Whistler, BC – November 22, 2022 – Whistler Blackcomb will officially open its slopes to skiers and riders on Thursday, November 24 for the 2022/2023 winter season. The resort is thrilled to welcome guests back, especially those from international destinations, as pandemic-related border restrictions have been eased.
“It is always exciting seeing lifts spinning again as skiers and riders return to these incredible mountains for another season,” said Whistler Blackcomb VP & COO, Geoff Buchheister. “Whistler Blackcomb is grateful to operate on the shared unceded territory of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) and Lilwat7úl (Lil'wat Nation). It is a privilege to live, work, learn and play on these beautiful lands. I am extremely grateful to the amazing team here at Whistler Blackcomb – they have worked tirelessly in preparation for the season to start, and I know everyone who joins us will see and feel all of that hard work and passion, both on our opening day and every day throughout the season.”
Lifts spinning starting at 8:15am on Thursday include Blackcomb Gondola, Excalibur Gondola, Excelerator, Jersey Cream, and Catskinner on Blackcomb Mountain; those operating on Whistler Mountain include the Whistler Village Gondola, Fitzsimmons, Garbanzo, Emerald, and Franz’s Chair, with an early season terrain package that includes 125 skiable acres on Blackcomb and 116 acres on Whistler. Whistler Blackcomb will continue to make snow and take advantage of new snowfall to expand terrain offerings.
Opening Day will also feature a traditional welcome from the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre (SLCC) at Skiers’ Plaza in Whistler Village, as well as music and DJs, sponsored prizes, and giveaways at Whistler Village Base and Blackcomb Base.
Among the many highlights for the 2022/23 season is a full return of Whistler Blackcomb’s signature events, including: The World Ski and Snowboard Festival, weekly Fire & Ice Shows in Whistler Village, the 37th Annual Peak to Valley Race, Whistler Cup, and Creekside Classic. Additionally, freeride competitions, rail jams and lots of fun activations are planned for the winter holiday season kick off in December.
EDGE and Whistler Blackcomb Day Passes, as well as Epic Passes and Epic Day Passes are still available on WhistlerBlackcomb.com or EpicPass.com. They can also be purchased at ticket windows (passes go off sale on December 4). Guests planning to visit this winter are encouraged to purchase their lift access in advance – whether it is a lift ticket, Epic Day Pass or season pass. Lift tickets will be limited every day during the 2022/23 season in order to preserve the guest experience. Guests can expect more normal indoor operations this year as dining facilities will no longer require proof of COVID-19 vaccinations or dining reservations.
Upgrades to Creekside Gondola and Big Red Express are still underway and will open this season. Guests are encouraged to visit Whistler Blackcomb’s website, blog, social channels for information related to these projects, as well as Creekside-specific information, including shuttle service, parking, and expedited lift line details until the Creekside Gondola construction is completed.
For real-time operational information, please visit the Whistler Blackcomb operations Twitter feed (@wbmtnops). Guests are also encouraged to download the EpicMix app, which provides real-time information about lift lines and wait times, and check out the snow & weather widget in the top right of every page on our website for the most up-to-date weather and trail information.
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Vail Resorts, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is the leading global mountain resort operator. Vail Resorts' subsidiaries currently operate 40 destination mountain resorts and regional ski areas, including Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Crested Butte in Colorado; Park City in Utah; Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood in the Lake Tahoe area of California and Nevada; Whistler Blackcomb in British Columbia, Canada; Perisher, Falls Creek and Hotham in Australia; Stowe, Mount Snow, Okemo in Vermont; Hunter Mountain in New York; Mount Sunapee, Attitash, Wildcat and Crotched in New Hampshire; Stevens Pass in Washington; Seven Springs, Hidden Valley, Laurel Mountain, Liberty, Roundtop, Whitetail, Jack Frost and Big Boulder in Pennsylvania; Alpine Valley, Boston Mills, Brandywine and Mad River in Ohio; Hidden Valley and Snow Creek in Missouri; Wilmot in Wisconsin; Afton Alps in Minnesota; Mt. Brighton in Michigan; and Paoli Peaks in Indiana. Vail Resorts owns and/or manages a collection of casually elegant hotels under the Rock Resorts brand, as well as the Grand Teton Lodge Company in Jackson Hole, Wyo. Vail Resorts Development Company is the real estate planning and development subsidiary of Vail Resorts, Inc. Vail Resorts is a publicly held company traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: MTN). The Vail Resorts company website is www.vailresorts.com and consumer website is www.snow.com.