Snowsure: 4.1
- Occasionally gets enough snow for skiing
- Is often closed due to a lack of snow
- Occasionally suffers from a lack of snow
- Rarely suffers from a lack of snow
- Whistler Blackcomb is snowsure even in the poorest seasons
Visitor reviews for Whistler Blackcomb Ski Resort
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(NOTE: Reviews may be edited by our content team for the purposes of ensuring accurate and relevant information)
(NOTE: Reviews may be edited by our content team for the purposes of ensuring accurate and relevant information)
Latest
January 24, 2012
Jake
Jake
January 21, 2012
Dan
Dan
To another reviewer: You're making Australians look bad (which we don't need much help with) though I think you maybe trolling the Australian in Whistler stereotype of cramming 10 Aussies underneath the stairs.
Accommodation is expensive, but your example is ludicrous. I'm paying $650 all inclusive for my own room in a 6 person house - 4 bathrooms, 4 bedrooms. I haven't skied other resorts but the season pass is expensive, best advice there is to get up the mountains as much as you can. 50 days - $26 a day, push 100 days and you'll definitely be getting value for money.
Oh and I'm all for drinking and drugs, but maybe you should do slightly less of both so you can afford food. And if you already have your season pass, why do you need money to go skiing? Should all be sorted!
January 20, 2012
Adam
Adam
This is meant to be a site for reviewing the place as a ski/snowboard resort, not a place to tell the world your hard-luck employment story.
Whistler's having tricky conditions this year, but then it's better than many places which have just about no snow at all. It has been very icy below 1500m; frankly I'd suggesting sticking to the high alpine all day and downloading via gondola, in the current conditions. Even if you don't break your leg negotiating the ice sheets down to the village, you're not going to be having much fun. Of course, the lower areas with snow guns and grooming are probably fine if you're into that kinda thing.
Up in the alpine there's still some pretty nice snow, though, and the forecast is for more or less continuous dumps for the next week or so, so it could get very nice in a hurry.
As to Whistler in general - yeah, it's big, and busy, and maybe a little under-chaired. A good day to go is midweek on a day with good snow but no sun, if you can swing it. Lots of strange people don't like to ride on snow when it's snowing.
As far as food goes I tend to avoid the on-mountain stuff entirely and come down to the village for lunch, where there are some really good places if you don't mind taking an hour break.
Another small gripe: the trail map plots a lot of long, flat areas as parts of runs, with absolutely no indication of this. It's clearly designed for skiers. If you're a boarder, there's some runs you'll quickly learn to avoid, and some to be careful on (you can wind up hiking quite a long way in the Harmony bowl if you don't pick your lines right).
In the end...Whistler's a really big resort which is amazing if you manage to hit it on a day with good snow and not too many crowds, and will probably have somewhere you can have a good time on just about any day. It's never going to feel as 'special' as that obscure backcountry place you hit three feet of pow one March, but that's not really what it's for. And it is at the pricey end of the spectrum for visitors at least.
January 18, 2012
Ed Wood
Ed Wood
It is very cold right now -20. This year the conditions have been sketchy. I have seen a bunch of injuries due to sporadic snow. Ice has formed due to fluctuating temperatures. Many injuries at the bottom of the hill last week because of ice.
Whistler has done what Aspen has done without the real estate to sell. Whistler has made skiing unaffordable.
January 16, 2012
Sarah from
United Kingdom
Sarah from
United Kingdom
I like Whistler. The good stuff:
I like the quantity of snow (though it rained from half way down when I was there last week),
I like the friendliness and,
I like the bowls for endless fun.
The good value on mountain food.
What I don't like:
There is nothing more frustrating than the fact that the lifts at to top end of the mountain close in January at 2.30! I understand why (gets dark relatively early and the patrols have to sweep the bowls as well as the pistes), but there must be a way of extending skiing time.
The lift company needs to get some 6 or 8 man chairs! Last week the queues at times were longer than the lifts in the 3 valley's in February half-term.
Soulless on mountain eateries. Mostly rather industrial scale-the big ones all have the same menu. The small places are really small and can't cope with numbers.
The excruciating cost of the lift pass and the groceries from the village supermarket.
So...from this side of the pond, is it worth the 9.5hr flight and 8 hours worth of jet lag? Last season the answer would be yes as Europe's snow fall was dire. This season? Not sure it is. It's a big resort by North American standards, but for sheer variety and charm, I'll plump for this side of the Atlantic.
January 10, 2012
Small Voice
Small Voice
Boys and Girls, it's all about perspective.
I have skied California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado Vermont, Maine, Chamonix, and the BC interior Quebec, Chamonix and Val D'Isere, St.Moritz, Courmayer and Austria.
Whistler infrastructure is as good as any place in the world and if you can't find a bowl or run that you like, try Disneyland.
