Table of contents
Introduction to Whistler Blackcomb
Whistler Blackcomb is everything that you’ve imagined- Epic. Gigantic. Challenging. Personally, I idolized Whistler for years before I finally made the journey up from Colorado. Over the course of The Drop In series I’ve made it apparent that I am a huge fan of big mountain riding, and when a resort offers a large amount of wide open bowls, couloirs, and chutes that are lift-accessed, I am on board immediately. I specifically seek out these places. After watching so many video parts filmed around BC and YouTube videos of people throwing down at the resort itself, I was nervous to ride here. Fortunately, I came on a press trip for a travel magazine that I write for and they hooked me up with a pro guide to show me around.
The resort is made up of two mountains that up until 2003 were separate resorts. In fact, they were fierce competitors that consistently tried to one-up each other. In the end, this seems to have done good things because the terrain, amenities, and party scene in the village are top notch. Intrawest, the company that at that time owned Blackcomb, purchased Whistler and merged the two resorts. Today, they are joined together by the Guinness World Record-holding and nearly unbelievable Peak 2 Peak Gondola. The mountain stats of Whistler Blackcomb are incredible- 8,171 acres of in-bounds skiable terrain. 450+ inches of annual snowfall. Expert in-bounds terrain that is on par with the best that North America has to offer, and in many respects is on par with lift accessed backcountry. I rode Whistler Blackcomb for the first time in February 2016. It hadn’t snowed for a week prior to my arrival, so although powder stashes were few and far between I was able to find some thanks to my guide. His name was Dahj- if you are in need of a guide or a lesson while at Whistler Blackcomb, ask for him specifically and tell him I sent you. He spent the entire day telling me more information than I could retain about the mountain, interspersed with constructive criticism of my riding. He showed me a better powder riding stance and adjusted my bindings accordingly. He worked with me to help me work out a kink in my turns that I didn’t even realize I was doing. I’ve been on a board for most of my life, long enough that progression isn’t always apparent anymore, but I can honestly say that I finished that day a better snowboarder than when I woke up that morning.
Getting There
Fly into Vancouver International Airport (YVE). There is shuttle service from the airport to the town of Whistler, or take the train into downtown Vancouver and there are numerous options from there. I recommend using Pacific Coach Lines. No matter how you get there, you’ll head 121 km north up the Sea to Sky Highway, which is a magnificent drive offering amazing views of Howe Sound and Anvil Island to the west and towering mountains including the 1788 meter Mount Brunswick. On the coach line, the drive takes 2-2 ½ hours or so as there are a few stops along the way, but in a car, the drive is only about 90 minutes. The coach line will drop you in the Creekside Village or in the main Whistler Village. You will likely be staying in one of the three main villages that make up Whistler proper- Creekside Village, Whistler Village, or Blackcomb.
Where the locals are riding
Dahj and I started on the Whistler side, meeting in Creekside Village. We headed up the Creekside Gondola to the Big Red Express. Then, down to the Peak Express, which put us at the top of Whistler Bowl. We killed an entire morning lapping this lift, hiking from the top of the chair and dropping into Whistler Bowl, West Cirque and over to Monday’s. 
Where to Eat and Drink
On the Mountain
In Town
Where to Party
Where to Stay
Hi-Whistler - Here, a bed will run you about $30 USD. Upgrades to private rooms jump the price up significantly, to over $100. They’ve got free Wi-Fi, common areas, and a café. The Whistler Lodge - An awesome 42-room hostel, and a bed will run you about $35 USD, give or take a few bucks. I spoke with several people who stayed here and each one of them had nothing but good things to say about the experience. Adara Hotel - If you are on a holiday with a significant other or family and looking to upgrade from the hostel situation, the Adara will run between $170-250 per night. It is located right in Whistler Village within walking distance of the base lifts, restaurants, and nightlife.
Local Tips
I met many friendly people in Whistler, several of whom were Australian. Lots of Aussies and people originally from bigger Canadian cities in Whistler, and they all seem to know how to party. The Après scene rolls hard and gets going mid-afternoon. Each night I was there, no matter which village I was in, the pubs were filled up by the time the lifts closed at 4:00. As far as gear goes, bring your best stuff- it is worth it to pay the extra fee to fly your skis or board up as opposed to renting. With top-notch terrain, you’ll want to be as comfortable as possible when dropping in.
Read more: The Drop-In Series: Jackson Hole, The Drop-In Series: Breckenridge, North America Travel.
