In the very early hours of May 4 Whistler’s fire department attended a huge fire that had fully consumed a home in Alpine Meadows.  Apparently that was home to 16 tenants and they have lost every possession to their names in the flight to get out of a house that literally burned to the ground and has been bulldozed away.  Aava Whistler is currently their home as they begin to put their lives back together and to that end, you can help.

If you are spring cleaning these 15 guys and one girl are in need of clothing, shoes, and personal items like cell phones, laptops, backpacks, toiletries, items for their new place when they secure a new place to live, etc. If you can help, please drop off your donation to Aava’s front desk.

Join the Highball Collective Exclusive Launch inspired by the classic 60s “Mad Men” era at the Westin’s Firerock Lounge Saturday, April 13. Sip on Highball Cocktails and nibble on hors d’oeuvres while enjoying the 60s-infused sounds of DJ Foxy Moron.

Entry is $10 at the door, proceeds to the Sarah Burke Foundation. Bring some extra cash to support the cause (raffle draw & more). Check out the Facebook event for all the details.

“Mad Men” Dress Encouraged
Fashion inspiration for Men:
Fedoras, skinny ties, white or bright dinner jacket or bold coloured shirts and country club golf pants.

Ladies:
Pencil skirt & twin set, maxi dress, mini, or clam diggers and ballet flats, bold prints/colour and classic string of pearls.

A year ago the snow universe lost its queen, Sarah Burke. The past year has hopefully brought healing to the broken hearts of all she left behind. We have had a million different perspectives and opportunities to get a glimpse of what an amazing person she was because her legacy is just that big. For all the reasons there are to #celebratesarah we have  double the reasons to acutely feel the loss of someone so awesome and so alive.

Carolyn Breton photo

Here’s a few ways you can #celebratesarah and her legacy (and probably have so much fun doing it – would she want it any other way?)

1. Fight for what you believe in and never give up.
2. Show up to on-mountain comps in time to see the girls compete.
3. Share the things you find joy in so others may be inspired. See this and and this and this for examples of what I mean.
4. Scare someone. And make sure you tape it.
5. Treat everyone like you would your best friend. And when you are getting pictures taken with these people, pull that beautiful face of your’s into a silly grin.
6. Dance your ass off. Then do vodka shots.
7. Next time you see a girl drop into the pipe or hit something in the park give her an encouraging holler.
8. Smile like you mean it.
9. Laugh. And then smile some more.
10. Love hard.

Sarah’s families and friends have asked that in remembrance we get #celebratesarah trending on Twitter so tweets your thoughts and remembrances to show the world Sarah Burke Was Awesome and we will always Celebrate Sarah. Read Sarah Was Celebrated, a post written after the last April’s tribute.

Check out this improv comedy night with Table 23 on Thursday, January 10, 9pm (Doors 8pm) at Crystal Lounge. Tickets $7. Money raised will aid in Dee Raffo and Hannah Mason’s 3 Peaks, 3 Weeks Challenge in Peru, 2014. Raffo and Mason will climb three of the country’s highest peaks in aid of the women of Peru.  Proceeds from their fundraising efforts will go towards a non-profit called the Peaks Foundation, a women’s based foundation whose initiative is to pay into education, health care, and business opportunities.

I have to admit, as far as brunch goes, I have been a diehard Elements fan for quite some time, despite the fact you are sometimes waiting for up to an hour to get a seat in this bustling bistro on a typical weekend morning.

When Alta Bistro announced they were serving breakfast in their cozy eatery I was intrigued. This new kid on the block, just up the street from Elements and also off the pedestrian stroll, is one of my favourite places to dine. Based on my dinner experiences, I assumed breakfast would be fresh, imaginative and simply delicious.

And, I was right. After checking out the menu I decided to go with Mushrooms on Toast with a Two Hour Egg for $12. The thick slab of buttery, toasted sourdough bread was smothered with a selection of sauteed wild mushrooms, creamy horseradish hollandaise and topped with a slow poached, two-hour egg that had been lightly panfried to give it delicious, crisp brown edges. Two slices of organic bacon topped off this indulgent plate.

My dining partner Tyler chose the Croque Madame $11, served with an egg on the side and spicy homemade ketchup, perfect for dipping that cheesy goodness into. Both plates came with savoury roast potatoes. Although we opted for Namasthe organic mint tea and fresh brewed Milano coffee, a mimosa made with fresh squeezed orange juice and Blue Mountain Brut (known as the Manmosa when served on the rocks) would be a refreshing way to cut through all that buttery goodness. And since we were heading into the village  next to take care of some Christmas shopping, a little buzz would have been welcome. Oh well, there is always next weekend!

