WHISTLER, BC - Whistler Blackcomb is casting an optimistic gaze toward its 2007/2008 winter season after last year was heralded as the resort's second snowiest year on record, with a total snowfall of 14.16 metres (46.5 feet). That's 40 per cent more than the resort's average annual snowfall of 1,022cm (33.5 feet).
 
"With the landmark Peak to Peak project underway, the return of the popular Symphony Amphitheatre, and a host of other on-mountain improvements, this winter promises to be one of the most exciting yet," says Dave Brownlie, Whistler Blackcomb's Chief Operating Officer.

Peak to Peak
Construction is well underway on one of Whistler Blackcomb's landmark projects and Canada's newest tourism icon, the Peak to Peak Gondola. This autumn, Peak to Peak crews expect to have towers Two and Three erected before the 2007/2008 winter season. Construction resumes April 2008 for a December 2008 grand opening.
 
"This exciting project is such a huge undertaking and one of the largest of its kind in the world," says Rick Temple, Peak to Peak Gondola project manager for Whistler Blackcomb. "The Peak to Peak Gondola project is an entirely new horizon for Whistler Blackcomb and it's going to spark all kinds of opportunities and growth for tourism in the region."
 
Once completed, the gondola will become a tourism icon for British Columbia and Canada, bringing visitors from all over the world into the high alpine to experience scenic views. Supported by only four towers, the gondola will travel 4.4 kilometers (2.73 miles) in just 11 minutes - reaching a highest vertical point of 415 m (1,361 feet) above Fitzsimmons Creek, which is a world record. Coming in at $53 million, the Peak to Peak Gondola also breaks the world record for longest free span, with a distance of 3.024 kilometres (1.88 miles) between the two towers furthest apart.

2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games
With the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games only three winters away, preparations are well underway in the resort and on the mountains.
 
Whistler Blackcomb is the venue for the men's and women's Olympic and Paralympic alpine skiing disciplines of Downhill, Super-G, Giant Slalom, Slalom and Super Combined. In preparation for these events, crews led by the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC), are contouring and reshaping the men's and women's downhill courses, located at Whistler Creekside. The men's downhill will take place on the Dave Murray course, while the women's downhill and all Paralympic alpine skiing events will take place on a newly designed race course on Wildcard and mid to lower Franz's Trail.
 
Improvements to snowmaking technology have been ongoing since 2006 and include doubling the size of the reservoir, installing snowmaking pipework and pump station upgrades. VANOC is spending approximately $17.6 million on snowmaking infrastructure for the Games, a legacy for Whistler Blackcomb long after 2010. Meanwhile, construction is continuing on the Whistler Sliding Centre, located on Blackcomb Mountain. The Sliding Centre will host the bobsleigh, luge and skeleton events. Construction on the course will conclude in early 2008.

FIS World Cup 2008
The FIS World Cup Alpine Ski Races are scheduled to run February 18 to 24, 2008. Whistler will host the women's Downhill and Super Combined, and men's Super G and Giant Slalom on the new Olympic course.
 
"The World Cup race events returning to Whistler Blackcomb and Panorama Mountain Village this season represent a major step toward Canada's goal of being a world-leading alpine ski racing nation by 2010," said ACA chief executive officer Ken Read. "As we prepare for the 2010 Games, Whistler has become our home away from home hosting various race events, such as the Pontiac GMC Canadian Alpine Championships, and dry-land training for our athletes." The Pontiac GMC Canadian Alpine Championships will run February 6 to 12, 2008.