For some people it is enough to know that Whistler Blackcomb is the biggest ski area in North America and that it snows more than virtually any other major resort in the world. These were the two main reasons why we launched our first ski instructor course here back in 2007.
However, others like detail, numbers and the exact statistics that the resort offers. So if you can’t take our word that Whistler is the greatest ski resort on the planet, here are the facts to help persuade you to ski or snowboard in Whistler this season.
We’ll break it down into the following categories: History, Snowfall, Terrain & Accommodation.
Whistler Background and History
- Whistler was originally called The London Mountain.
- Whistler was the host of the 2010 Winter Olympics.
- Whistler is located in the Cheakamus-Green divide. This was once a main trading route of the Squamish and Lil’wat First Nations people. This was something that was used long before the Europeans arrived in Canada and the USA.
- Myrtle and Alex Philip were amongst the first to set up holiday lodging in the area. In 1914 they purchased 10 acres of land on Alta Lake and built a lodge for guests.
Whistler Snowfall
It snows big in Whistler. The average annual snowfall over the last 10 winters has been 38.4 feet! or if you prefer – 1170cm or 461 inches. Whichever way you cut it – A LOT!
The snowiest season over the last 10 years was 2010/11 where Whistler saw 1579 cm of snowfall, almost 16 metres of the good stuff.
Whistler also has one of the longest ski seasons of any resort running from November to May, and sometimes even into June. At the end of April they tend to close one of the mountains (either Whistler or Blackcomb) and prepare the mountain bike trails early.
Whistler Blackcomb Terrain
Not only does it snow big in Whistler, it is big! With 8171 acres, or 3307 hectares, available there is more skiing or snowboarding to last a lifetime. Whistler is made up of two separate mountains, Whistler Mountain and Blackcomb Mountain.
Whistler is the larger of the two with 4757 acres of ski terrain and Blackcomb weighs in with a very respectable 3414 acres. On their own, these two areas would be amongst the largest in North America and together they blow anywhere else out of the water.
Here’s how the two mountains compare if you’re interested in the finer details:
Whistler
- 4757 acres skiable terrain
- 1503 metres vertical drop
- 100+ trails
- Global Coordinates – 50*03’33″N 122*57’25″W
- 2 x terrain parks
- 19 ski lifts plus the Peak 2 Peak Gondola
- 11 km longest run
- 8 Mountain restaurants
Blackcomb
- 3414 acres skiable terrain
- 1609 metres vertical drop
- 100+ trails
- 3 x terrain parks, 1 super pipe and 1 snow cross track
- 17 ski lifts plus the Peak 2 Peak Gondola
- 11 km longest run
- 9 Mountain restaurants
Hotels in Whistler
There are many amazing hotels and resorts in Whistler, which makes it a wonderful place to holiday. Here are some of the most popular hotels in the region:
- The Westin Resort and Spa Whistler
- The Fairmont Chateau Whistler
- Delta Hotels by Marriott
- Pinnacle Hotel Whistler
- Hilton Whistler Resort and Spa
- Pan Pacific Whistler Village
- Summit Lodge Whistler
- Four Seasons Resort Whistler
- Blackcomb Lodge Whistler
- Pangea Pod Hotel
- The Listel Hotel Whistler
So as you can see, Whistler’s a big old place with almost unlimited skiing and snowboarding. The perfect place for a ski course or snowboard course, regardless of the type of winter sports that you’re interested in.