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Whistler Blackcomb is preparing for the 2009.10 season and we’re anticipating a very exciting year as we realize a five decade-long dream of becoming the Official Alpine Skiing venue for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
We have heard many questions about accessing the resort, accessing the mountains and questions about what life will generally be like during the Games. Some questions have answers, and some don't yet. The answers we do know form the Olympic section of the Whistler Blackcomb website. These pages will be updated as more information becomes available so that you can plan for your best possible trip, this winter season.
Please continue to e-mail your questions to olympics@intrawest.com. Though we may not be able to respond to each question individually, this will help us identify missing information that needs to be posted on these pages.
The following information outlines when each of the day parking lots will be available for public use, or closed due to VANOC exclusive use. Lots will be 100% open unless specified below.
Lot 1: Feb 1 - Mar 1, VANOC exclusive use; no public access.
Lot 2: Jan 11 - Feb 1, 90% available to public; Feb 1 - Mar 1 VANOC exclusive use.
Lot 3: Feb 1 - Mar 1, VANOC exclusive use.
Lot 4: Jan 11 - Feb 1, 95% available to public, Feb 1 - Mar 26 VANOC exclusive use.
Lot 5: Feb 1 - Mar 26 VANOC exclusive use.
Lot 6: Mixed use until Feb 4, Feb 4 - Mar 4 VANOC exclusive use.
Lot 7: Sept 1 - Mar 30 VANOC exclusive use.
Lot 8: Sept 1 - Mar 30 VANOC exclusive use.
VANOC = Vancouver Organizing Committee for 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
Phased-in Creekside parkade closures:
Franz's Trail merchants open for business throughout Games time, including delivery access.
Feb 1 - Mar 27, 2010: venue perimeter established from the Timing Flats area to the Creekside base area.
Mar 22 - Apr 30, 2010: decommissioning period.
Phase 1 and 2 of the Integrated Transportation Plan have now been released by the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC), in conjunction with its partners.
The details contained in these plans form the basis of the information currently for this section
A vastly improved Sea to Sky Highway will remain open throughout the season for access to and from Whistler. One Traffic Checkpoint near the Alice Lake turn off, north of Squamish on the Sea to Sky Highway, will ensure that drivers travelling north to Whistler during the Games have a place to park their cars when they arrive in the resort. The Traffic Checkpoint will be in operation from 6 am to 6 pm from February 11 to 28. Cars travelling through this Checkpoint between these hours will require a permit. Travelling outside of these hours will not require a permit.
Travellers on the Sea to Sky Highway are asked to avoid the peak Olympic travel times (6am to 6pm) in order to minimize traffic on the road during peak hours. Please note that the highway will NOT be closed during the Games.
For guests staying overnight in Whistler, confirming whether your accommodation includes parking is imperative. Hotels that offer parking will be mailing a Traffic Checkpoint permit to guests, if guests are not travelling to Whistler by shuttle. Please note that a print-out of your hotel confirmation will not suffice at the Checkpoint. Guests must have the VANOC issued permit to travel north of the checkpoint, between the hours of 6 am to 6 pm, during the Games.
If guests want to ski or ride Whistler Blackcomb for the day, plans are being developed to provide additional travel options. The Day Skier (link) section of this site provides more information and will be continually updated in the coming months as details are finalized.
A "know before you go" communications campaign will be rolled out to ensure that all travellers clearly know what to expect, and what peak hours to avoid. Up-to-date transportation information will be provided through a transportation management centre during Games time.
During the month of February 2010, VANOC is increasing BC Transit service considerably between Squamish and Whistler, Pemberton and Whistler and within the resort. The number of BC Transit buses will increase from 25 to 135 and the service hours will increase from 8,000 hours to 54,000 hours for the month. That’s over a 600 per cent increase in regular winter transit service.
Souvenir bus passes for the month of February will be available for purchase as of December 1 at local outlets as well as online.
Ticketed spectators ride free on the day of the event.
Whistler Games Time Souvenir Pass
$38.50 valid on all local Whistler routes, one price for all passengers.
Whistler Games Time Cash Fare
$2 on all local Whistler routes including the Village Shuttle. One price for all passengers, transfers available, exact fare only.
