Tag Archive for: WhistlerBlackcomb

seniorsskiing

Short Swings!

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historic7_

Congratulations!!  Two SeniorsSkiing.com Advisory Council members have been named to the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame:

Gretchen Besser “…for her unprecedented career as a ski patroller and first aid instructor… and her impact as an historian, international liaison and visionary in the world of skiing…”

Bernie Weichsel “As an advocate and creator of an organized freestyle competition circuit. His innovative SKI USA worldwide promotions continue to bring thousands of international skiers to U.S. slopes and his consumer ski and snowboard expos attract tens of thousands of visitors each year.”

CALIFORNIA

Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows got 15 inches and was planning to open this week. Last season delivered 41 feet. The resort has a new lift-accessed guided backcountry skiing/boarding operation.

Sequoia National Park hosts its annual Trek to the Tree event on December 11. Visitors walk to The General Grant Tree, designated as the Nation’s Christmas Tree. Since 1925, Trek to the Tree has honored the Armed Forces.

CANADA

Whistler Blackcomb opened this week with almost three feet of coverage. More expected over coming days.

COLORADO

Purgatory opened last week, just got 17″.

Wolf Creek opened Thanksgiving Day, with 16″ of new.

Telluride received 11″.

Copper Mountain opened with two feet of base and fresh.

Arapahoe Basin and Loveland are open. Each just received 7″.

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Bretton Woods has opened for its 43rd season.

UTAH

Ski Utah reports that high elevation Brian Head, in the south of the state, received 15” this week. Any Utah resort receiving a foot or more is designated as a Monster Dump on Ski Utah’s outstanding website.

Deer Valley Resort was named United States’ Best Ski Resort by the World Ski Award. The resort has received the title for four consecutive years.

Other

VinniBag
 protects and insulates anything that might break or leak, including wine & spirit bottles. The reusable travel bag uses inflatable air chambers and stores flat, rolled or folded when not in use. A terrific and unusual gift at $28 ($25@ for two or more).

Gripforce is a dual-purpose boot that, with the flip of a switch, transforms a boot into an ice cleat in less than a second. Developers say It is as safe to wear on glistening ice as it is on hardwood floor.

Patagonia is donating 100% of its Black Friday store and online sales to grassroots environmental groups.

 

 

 

Volcano on Chile's Nevado de Chillan Ski Resort
Jon Weisberg

This Week in SeniorsSkiing.com (Aug 12)

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V for Vail, Vandals, Volcanoes…and Vacation!!!!

Volcano on Chile's Nevado de Chillan Ski Resort

This week we report on V‘s: Vail (purchasing WhistlerBlackcomb), Vandals (destroying the world’s oldest skier image), and Volcanoes (erupting in Chile’s Nevado de Chillan ski resort). We figure it’s an appropriate use of the alphabet, since both Mike and I are taking Vacations next week. He’s with family on Prince Edward Island. My wife and I will be on a road trip to Colorado’s Western Slope, hiking, soaking in hot springs, taking it easy.

Out of respect to the adjacent letter, “W,” we’re including a quirky video from Whakappa in New Zealand. If you’re in a hot and humid place, watch it. You’ll shiver!

If you’re contemplating purchasing a season pass, now is the time to do it. The cost of resort and multiple resort passes generally increases after Labor Day. Some resorts, like Snowbird, include a variety of goodies for early purchasers.

SeniorsSkiing is taking a break next week — our first since we started publishing in 2014. We’ll have some interesting and exciting developments to share as we approach the 2016-17 season. More on those when we return August 26!

In the meanwhile, keep doing what you do to condition for Winter. It’s going to be a great season for older skiers. There are more of us every day, and we aren’t going away!

Blackcomb Mountain
Jon Weisberg

Vail Purchases Whistler Blackcomb

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Chinese Skiers Expected to Fuel Growth.

Aerial view of Glacier Creek, Glacier and Jersey Chairs

Aerial view of Glacier Creek, Glacier and Jersey Chairs

Vail Resorts Inc. has reached an agreement to buy Whistler Blackcomb Holdings, owner of Whistler Blackcomb ski resort. The C$1.4 billion deal is expected to result in Vail’s marketing machine to attract greater numbers of international visitors to Whistler Blackcomb.

“We have felt for a long time that Whistler (Blackcomb) is really the best positioned North American resort to benefit from the growth that we expect in outbound Chinese ski visitation, especially as China starts to ramp up towards the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics,” explained Vail CEO Rob Katz.

News of the sale had a positive impact on Whistler Blackcomb shares, which jumped to C $36.63 per share in Toronto, up by C$11.49 following Monday’s announcement.

Earlier this year, Whistler Blackcomb announced a C$345-million infrastructure and real estate expansion.

David Brownlie, Whistler Blackcomb CEO, will remain chief operating officer.

Whistler opened in 1966, with a four-person gondola, a double chairlift and a day lodge. It merged with Blackcomb in 1997. The combined areas comprise the largest and most visited ski resort in North America