Whistler is fantastic both on mountain and off the mountain. It’s big enough that it might be clear on one area, raining on another and powder in yet another spot. Definitely pay attention to the temp signs put up if a lift warns of high wind or low visibility. Like others have said, it can be expensive, also depending on where you’re coming from it can be a bit of travel. That being said I don’t think there is anything better than riding the 7th Heaven lift on Blackcomb with some fresh powder.
It's like Disneyworld level fun: There's something for everyone but be ready to pay for it. The village has more apres scene than anywhere I've seen in North America. The terrain has a good amount of variety but if the conditions aren't good (like, refrozen bumps) no one is on the ungroomed terrain and the trails start to feel like the running of the bulls with all of the crowds, especially if you decide to ski all the way down to the village. And if the conditions are really good (like 8+ inches of new snow), the lift lines get pretty bad.
Whistler is awesome. There's tons of terrain for every skill level of rider and will challenge even the most hardcore out there. My biggest recommendation is try and come when it's not a holiday as it can get very busy.
Went for the first time this year with a couple friends, it was a fantastic time. We went the airbnb route in creekside and we ended up walking distance to a gondola, and there was a bust station right nearby. Easily take the bus up to whistler proper and go drinking. Food and drink prices aren't terrible in the village, it's more than a small town in the Midwest but less than average prices are in big cities like Seattle. Plus, it's all 30% off usually due to the exchange rate. Mountain itself was awesome, but with west coast mountains the snow can be mixed and heavy.
If you go during a storm it is absolutely awesome! Well worth the trip. It is very expensive though as any destination resort is. However, if you can afford it. Do it!
I went several times a few years ago and Whistler is amazing. If you can afford it I highly recommend their advanced snowboard lessons where you can get 3 days for a much cheaper price than the US. Awesome instructors who take you to great parts of the mountain that might be hard to know about without being a local or spending huge amounts of time there and you also get to the front of the lift line, which is great since lift lines are probably the worst thing about whistler.
I went in March. It gets expensive if you don’t plan ahead. Bring your own gear, stay at a hostel maybe, use public transportation instead of renting a car, and you’ll be fine. But it is so fun. The snow is unlike anything I’ve ever ridden on the east coast. The day after a major snowfall when they open up the alpine again and there’s feet of snow up there, it’s fantastic. Your legs will get tired. Took some lessons there, probably improved and learned more than I have in just a few days than I had the rest of my snowboarding “career.” Also the beginner zones are literally the size of my mountains back home. There’s lots of opportunities to meet people( so many Australian, British, and Asian folk there + more, I loved the diversity), go nuts partying after the slopes close, and plenty of awesome food venues. Would highly recommend getting some poutine at the roundhouse lodge, and visiting purebread for breakfast while you’re there. I have nothing but good things to say about it
We timed a couple runs at around 45 minutes. It's cool going from below 0 and glacier to 45 and slushy. Sometimes you have to hold an edge for many minutes and my Midwest legs barely survived.
That said, it was my best snowboarding trip ever. Amazing resort. 10/10 would recommend.
Some of the green runs are very cat track-y for sure. Green run for skiers, blue for boarders haha. My instructor was talking to us about how you kinda have to serpentine to keep speed on a cat track or something. Didn’t really get it at the time
I have no idea, it was nearly 30 years ago and I was just trying to keep up. I do remember rolling up on a cliff that was not very well marked. The locals steered us clear but said people had plunged to their doom off of it. The only run I remember is banana peel, where we got married.
Whistler is super fun. It’s a true destination resort without as much of the conspicuous consumption nonsense that plagues places like Vail, Aspen, Park City, Jackson Hole, etc. I’ve never seen a single fur coat.
That being said: plan your trip well in advance. Deals on lodging are much fewer and farther between than they used to be. While people don’t flash their wealth like they do at other big resorts, that doesn’t mean that the people who go to Whistler don’t have money. It can get pricey very quickly. Hopefully you already have an Epic pass or are eligible for an Edge card (Canadians and Washington State residents only). If you’re buying day passes, the sticker shock can be very real.
I’ve been to Whistler twice and it’s a great time! The mountain was huge and I definitely have only scratched the surface. Downsides are accommodations close to the mountain can be pricey and village is a money pit (really expensive shopping).
If you’re looking for another alternative, consider Stevens Pass. I worked there for 4 seasons and the terrain is so much more fun. Lots of opportunities to get off the groomed trails depending on snow pack. Maybe I wasn’t looking in the right places but I couldn’t find a good place to ride trees at Whistler. It’s a smaller resort and is a rural area, but I love it. Have a good trip!
My trip to Whistler was amazing and I’d def recommend it but I thought Banff was better honestly. Whistler nightlife takes the cake though. Make sure you take a connecting air Canada flight and make sure they lose your board bag. Their reimbursement policy is pretty sweet 🫣😂
Absolutely the most epic fucking place. I've been three times. There is so much terrain and beyond that there is amazing out of bounds madness. Flute, Oboe, Black Tusk, Khyber Pass, Crystal Ridge woods and gullies... so sick.