Squamish Connector Games Time Souvenir Pass
$95 valid on all local routes in Squamish, in Whistler and on the #98 Squamish Connector
Squamish Connector Games Time Cash Fare
$10 valid on #98 Squamish Connector only, one price for all passengers, exact fare only.
Squamish Local Service in February 2010
Regular Squamish local rates are available for local travel in Squamish, click here for rate information.
Note: Regular Squamish-Whistler Commuter rates are not available February 2010. See Squamish Connector information above for rates.
Pemberton Connector Games Time Souvenir Pass
$50 valid on all local routes in Pemberton, in Whistler and on the #99 Pemberton Connector
Pemberton Connector Games Time Cash Fare
$6 valid on #99 Pemberton Connector only, one price for all passengers, exact fare only.
Pemberton Local Service in February 2010
Regular Pemberton local rates are available for local travel in Pemberton, click here for rate information.
Note: Regular Pemberton Commuter rates are not available February 2010. See Pemberton Connector information above for rates.
Proposed BC Transit schedule has the Squamish-Whistler Connector running 24 hours a day:
Proposed BC Transit schedule has the Pemberton-Whistler Connector running 24 hours a day:
Access from Pinecrest and Black Tusk
BC Transit will be providing regularly scheduled service between Black Tusk and Pinecrest to Function Junction for direct connections to service into Whistler Village.
Service will be approximately every 40 minutes from 5:00 a.m. until 12:00 a.m. from February 1st through to the 28th.
Bus service within Whistler will increase dramatically. Service hours are going to increase ten-fold and existing routes will be enhanced. New routes to run in Whistler Resort will be: Games Express route on Highway 99, Whistler Cay Loop, Nicklaus North and community buses: Bayshores, Kadenwood, Nordic Estates and Gondola Way. There will also be increased frequency on existing routes, including Alta Lake Road Shuttle.
Whistler Bus Service will include the Whistler Sliding Centre (Blackcomb) and Whistler Creekside Olympic competition venues. In addition, bus service will include all non-competition venues including: Whistler Olympic and Paralympic Village, Whistler Media Centre, Whistler Celebration Plaza, Whistler Live! Sites, and Whistler Transportation Mall (day lots).
For more information on parking and transportation during the Games check out the 2010 Transportation Update compiled by the Resort Municipality of Whistler in March 2009 or the VANOC Fact Sheet.
TravelSmart 2010 - website
Transportation Inset - PDF
2010 Transport Phase 1 - PDF
Visiting Whistler Blackcomb during the Olympic year will not only be an exciting and memorable experience, but also a great time to ski or ride as well. Prior Winter Olympic hosts have experienced an “aversion factor” in the year of the Games and as a result, many guests have stayed away. People assume the mountains will be closed or too crowded or still under construction when in fact, that couldn’t be further from the truth.
With fewer guests expected on the mountains, skiers and riders next year will have a minimum of 7,500 acres to explore all season long, with more terrain groomed each night than any other resort in North America, and an annual snowfall average of 33 feet to enjoy.
Additionally, mountain access will be available all season long via four base lifts:
Whistler Mountain:Blackcomb Mountain:
The Creekside base is home to the Olympic and Paralympic Alpine Events. As such, this area will be the most affected by Games preparation and execution.
The Creekside Gondola will be closed to the public from February 1 to March 1 and will provide priority loading to Paralympic athletes and officials through to the end of the Paralympic Winter Games on March 21. Fortunately, the popular Peak to Creek run will remain open throughout the Games as a ski-out.
While the Creekside Gondola is closed to the public during the month of February, Creekside residents and guests will be able to access the lifts in Whistler Village or the Blackcomb Base by a dramatically enhanced BC Transit system.
From February 1, bus service hours increase ten-fold, and the number of buses will increase from 39 to 135, servicing Whistler, Squamish and Pemberton. Bus service will run 24 hours a day and will extend to include neighbourhoods that currently do not have bus service. The goal is to have bus stops within 400 metres of 90 per cent of the homes in Whistler. More information regarding bus service can be found
Whistler Blackcomb terrain will be fully open for the majority of the 2009-2010 winter season, weather permitting. During the Olympic and Paralympic period, which begins January 25 for course set up, over 90 per cent of terrain will remain open. The only closed runs will be those in the area of the race course on Whistler Mountain along with the training runs on both mountains. During the Paralympics in March, over 90 per cent of the terrain will also be open with only the race course and training runs closed on Whistler Mountain.
