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Dive into 10 days of skiing, apres, parties and live music
Parties, skiing and entertainment await at the World Ski & Snowboard Festival.
Photo by Mike Crane
MICHELLE LEROUX
Whistler’s epic spring closer - the World Ski & Snowboard Festival - celebrates its 21st year as one of the best spring festivals on the planet from April 8-17, 2016.
SnowSeekers wants to help you peel back the curtain and experience this 10-day marathon of good times just like local Whistlerites do. Grab your goodie bag of swag (thanks to WSSF’s sponsors) and dive on in, the fun is more than fine.
Buy your event tickets now
If you're coming from afar and your name isn’t Mark McMorris (aka Olympian X games medallist), get your WSSF plan dialed and buy those coveted event tickets now. Sure sellouts include Olympus Pro Photographer’s Showdown and Olympus 72 Hou Filmmaker Showdown. I am also hearing a strong buzz on the streets for Intersection and Multiplicity.
Here’s the link to the event dates and online tickets. You’ll thank me later.
Technology is your friend
Get your phone set up with the WSSF App featuring a digital lighter for the Fido Outdoor Concert Series, Whistler Blackcomb’s very cool WB+ app so you can humble brag in great detail about how many runs you’ve slayed. You can also peruse your accommodation options here so you know where you’ll be charging your phone each night.
When you book through WSSF you’ll be able to access rooms starting at $99 per night, all within stumbling distance of events and parties, not to mention take advantage of free apres when you stay two or more nights.
Check out Whistler Blackcomb's new EDGE Card. Get in on the locals' secrets and save money.
Want to kick it up a notch? Book WSSF’s Ultimate VIP Package so you can do WSSF like a rock star and enjoy all-access to events and parties while living like royalty at the slope-side Westin Resort & Spa.
Discover the undiscovered
For the first time, WSSF will include a big mountain ski competition as part of the on-snow events. The International Freeski and Snowboard Asssociation (IFSA) event challenges the best ski and snowboard groms (12-18 years old ) in the world to shred big-mountain terrain, while judges score them on style, control, technique, fluidity and line choice. These rippers from around the world will blow your mind, and they aren’t even old enough to enjoy apres yet!
Feel the beat
The Fido Outdoor Concert Series has partnered with Spotify to identify the most searched and listened to Canadian artists from the Sea-to-Sky Corridor, Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island, and surrounding areas to help build the artist line-up on the Fido Main Stage during WSSF. How cool is that? From the heavy-hitting beats of Chromeo to country crooner Tim Hicks, the Fido music line-up is sure to rock WSSF’s world. Get primed with the ultimate WSSF playlist on Spotify now, #FidoShreds.
Get ready to dance and hear your favourite new musical talents.
Photo by Dave Humphreys
Play with the locals
You can probably get up close and personal with some “locals” using an app like Tinder. My recommendation would be to up your chances of meeting real, homegrown Whistler talent by hitting these events at WSSF sure to attract locals.
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Splatterday Night Fever Roller Derby, Saturday, April 9 – Rival squads from Whistler and Squamish are combining forces to create the ultimate super team, the Apex Pistols, ready to take down Comox’s Brick House Betties, sniper-style.
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Buck Cancer, Saturday, April 9 at Dusty’s - This fundraising event, spearheaded by The Whistler Firefighter Association, will benefit families fighting cancer in the Sea To Sky. Such a worthy cause, and there will be firefighters and a mechanical bull. Need I say more?
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Whistler Comedy Showdown, Tuesday, April 12 – This stand-up competition is sure to bring down the house with locals and seasoned comics alike getting on the mic to vie for the biggest laughs of the night.
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#FidoShreds - Mosh with locals, the following musical acts are true Whistler and sure to attract their hometown BFFs and super fans: Blame the Weekend, Willa, SkiTour, Mat the Alien, Case of the Mondays and, of course, The Hairfarmers, a legendary duo that has been voted Whistler’s best band every year since 2001.
Earn your apres
Whistler Blackcomb is enjoying one of its best seasons ever with over 1,200 centimetres of snow this year, so be sure to save some steam for skiing and snowboarding. Besides checking out on-snow events, including the Monster Boarderstyle and the IFSA North American Junior Freeride Championships, make your own tracks. Borrow the latest gear from the Demo Park and hit up the Halfpipe Fam Jam for a good old-fashioned spring pipe session.
You’ll have earned right to start the party early with an icy beverage on a mountain patio. Don’t miss the Monster Energy DJ booth at the Glacier Creek Lodge on Blackcomb that’s sure to blow your face off.
Learn more about the World Ski and Snowboard Festival with our FestivalSeekers overview.
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