The Alta Bistro is serving breakfast and brunch from 7:30am to Noon daily. Check out the full menu here.

Last Friday Coast Mountain Culture Magazine held a mountain culture variety show called Backyard Booty. Among the many gems (my personal favourite being a story read by surf writer Malcolm Johnson) was Scott Serfas’s Behind The Scenes look at his journey to showing his work at the World Ski & Snowboard Festival’s Pro Photographer Showdown.

The video is now online, check it out here!

Behind the Scenes of Scott Serfas’ Pro Photographer Showdown from Endeavor Snowboard Design on Vimeo.

Just in time for a forecast calling for up to 42cms in the next five days, Whistler Blackcomb has dropped their latest Wonder Reel, The Deep. Produced by Switchback Entertainment this short immerses us into the magic found deep in the Coastal rainforest blanketing Whistler Blackcomb’s flanks.

The Whistler Film Festival starts today and our favourite film critic from Victoria is heading across the water to take it all in again for 2012. Jason Whyte is a film critic and feature writer for EFilmCritic.com and took some time aside from packing to answer a few questions.

Michelle: Hey Jason! Long time no talk…can you give us some information about yourself before I start grilling you about the Whistler Film Festival’s Must See Movies?

Jason: I am a writer for efilmcritic.com based out of Victoria, BC. I have had over ten years of film festival experience, attending festivals in Canada and the US. Some of my favorite festivals include Fantastic Fest and South By Southwest in Austin, Texas as well as attending the Vancouver International Film Festival every year.

As always I will have coverage of Whistler Film Festival on www.efilmcritic.com including thoughts on the festival plus a few interviews and photos. I will be updating live throughout the festival on my Twitter account @jasonwhyte, and I will be posting pics and news to my Facebook page at facebook.com/jasonwhyte (which is a public page so anyone may add me).

I can normally be found inbetween Whistler Film Festival screenings at Zog’s Dogs. I can’t resist grilled onions on hot dogs, you see…

Michelle: Nice, Zog’s is indeed awesome! What do you think is the most awesome thing about the Whistler Film Festival?

Jason: That’s a great question to start off with! I have been attending the Whistler Film Festival since 2007 to cover for efilmcritic.com and it is a glorious time every year. Great movies, people and socializing in one of the most beautiful places in the world.

I have seen and discovered many great movies over the years and have made many friends and connections at Whistler Film Festival. As well, everything that happens during the festival is very close-knit, so it is easy to get around and enjoy in a great, intimate setting. What’s not to love? Read more

Happy Thanksgiving to all of our American Friends! Blackcomb is open – here’s the proof. Have an awesome weekend!

We’ve all heard people mention they have a physio appointment at lunch or that they are heading for a massage after work but have you ever heard someone state they were off to see their body scientist?

I could say it. Irene Lyon, MSC. Body Scientist believes everyone should be pain-free and has been working with me for the past couple of months. Her scientific formulas for mobility seem to be working.

Irene is in the midst of helping me deal with traumatic tension held in my back as well as reworking how I do things as simple as sitting and standing. The most revolutionary learning for me has come in a total rethink of the movement my Crossfit coach Jordan Glasser refers to as “the canary in the coal mine” – the almighty squat.

At the beginning of December Irene is holding ski-prep “Ski Like a Rock Star” intensives December 1-2, 1-4pm, where she will lead students in dynamic exercises that will completely change the way they ski.

“When we are doing dynamic activities, such as skiing, we want our big muscle groups to be on-line in such a way that they get active when the time is appropriate, and then inhibited when they are no longer needed. The key words for optimal sports performance are Adaptability and Resiliency,” says Irene. “The key words do not include that “C” word commonly known as Core.”

“There is this huge false notion that a continual contraction of the belly muscles – even if a light one – during dynamic activity is required to the keep the trunk strong and stable. Sadly, doing this is actually causing HUGE counter-strain on the joints of the spine,” says Irene. “It also zaps the energy of the body by causing inefficient movement leading to less flow in the activity.”

Ski Like A Rockstar Intensive will show students how to have lots of flow and extra energy to ski more instead of an achy back and a skiing style that is disconnected and lacking grace.  Space is limited; get more information here.