Plus, on-mountain guests will be able to watch some of the speed events course-side from special viewing areas set up on the Men’s and Ladies’ race courses. Stay tuned for a map of the viewing areas.
Whistler Mountain Run Closures (January 25 to March 27)
Whistler Mountain Run Closures (January 30 to March 27)
Whistler Mountain Run Closures - other
Blackcomb Mountain Training Run Closures (January 29 to February 28)
OPEN FOR NORMAL OPERATIONS all season long
BLACKCOMB MOUNTAIN
WHISTLER MOUNTAIN
OPEN, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF SPECIFIED DATES (subject to change)
Winter 2009.10 vacation packages for Whistler Blackcomb are currently available at value packed prices. The annual Early Booking Offer is available until November 15, offering the best deals of the season with packages starting at just $88 per person, per night, for accommodation and lift tickets. The information outlined below is designed to help you make travel planning this winter easier, and ensure you get the most out of the mountains during your stay.
The official opening day of Whistler Blackcomb is November 26, 2009. Whistler Blackcomb terrain will open as weather and snow conditions allow, with access from Creekside, Whistler Village and the Blackcomb Base. Day parking will be available in the Day Lots and Creekside, with minimal restrictions.
Whistler Blackcomb terrain will be 100 per cent open, as weather and snow conditions allow, with access from Creekside and Whistler Village and the Blackcomb Base. Day parking will be available in the Day Lots and Creekside, with minimal restrictions.
Whistler Blackcomb terrain will be fully open, as weather and snow conditions allow, with access from Creekside, Whistler Village and the Blackcomb Base. Parking will be available in the Day Lots, with some restrictions, and limited Creekside parking. Please check the parking tab (link) for specifics.
Access up the Creekside Gondola is open the entire month of January with priority access for athletes and VANOC officials from January 25 through 31. Access up the Whistler Village Gondola, Excalibur Gondola and from Blackcomb Base is open to the public and remains unaffected.
Whistler Mountain Run Closures (January 25 to March 27)
Whistler Mountain Run Closures (January 30 to March 27)
Visiting during Games-time will be a truly memorable experience with extraordinary events, excitement and vibrancy. Whistler Blackcomb will be 90 per cent open with access to Whistler Resort via an enhanced BC Transit System for Squamish and Pemberton residents, private bus carrier, or, for those with confirmed parking in Whistler, via private cars along the Sea to Sky Highway.
Access up the mountains will be from the Whistler Village Gondola, Excalibur Gondola and Fitzsimmons Express in Whistler Village, and the Wizard Express at the base of Blackcomb. Creekside will be closed for Games operations.
Access from residential areas to Whistler Village or the Blackcomb Base will be provided by a dramatically increased BC Transit system. From February 1 to 28, bus service will increase 246 per cent in bus fleet size, from 39 to 135 buses, servicing Whistler, Squamish and Pemberton. Bus service will run 24 hours a day and extend to include neighbourhoods that currently do not have bus service.
For more information specific to day skiers and riders in February, please check the What's Open tab
Whistler Blackcomb terrain will be 90 per cent open. From March 2 through March 21, public access up the mountains will be available via the Creekside Gondola with a priority lift line available for Paralympic athletes, officials and spectators.
Access up Whistler and Blackcomb will be available, as per usual, from the Whistler Village Gondola, Excalibur Gondola and Fitzsimmons Express in Whistler Village, and the Wizard Express at the Blackcomb Base.
Day parking in Lots 1 through 3 is scheduled to re-open to the public on March 2. Creekside Parking will remain closed to the public for the majority of the month.
Whistler Blackcomb will be open for normal operations with plenty of day parking available in ALL Day Lots. Creekside will offer parking on levels P2, P3, and P4.
