Lifts & Terrain
Ski and Snowboard Terrain Whistler Blackcomb
The
Whistler Blackcomb ski resort is huge! The massive network of trails can mean that you can easily ski for a few days and not find the same run twice. You’ll need to carry a mobile phone, radio or have contingency plans to meet your friends, because the potential of losing each other is significant (this can be handy on occasion though!). When you compare the skiable terrain on our
Canada resorts statistics page, it highlights that Whistler is really a mega-resort.
Thankfully the resort is incredibly well sign-posted with huge coloured banners that indicate the level of difficulty of the runs and the direction of various lifts. The only exception is the top of the Dave Murray Downhill run, which seems to be hard to find. It’s such an awesome run that perhaps they want to keep that one a secret.
Even though there is a proportion of 55% intermediate runs, this mountain is suited to all levels because there is just so much terrain to choose from. First-timers to hard-core skiers are completely catered for. The terrain is so impressive that
Powderhounds resort ratings include many 5 out of 5s for Whistler Blackcomb and various
best skiing in Canada awards.
A common question regarding the terrain is in relation to one’s preference for Whistler or Blackcomb Mountain. Some prefer Whistler, some prefer Blackcomb, but some of us can’t understand why people compare the two when they’re both fantastic. You don’t have to choose and can ride both mountains. Minor differences might be that on bad visibility days, Blackcomb is better because there are more gladed and protected runs, and that Whistler has more bowl skiing and possibly better views.
A “must do” on a pleasant weather day is the Blackcomb Glacier, with easy access via the Showcase T-bar, or via Spanky’s ladder if you’re game (and skilled).
Whistler Lifts The lift system is incredibly efficient including 12 high-speed quads and 3 super-long gondolas. There are quite a few surface lifts, but these are fairly short so they’re not tedious. The Crystal chair is a slow old thing, but offers some of the most enjoyable skiing, possibly because the area is not heavily trafficked. There are some gnarly steep tree runs hiding in this area.
Sometimes you’ll get stuck in some ridiculous lift queues at the gondolas, or chairs such as Big Red Express and Orange. The frustration is minimal though, because the incredibly organised and polite Canadian culture will shine through as everyone patiently queues and merges in turn.
The recent addition of the Symphony Express chair has provided access to another 1,000 acres of amazing terrain without having to hike. The Symphony Amphitheatre has bowls, chutes and glades for a variety of levels. This area is definitely a favourite and thankfully doesn’t suffer from crowds.
The new
Whistler Peak-to-Peak is an awesome sight to behold, an engineering marvel. It lays claim to three world records being the highest gondola in the world at 436m above ground, having the longest unsupported span at over 3km and being part of the longest continuous lift system in the world! The new lift provides amazing access across the mountains without having to travel the long haul down the mountain.
For the Beginner Olympic station at Whistler is probably the best place for novices to play. Alternatively nervous beginners should stay on the green line and the yellow brick road at the bottom of Blackcomb. Off many of the chair lifts, there are green runs that weave around the mountain and cross the more challenging blue and black runs. This is fantastic to offer beginners plenty of variety, and to ride in the same area as family and friends that are intermediate or advanced. Once up the mountain though, slow riders may find these runs to be really long and exhausting, and may beg to download one of the gondolas just to make it home.
Intermediate Ski and Board TerrainThere is sooooooo much variety for intermediates, with beautiful wide cruisers, particularly on Blackcomb. On Whistler, the Peak to Creek is a great racy run but only if it’s groomed, otherwise it’s just a hard slog. Check the grooming charts at the top of the lifts. As a general rule, Whistler probably caters better to the lower-intermediate, whereas Blackcomb suits strong intermediates.
For the Family/Kids There’s plenty of magic carpet at Olympic station for those just learning, and there are lots of children specific or family areas, as well as a tree fort adventure playground. On Blackcomb there is a children specific adventure park.
For the Shredder Whistler Blackcomb has so much to offer with multiple terrain parks and half-pipes. There’s a huge variety of stuff in the parks that are size coded, so the parks cater to novices as well as those doing the most extreme tricks.
Advanced Skiing & SnowboardingThere are plenty of bowls and steeps for experienced riders. Some of the single blacks are pretty steep, so sharpen your edges for a bit of extra confidence. Favourite steeps include the Secret bowl, just around from the Extreme Couloir area on Blackcomb. Steer clear of the Whistler bowl. This seems to be very trendy (a status symbol if you can say you’ve skied or snowboarded here), it’s commonly full of nasty bumps, and visibility can be a problem in foul weather. Instead, nip around to the skiers left and give the Bagel and West bowls a go where there’s less tendency for harsh bumps.
Examples of enjoyable tree skiing are below the 7th heaven chair (Blackcomb) and runs such as “Where’s Joe?”. And start a love affair with the Symphony bowl - this area is fabulous.
The Dave Murray Downhill (Whistler) is an awesome race run, but you’ll need to get your goggles on tight, as the speeds you’ll reach will be eye watering. It’s a great glory or ego boosting run, unless of course you let your friends beat you down.
Expert Ski TerrainThere are plenty of double blacks and out-of-bounds areas to entertain hard-core skiers and snowboarders. Spanky’s Ladder into the glacier is great, and Extreme Couloir (formerly known as the un-PC Saddam Couloir) is considered “the” run of Blackcomb, and many an embellished story has been told of the legends of this run. In good visibility there are great nasty chutes and runs off the peak chair at Whistler.
For the Powderhound The mountains of Whistler Blackcomb have fairly high volumes of traffic, so fresh tracks can disappear pretty quickly in obvious off-piste areas. However with so many bowls and off-piste nooks and crannies, there are lots of pots of gold to be found for the adventurous. We found a lovely private stash in the creek on the skiers’ right of the lower peak to creek run.
Whistler Snow Conditions The seasons at Whistler Blackcomb aren’t particularly consistent, with extremes in good and bad seasons evident, but with an average annual snowfall of 10.4 metres, the chances of fresh powder are still pretty good. The snow conditions between the top and bottom can be amazingly different, which is not surprising considering the significant vertical of the mountains, and that the village is only at an altitude of 675 metres. Snow-making facilities ensure reliable snow coverage on the lower mountains.
The quality of the powder that falls at Whistler is incredibly variable, but has a tendency towards being wet due to the proximity to the coast.