Because it's so close to the coast, it can get wet. But look at the Western USA these days and it is so far from the coast, there is no snow this year.
So accept that this is a weather related sport and if the snow gods are kind to you, any place can blow you away. And if it's good expect people to be there.
To the Europeans please respect lift lines and stay off the back of my skis. To the Americans tone it down and to the Canadians, smile we have a lot to be proud of. 13 gold medals and clean too!
January 07, 2012
Matt from
United Kingdom
Matt from
United Kingdom
We have been to Whistler 6 times in the last 10 years. The place is massive, there's still places I've not been or hiked to (if you're into that sort of thing) after all this time. We normally stay in Creekside which has it's own gondala and is generally quieter than the main resort.
It's true that you can experience rain from time to time, but isn't that the same everywhere?. I've had rain in Breckenridge, Colorado and the base there is at the summit of Whistler!. When it's on an off day, Whistler is still good, if you catch it right for the snow then it is absolutely amazing. We had 245cm in 10 days last year, day after day of amazing powder.
I know the marketing can be a bit over the top, but as with everyone, they are out to make money. The lifties are friendly and the staff polite, beer and food is not too much if you find the right places (Dusty's, Longhorn). I keep saying I'll try somewhere else with the good lady, but we love it so much there it's so hard not to spend my hard earned cash there (you only live once!)
Cheers
Matt
January 06, 2012
snala from
New Zealand
snala from
New Zealand
Been here 3 years worth of holidays now (41 days). Why:
Cost: For us $58cad a day lift passes. If you are coming here on a holiday then you know when and can book things early. Same with the accommodation. Ski in/out condo for $170cad a night and it sleeps 4. $45 a night is cheap enough for swimming pools, ski valet and on mountain accommodation!?
The mountain: This place is massive. Has everything for everyone. Mostly express lifts too which is all you need. Gets busier on weekends on nice days (i.e. powder) but which good ski fields don’t? Only 10 minutes to swap from one side to the other with Peak to Peak too.
Snow: Up high is usually very dependable. Back bowls/glacier can be like free heli-skiing if you get lucky. Can be variable down low sometimes but you can choose not to ski there which most intermediate+ skiers do anyway with the terrain available above. Even so that still provides 1000m vertical on both sides above the bottom lift system. Last year we had knee deep powder down to the village so it’s not always bad either.
Mountain facilities: The two big cafes are fine. 5 of us never had trouble getting seats at lunchtime. You might have to actually look around a bit for a couple of minutes or share a table but so what. You can also use the other cafes which are never full etc Chik Pea, Glacier Creek and Crystal Hut.
Climate: Because it’s low down it isn’t crazy cold so easy to acclimatise. Visibility can be variable in clouds but there is a lot of tree level runs so still easy to see in those conditions.
Village: Has a lot of shops, restaurants, pubs and 2 supermarkets so you can make your own meals if you want to. Has everything that you would want on holiday and has plenty of shops if you need gear fixed or want to buy.
In comparison we did 2 weeks in Colorado one year, Summit County, and it was much colder all the time, took time to get used to the altitude and had very bad snow on all 5 of the resorts we skied there. It sounds like that’s happening again this year too there. The resorts had potential but only Vail seemed similar to Whistler in what it seemed to offer terrain variety wise and it’s nowhere near as big or easy to get around.
So reviews are obviously based on experiences and based on that Whistler is a lot easier to recommend as every year so far it’s been great.
January 06, 2012
@aw + @ snow quality from the US
@aw + @ snow quality from the US
AW..the lift system isn't big enough....aww...boo hoo...it's effin' Christmas, what do you expect? Try skiing pow laps off of peak in February on a Wednesday...epic!!!! Or take your #at ass into the back country if you want less people...wake up...7 billion people on the planet and they want to ski the best resort in the world.
Build the village higher.....yup...great idea! Take the lift an extra 5 mins to the alpine and see why any serious ski pros choose to base themselves out of W/B.....please, don't come up here...hard to find a seat at lunch!...oh...what a horrid experience! Ever think of trying to find a seat when it's not lunch hour...dumb#$s
If you don't like W/B...don't come....ski your shitty resorts in UK or, to the Americans, spend your weak dollar at Squaw Valley....$90 lift plus $25 parking.
January 05, 2012
Boardman
Boardman
This resort was rated Number 1 in North America for a reason. Not just by one million Canadians.
Yes, there are some crowds during holidays, like any decent ski resort, or holiday destination, so plan around it. I do.
Wow, "massive" marketing budget. So stay away if you are anti corporate. I have never had anyone try to sell me a condo over lunch whilst in Whistler.
I guess if the snow is not up to your standard, you should probably stay south of the border. "People from the USA do not bother with Whistler" as quoted from a previous comment.
Sounds like more space on the outdated lifts for me and my friends in Whistler. And more POW.
I wouldn't have it any other way.
Nearest