Whistler Blackcomb will be open for normal operations for spring skiing, mountain biking and summer sightseeing and hiking with plenty of day parking available in Creekside and the Village lots. Day Lots 1, 2 and 3 will become pay parking lots in June 2010, while lots 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and Creekside will remain free.
CALL TOLL FREE 1.888.403.4727
For vacation deals pre- and post Games period search our Deals & Packages
Alpine SkiingThe Alpine Skiing events will take place on Whistler Mountain and include Downhill, Super G, Giant Slalom, Slalom, and Combined. The Men's events will be hosted entirely on the Dave Murray Downhill, widely considered as one of the top 3 courses in the world. The Women's and Paralympic Alpine course will begin on Wild Card, swing over to Lower Jimmie's Joker, and wind its way down a portion of Franz's to finally join up with the Men's course on the Lower Dave Murray Downhill.
The entire Creekside base will be transformed during Games-time to accommodate facilities such as wax cabins, athlete's lounge, and security check posts. VANOC is installing a chairlift at Creekside to carry spectators, Olympic Family and officials from the base area to the Timing Flats. In all, this venue will be prepared to host a capacity crowd of 7600 people. After the Games, much of the overlay will be removed and Whistler Creekside will be a site for future international competitions and Canadian team training.
Nordic
Whistler Olympic Park, the Nordic Competition Venue is complete and will host all Nordic events: cross country skiing, biathlon, ski jumping, and Nordic combined events.
The venue, open daily for public access hosts all competition facilities including two ski jumps, competition trails and training trails, as well as utility installation, access roads, parking lots, technical sport buildings, a day lodge and other related infrastructure. 55 kilometres of recreational trails, and access to the day lodge, are available for public use. Three separate, temporary stadiums will be in place for the Olympic Games; each will house 12,000 fans.
SlidingParalympicWhistler will host Paralympic Alpine Skiing, Biathalon and Cross-Country events.
All Paralympic alpine skiing events will take place on Franz's Run on Whistler Mountain.
All the Paralympic cross-country skiing and biathlon events will take place at Whistler Olympic Park. Competition courses include a 5-kilometre course for the standing classes and a 3.75-kilometre course for the sit-ski classes. Several kilometres of training trails will be available near the competition courses. A temporary and portable 10-metre biathlon range will be set up in the stadium for the biathlon events.
Highway 99 will remain open throughout the winter for anyone wishing to travel to and from Whistler.
From February 11 through 28 there will be a Sea to Sky Traffic Check point near the Alice Lake turn off, just north of Squamish. This check point will operate from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and will require those traveling north bound to show a VANOC issued permit.
For more detailed information please view our Transportation Tab information
A dramatically enhanced Transit system will be implemented during the Games to facilitate travel around Whistler, as well to Whistler from Pemberton and Squamish.
View our Access Around Whistler information.
Whistler Blackcomb terrain will be 100 per cent open for the majority of the 2009-2010 winter season, weather permitting. During the Olympic and Paralympic period, which begins January 25 for course set up, over 90 per cent of terrain will remain open. The only closed runs will be those in the area of the race course on Whistler Mountain and select training runs on both mountains.
For more detailed information regarding lift and trail operation dates during Games time, view the What’s Open Tab
Historically, the host mountain venue does see a decrease in the number of skiers and riders the year of the Olympics and Paralympics because of an “Olympic Aversion” factor. An Olympic Aversion can occur because of a number of misconceptions that the host venue will be too busy, expensive, still under construction, etc.
At Whistler Blackcomb, we are actively trying to address this with information as well as compelling packages. Our Early Bird season pass price was available for the lowest price in a decade and our Early Booking deal offers accommodation and lift ticket packages from $88 per person, per night, all season long. Guests who book by November 15 will also receive our Best Price Guarantee. If a similar package is offered for a lower price, we will refund the difference.
With a great package secured, picture this:
If groomers are your thing, then get ready to enjoy more terrain groomed each night than anywhere else in North America, while still having the chance to relish the precious corduroy at noon.
Pretty epic, eh? Basically, skiing or riding Whistler Blackcomb next season, particularly in February, will be what dreams are made of. Yes, there will be some additional effort required to get to the base, but will it ever be worth it.
