Whistler’s Terrain Park Rangers Launch Snow-Riders’ Dreams

Once every four years, the Olympic Winter Games provide an extraordinary opportunity for the world’s best snowboarders to show just how much this relatively new sport has evolved. Every winter, Whistler Blackcomb’s dedicated, enthusiastic Terrain Park Rangers inspire a new generation of riders. Their ambitious plans result in the creation of a wide variety of features — enough fun challenges to equally satisfy future Olympic athletes and terrain park riders celebrating another happy snow day.

Whistler experienced its snowiest month on record in November 2009 and thrilled skiers and snowboarders were able to begin adding up their fresh tracks early in the season. Also in November, Olympic half-pipe builder Steve Petrie of Arena Snowparks, started building the Superpipe on Blackcomb Mountain. Several Sea to Sky residents on the Canadian Snowboard Team were vying for positions on the Canadian Olympic Snowboard team up until the end of January 2010. Whistler Blackcomb’s terrain parks have hosted many unforgettable snow sessions for local snowboard athletes who are competing for Olympic gold at Cypress Mountain.

Whistler Blackcomb’s passionate Terrain Park Rangers— considered to be some of the best in the world — create and maintain 80 acres of freestyle terrain, ranging in degree of difficulty and rated accordingly. There are two terrain parks on Whistler Mountain, and Blackcomb Mountain is home to three terrain parks, a Superpipe and a snow cross track. The PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola facilitates PARK 2 PARK access as it connects the Emerald Park on Whistler Mountain with the Catskinner Park on Blackcomb Mountain.

The snowboard events at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games included parallel giant slalom, half-pipe and — the newest addition as of the 2006 Winter Games — snowboard cross. Whistler Blackcomb’s multiple terrain parks, Superpipe and snow cross track combined with its more than 200 trails offer features and terrain variety that launch the dreams of professional snowboard athletes both present and future. Equally inspired are the terrain park riders who simply come to play in Whistler’s white gold.

Undoubtedly, praise is due to Whistler Blackcomb’s Terrain Park Rangers who transform Old Man Winter’s snowy magic into an endlessly rewarding alpine playground.