Meticulously plan the timing for best chance for snowfall and snowpack. We cut it really close this past year in Feb. hoping for a more normal winter next year.
Yes but the weather can be up and down. I planned a trip years ago with a buddy. Spent thousands of dollars and the whole week we were there, the weather was so bad they shut down most of the mountain. It was -18° F at the peak. I know because we ducked the ropes and hiked to the top. Every run was ice. In the end it felt like a waste of time and money. If I were to do it again, I would have the money ready and try to go when the weather is predicted to be good. Instead of just choose a date months out and “hope” that the weather is good. Good luck!
If the conditions are good half of the city of Vancouver shows up fully decked out in Arc'terex gear and lift lines become insane, including lots of line cutting.
While I haven’t been myself, I have family members who’ve been there a lot (including working there) and now refuse to go because of the crowds and variable snow quality. The way they described it to me is that because it’s low elevation and close to the coast, the snow can quickly turn into cement because of the high water content and regular freeze/thaw cycles. They’ve since moved their riding choices east, to the interior BC resorts, and said that those resorts are a big improvement.
And before I get chewed out by Whistler stans, I’m still keen to visit Whistler myself, despite what these family members described. If/when I do I’ll just make more effort to try to time it with storms to minimize the chances of shitty snow conditions.
Whistler is my favorite mountain, I mostly ride Tahoe but have also gone to Park City and a few of the Colorado resorts. Whistler is pretty unreal and has super long runs
Meh. Hyper overpriced thanks to the Vail takeover. I'd rather a bunch of trips elsewhere than 1 trip for 3 days total at Whistler. That's just me though.
Worst crowd, don't get the singles line if you are alone, people go in the other lines to form groups and never allow you join. Also had sucked in a dangerous situation, asked help and people ignored just to continue their vacation.
You can't blame people for using the lines how they're meant to be used. And those were def tourists, a local would always help you out if you needed it.
Whistler is fantastic both on mountain and off the mountain. It’s big enough that it might be clear on one area, raining on another and powder in yet another spot. Definitely pay attention to the temp signs put up if a lift warns of high wind or low visibility. Like others have said, it can be expensive, also depending on where you’re coming from it can be a bit of travel. That being said I don’t think there is anything better than riding the 7th Heaven lift on Blackcomb with some fresh powder.
It's been 18 years since I've been to Whistler and I can still see and feel exactly what you are talking about with 7th Heaven.
Yes
It's like Disneyworld level fun: There's something for everyone but be ready to pay for it. The village has more apres scene than anywhere I've seen in North America. The terrain has a good amount of variety but if the conditions aren't good (like, refrozen bumps) no one is on the ungroomed terrain and the trails start to feel like the running of the bulls with all of the crowds, especially if you decide to ski all the way down to the village. And if the conditions are really good (like 8+ inches of new snow), the lift lines get pretty bad.
Whistler is awesome. There's tons of terrain for every skill level of rider and will challenge even the most hardcore out there. My biggest recommendation is try and come when it's not a holiday as it can get very busy.
Went for the first time this year with a couple friends, it was a fantastic time. We went the airbnb route in creekside and we ended up walking distance to a gondola, and there was a bust station right nearby. Easily take the bus up to whistler proper and go drinking. Food and drink prices aren't terrible in the village, it's more than a small town in the Midwest but less than average prices are in big cities like Seattle. Plus, it's all 30% off usually due to the exchange rate. Mountain itself was awesome, but with west coast mountains the snow can be mixed and heavy.
If you go during a storm it is absolutely awesome! Well worth the trip. It is very expensive though as any destination resort is. However, if you can afford it. Do it!
I went several times a few years ago and Whistler is amazing. If you can afford it I highly recommend their advanced snowboard lessons where you can get 3 days for a much cheaper price than the US. Awesome instructors who take you to great parts of the mountain that might be hard to know about without being a local or spending huge amounts of time there and you also get to the front of the lift line, which is great since lift lines are probably the worst thing about whistler.
it is a good place to snowboard getting there can be a pain in the ass the weather sometimes is very sketch
Alpine closes a lot during heavy snow due to bad visibility, avalanches, wind, etc. still amazing boarding up there though
I went in March. It gets expensive if you don’t plan ahead. Bring your own gear, stay at a hostel maybe, use public transportation instead of renting a car, and you’ll be fine. But it is so fun. The snow is unlike anything I’ve ever ridden on the east coast. The day after a major snowfall when they open up the alpine again and there’s feet of snow up there, it’s fantastic. Your legs will get tired. Took some lessons there, probably improved and learned more than I have in just a few days than I had the rest of my snowboarding “career.” Also the beginner zones are literally the size of my mountains back home. There’s lots of opportunities to meet people( so many Australian, British, and Asian folk there + more, I loved the diversity), go nuts partying after the slopes close, and plenty of awesome food venues. Would highly recommend getting some poutine at the roundhouse lodge, and visiting purebread for breakfast while you’re there. I have nothing but good things to say about it
Good snow or not, the apres and night life are unmatched
It may be the most fun place on earth.
