Whistler attracts thousands of skiers each year for its pristine slopes, challenging pistes and picturesque environment. As the leaves start to fall from the trees, Canadians start to dig out their skis and head to the mountains. As do the holidaymakers looking for a winter wonderland escape.
Both skiers and tourists can take advantage of the private vacation rentals at Luxury Retreats where you can have your own bungalow or log cabin. If this is your first time, below are some essential tips to make your skiing trip to Whistler perfect.
The Best Time is in January and February
Whistler gets snowfall starting in October and remains until spring in late March. But the best conditions for skiing and winter sports around late January and early February. By this time, the snow has fallen for several months and has become compact. While you will get good conditions in
December, you’ll also face the Christmas crowds. If you’re serious about skiing, plan your trip for mid-January at the earliest. Not only will you have better conditions, but you’ll also avoid the crowds.
Download the Whistler Blackcomb Live App
All skiers know weather conditions can change in an instant. And if you want to have the best experience on the slopes, you need to be flexible. One of the ways Whistler has overcome this is by developing the Whistler Blackcomb live app. You download it onto your phone and it tells you the
live conditions at the top of both mountains. The app updates you every few minutes on the skiing conditions, temperatures and snowfall. Serious skiers rely on this app because it gives them the edge over the crowds. As soon as they know the conditions are clearing, they make their way up to the
slopes before everyone else arrives. You can download the app for the free.
Plan Your Trip and Stay Organised
Skiing holidays only happen a few times each year, and as such, the excitement can lead to carelessness. You might find that you wake up to start hitting the slopes early only to find that you forgot to buy your lift tickets. Or that your equipment isn’t ready, and it takes you two hours to get everything ready. Instead, spend a few minutes on the night before thinking about exactly what you need to prepare and get ready. Make a list. Then when you wake up you know precisely what you need to do. If you need to buy tickets, do it the day before. While it may take a little extra time now, you’ll make up for it later when you have the first few hours of the day with the slopes to yourself.
Arrange Your Skiing Lessons Weeks in Advance
If you’re planning to take lessons or a refresher before hitting the slopes, make sure you book early. Whistler has several ski schools catering to everyone from absolute beginners to pros looking to brush up their techniques. But there are only a limited number of instructors and places. And they tend to fill up the closer you get to the date. If you know when you’re going to visit Whistler, it’s better to arrange your lessons as early as possible. It’s also a good idea to choose a school that’s
near your accommodation for convenience. Most skiers would book a lesson for day one or two of their trip.
Make the Most of the Benefits of Skiing Lessons
Did you know that students at the skiing schools can skip the lines at the lifts? This gives you the chance to maximise the time you spend on the slopes compared to if you didn’t take that refresher course. Skiers looking to make the most out of their time in Whistler would benefit from this advantage because they’ll spend more time skiing.
Have a Plan For the Rain
Despite Whistler being a skiing paradise, you need to be aware that the region gets plenty of rain as well as snow in the winter. When the rain starts to fall, most people stick around Whistler Village in the cafés and bars. But what they don’t realise is that if it’s raining in the village, it’s probably snowing at the peaks of Whistler and Blackcomb Mountain. If you’re tactical, you can make your way up to the top and will most likely be the only person skiing.
Choose Your Favourite Slope
Whistler has dozens of slopes catering to different levels of ability and experience. Most beginners tend to stick around Whistler Mountain which offers some of the easier and less technical slopes. Skiing on every slope in Whistler in a single visit isn’t possible unless you plan to spend the entire season in the mountains. Instead, you could do your research before you visit so you know which mountains has the most appealing pistes for you. Then when you arrive, you can be more efficient with your time. The last thing you want is to arrive and then find that you’re spoiled for choice. If you only have a limited time in the mountains, you need to be as efficient with your time as possible. And when you come back next year, you know exactly where to go again.
Top Tips For First-Time Skiers in Whistler
If this is your first time visiting Whistler to go skiing, plan your trip for the end of January if it’s possible. Spend a few minutes the night before skiing to plan your day. And remember to book any classes or refreshers weeks in advance. Research which slopes you want to ski and remember, if it’s raining in the village, it’s probably snowing at the peaks.
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