First Snow Dump Reports of the 2010-2011 Season

Nothing ushers in the new snowboarding (and skiing) season better than a wave of snow dump reports. Since I’m sure all our readers are anxiously waiting to hit the slopes, here’s a list of the latest snow dumps.

Fernie in British Columbia gets 20cm (7.9 inches) of snow: The resort was hit by a snow storm bringing along with it up to 20cm of snow in the upper alpine of Fernie’s legendary 5 bowls.  With the predicted La Niña weather cycle for the Pacific Northwest, cool temperatures and more snow than the resort’s annual 29 feet (8.9 meters) of snowfall are expected.   Fernie Alpine Resort is (tentatively) scheduled to open for the season on Saturday December 4, 2010.

Whistler Blackcomb gets 30cm (11.8 inches) of snow: The Pacific storm sweeping through BC brought along with it almost 30cm of snow  into the Whistler Blackcomb twin mountains. The predicted La Niña weather cycle for the region is expected to keep temperatures cool and result in more snow fall than Whistler Blackcomb’s annual average of about 34 feet (10.25 metres).

Utah is reported to have received 50cm (20 inches) of snow: National Weather Service expects an additional 1 to 5 cm of snow today (October 27) as a result of what is known as ‘Lake Effect Snow Showers’.

Whistler Backyard Freestyle Snowboarding Video

When Whistler’s in your backyard, you’d be having this much fun. Teleportation technology needs to step it up a bit… airfare is just too expensive to hop all the way to the west coast every weekend!

Whistler Blackcomb Snowboarder Review

Specs that Matter

Location: Whistler, British Columbia, Canada
Vertical: Whistler Mountain, 1530 Meters. Blackcomb Mountain, 1565 Meters.
Snowboardable Terrain: Whistler, 4575 acres. Blackcomb, 3414 acres.
Runs: More than 200 combined.
Longest Run: Approximately 11 km/7 miles on each mountain.
Lifts: 38 combined with 4 gondolas, including Peak-to-Peak gondola.
Average Snowfall: 10.22 meters/402 inches per year.

The Mountains

For years, enthusiasts have described Whistler Blackcomb as a snowboarder’s paradise. I had the chance to confirm these claims on a February, 2007 and a November, 2009 visit to the resort. As an east coaster, I’m simply amazed by the mountains and general terrain available for snowboarders in the west and Whistler definitely does not hold back in that sense. The scenery you get to see on the drive up from Vancouver to Whistler is absolutely breathtaking and the closer you get, the more this beast begins to materialize in the distance. Two gigantic mountains, hundreds of crossing trails, powder-covered peaks, bowls the size of small African countries, and enough snow to make you weak in the knees. Seeing all this from a distance, you’re hands are already touching your feet in an effort to buckle up non-existent bindings.

Intrawest didn’t hold back in designing the village either. Tons of hotels, restaurants, shops, and cafes with that special “Christmasy” feel to it all in an effort to get you to spend as much money as possible while you’re there. Whistler has been described by many as one of the most expensive resorts in the world. In many cases that is true depending on when you plan on going and where you stay while you’re there. If you live on the east coast, some European destinations might work out to actually cost you less.

Surf’s Up!

The conditions during both of my visits to Whistler varied drastically. In February of 2008, my week-long stay had been mainly icy due to the lack of snow while we were there and several days before we had arrived. As big as the mountains were, without any snow it was definitely hard to enjoy any of it. Whistler prides itself in giving riders the “backcountry” experience in a way that is safe and accessible but when there’s no snow, you’re limited to groomed paths down the bowls and even in the middle of the runs (most trails are very wide).

My visit this November was a completely different experience. Whistler received record-breaking amounts of snow during this month and there was more than plenty of it during my two-day stay. There was a lot more traffic than what you would expect for November but with the buildup to the 2010 Olympics, you could tell it was only going to get worse and worse. A lot of people I talked to came to get their annual visit out of the way before things got really crazy.

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Deal: Whistler Blackcomb EDGE Card

Whistler Blackcomb EDGE Card Deal

Company: Whistler Blackcomb
Deal: EDGE Card
Expiry: November 23, 2009
Who: Canadian and Washington State residents

Get the edge on your skiing and snowboarding experiences this winter with WhistlerBlackcomb.com’s Edge card. Your pre-loaded Edge card gets you the best rate on lift tickets at Whistler Blackcomb.

Edge cards come in 1, 3, 5, and 10-day increments for ski-lift admission in the 2009/10 season. Included with your Edge card is Peak to Peak Gondola usage. Once you have used up your pre-loaded days, your Edge card will continue to get you a discounted ski-lift rate for the rest of the season.

Purchase your Edge card by November 23 and you will be eligible for a reduced early-bird rate plus the added choice of either purchasing the new 3-Day Edge Card or receiving a bonus free early season day when purchasing a 5 or 10-Day Card.

Here’s the deal:

• 10 Day Edge Card only available until November 23: Adult $584, Senior/Youth $469, Child $289
• 5 Day Edge Card early-bird rate until November 23: Adult $319, Senior/Youth $255, Child $155
• 5 Day Edge Card regular rate: Adult $339, Senior/Youth $274, Child $164
• New 3 Day Edge Card only available until November 23: Adult $199, Senior/Youth 159, Child $105
• 1 Day Edge Card early-bird rate until November 23: Adult $69, Senior/Youth $55, Child $33
• 1 Day Edge Card regular rate: Adult $74, Senior/Youth $63, Child $37

In addition to the reduced ski-lift rates, your Edge card will get you the following perks:

• 20% off at select retailers
• 20% off in-store ski and snowboard rental rates at all Whistler Blackcomb Rental locations
• 25% off Coca Cola Tube Park tickets
• 35% off Whistler Blackcomb ski and snowboard school
• Exclusive email offers and perks throughout the season

Photo ID and proof of Canadian or Washington State residency will be required when you pick up your Edge card. Limit one card per person per season. Edge cards are available online at WhistlerBlackcomb.com, remember early-bird pricing ends November 23.

You can win $50 every week if you submit a tip about a deal/discount/coupon that snowboarders and our readers can benefit from! It’s very easy so click here to learn how!