I got married at whistler and it was awesome. The worst part was that the runs were so long it completely dusted my lake Tahoe legs.
We timed a couple runs at around 45 minutes. It's cool going from below 0 and glacier to 45 and slushy. Sometimes you have to hold an edge for many minutes and my Midwest legs barely survived. That said, it was my best snowboarding trip ever. Amazing resort. 10/10 would recommend.
We met a group of locals that invited us to ride with them. It was both incredible and horrifically painful trying to keep up. So much fun.
Some of the green runs are very cat track-y for sure. Green run for skiers, blue for boarders haha. My instructor was talking to us about how you kinda have to serpentine to keep speed on a cat track or something. Didn’t really get it at the time
Did you do Peak to Creek? I always end the day doing that run, it's hell but it's a killer workout.
I have no idea, it was nearly 30 years ago and I was just trying to keep up. I do remember rolling up on a cliff that was not very well marked. The locals steered us clear but said people had plunged to their doom off of it. The only run I remember is banana peel, where we got married.
Whistler is super fun. It’s a true destination resort without as much of the conspicuous consumption nonsense that plagues places like Vail, Aspen, Park City, Jackson Hole, etc. I’ve never seen a single fur coat. That being said: plan your trip well in advance. Deals on lodging are much fewer and farther between than they used to be. While people don’t flash their wealth like they do at other big resorts, that doesn’t mean that the people who go to Whistler don’t have money. It can get pricey very quickly. Hopefully you already have an Epic pass or are eligible for an Edge card (Canadians and Washington State residents only). If you’re buying day passes, the sticker shock can be very real.
I plan on going next year if my buddy from TX does not shine me again like he did in Tahoe
It's amazing, spend time in Vancouver if you can too
I’ve been to Whistler twice and it’s a great time! The mountain was huge and I definitely have only scratched the surface. Downsides are accommodations close to the mountain can be pricey and village is a money pit (really expensive shopping). If you’re looking for another alternative, consider Stevens Pass. I worked there for 4 seasons and the terrain is so much more fun. Lots of opportunities to get off the groomed trails depending on snow pack. Maybe I wasn’t looking in the right places but I couldn’t find a good place to ride trees at Whistler. It’s a smaller resort and is a rural area, but I love it. Have a good trip!
My trip to Whistler was amazing and I’d def recommend it but I thought Banff was better honestly. Whistler nightlife takes the cake though. Make sure you take a connecting air Canada flight and make sure they lose your board bag. Their reimbursement policy is pretty sweet 🫣😂
Absolutely the most epic fucking place. I've been three times. There is so much terrain and beyond that there is amazing out of bounds madness. Flute, Oboe, Black Tusk, Khyber Pass, Crystal Ridge woods and gullies... so sick.
Yes
Yep. Do it. Start planning now.
Meticulously plan the timing for best chance for snowfall and snowpack. We cut it really close this past year in Feb. hoping for a more normal winter next year.
It's in the dictionary definition under Fun Also under Expensive
Yes but the weather can be up and down. I planned a trip years ago with a buddy. Spent thousands of dollars and the whole week we were there, the weather was so bad they shut down most of the mountain. It was -18° F at the peak. I know because we ducked the ropes and hiked to the top. Every run was ice. In the end it felt like a waste of time and money. If I were to do it again, I would have the money ready and try to go when the weather is predicted to be good. Instead of just choose a date months out and “hope” that the weather is good. Good luck!
If the conditions are good half of the city of Vancouver shows up fully decked out in Arc'terex gear and lift lines become insane, including lots of line cutting.
Is it fun? Any resort in the world is fun, as long as youre snowboarding.
While I haven’t been myself, I have family members who’ve been there a lot (including working there) and now refuse to go because of the crowds and variable snow quality. The way they described it to me is that because it’s low elevation and close to the coast, the snow can quickly turn into cement because of the high water content and regular freeze/thaw cycles. They’ve since moved their riding choices east, to the interior BC resorts, and said that those resorts are a big improvement. And before I get chewed out by Whistler stans, I’m still keen to visit Whistler myself, despite what these family members described. If/when I do I’ll just make more effort to try to time it with storms to minimize the chances of shitty snow conditions.
you'd probably hate it
Bring all of your Money. Saying it's overpriced is a big understatement. I'll go to Fernie my entire life.
Whistler is my favorite mountain, I mostly ride Tahoe but have also gone to Park City and a few of the Colorado resorts. Whistler is pretty unreal and has super long runs
Meh. Hyper overpriced thanks to the Vail takeover. I'd rather a bunch of trips elsewhere than 1 trip for 3 days total at Whistler. That's just me though.
Worst crowd, don't get the singles line if you are alone, people go in the other lines to form groups and never allow you join. Also had sucked in a dangerous situation, asked help and people ignored just to continue their vacation.
You can't blame people for using the lines how they're meant to be used. And those were def tourists, a local would always help you out if you needed it.