Day Lot and Creekside parking will remain free for the 2009-2010 winter season.
Day Lots 1, 2 and 3 will become pay parking for summer 2010. Day lots 4 and 5, upper parking lots 6, 7, 8 and the Creekside lots will remain free.
To compensate for decreased parking availability (or closures) in the Day Lots and Creekside in January, February and March, Whistler Blackcomb is working with VANOC and its resort partners to offer temporary parking lots throughout the season. Details regarding these temporary parking lots have yet to be confirmed but will be posted in the Parking tab of this website as details are confirmed.
Yes, a wide variety of lodging options are available throughout the winter season at very competitive prices, and bookings are currently being taken.
Historically, the host mountain venue does see a decrease in the number of skiers and riders the year of the Olympics and Paralympics because of an “Olympic Aversion” factor. An Olympic aversion can occur because of a number of misconceptions that the host venue will be too busy, expensive, still under construction, etc.
At Whistler Blackcomb, we are actively trying to address this with information as well as compelling packages. Our Early Booking deal offers accommodation and lift ticket packages from $88 per person, per night, all season long. Guests who book by November 15 also receive our Best Price Guarantee. If a similar package is offered for a lower price, we will refund the difference.
Will there be accommodations available in Whistler during the 2010 Winter Games period? If so, when will we be able to book? Yes, bookings are currently being taken for accommodations during the Games. For Games-time reservations, please call the Official Central Reservations for Whistler Blackcomb where one of our Travel Consultants can assist you with the most up-to-date accommodations available. Call Toll-Free 1-888-403-4727.
Yes, bookings are currently being taken for accommodations during the Games. For Games-time reservations, please call the Official Central Reservations for Whistler Blackcomb where one of our Travel Consultants can assist you with the most up-to-date accommodations available. Call Toll-Free 1-888-403-4727.
Whistler was designed to host the world 365 days a year, and for many years, it has been welcoming more than two million annual visitors to its slopes.
On any given day, the resort can accommodate more than 30,000 overnight visitors, not to mention thousands of additional day visitors. The pedestrian-only village serves to ensure guests have convenient access to the entire resort without the hassle of traffic. Plus, Whistler boasts more than 100 restaurants, bars and lounges and more than 200 retail shops. The town may have only 9,000 residents, but its amenities and capacity rival that of many urban centres.
In addition to the competition events, Whistler Live! will be showcasing free celebration events, shows, and activities including the Olympic Arts Festival and Paralympic Arts Festival, which will run throughout each of the Games. These festivals will celebrate BC, Canadian and international arts and culture featuring First Nations, classical and contemporary music, theatre, dance, film, literary, visual arts, street entertainment and more. Skiing and riding on Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains will also be available right through Games time.
Please note you do not need a competition ticket to view any of these events and the Whistler Live! events in Whistler Village are free.
Yes. Whistler Live! featuring six free Celebration Sites will be located in the main plazas throughout Whistler Village for the duration of the Games. Each site will feature a large screen where guests and residents alike can gather to watch the coverage of the day’s events and nightly medal ceremonies. In addition, each site will feature free daily and nightly entertainment including bands, performing artists, and theatre.
For Canadian residents, remaining tickets to both the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games are available at vancouver2010.com
Non-Canadian residents must purchase tickets through the official ticket agent for their National Olympic Committee. For example, US residents (including Canadian citizens living in the US) must purchase tickets to the 2010 Winter Games through CoSport, a sister company of Jet Set Sports, the authorized ticket sales agent of the US Olympic Committee (USOC). For a list of National Olympic Committees and Official Ticket Agents who have chosen to participate in the Vancouver 2010 ticket program, go to vancouver2010.com
Yes. Guests can save up to 39 per cent on their vacation this winter, and receive our Best Price Guarantee, if booked before November 15, 2009. Click here for details
You will experience Games-time security measures if you are:
And only at the venues under secure perimeters:
Games-time security will be similar to the “mag-and-bag” system you experience at an airport.
Whistler Village and the rest of the community will feel like a regular season village experience.
For more information about the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games visit vancouver2010.com
NOTE: All information subject to change.
