ketchup is classier in glass bottles anyway, so that one was easy.
• Mike Nixon: No more heroin. I’m making resolutions to quit things I never started in the first place. Very good for my self esteem.
• Jeff Schmuck: My New Years Resolution is the same every year…to not have a New Years Resolution. Because that way I won’t feel bad about myself when I don’t keep it, and will be able to party guilt-free on December 31st!
• Quentin Royale: Live to ride, ride to live.
• Penelope Buswell: To learn to ski!

Happy New Year everyone, and may your resolutions ring true all year long!