Sports
Superpipe: Celebrating the evolution of the new school skiing movement, the infamous Superpipe sends riders deep into the barrel, before launching with maximum amplitude, attitude and style. The final competitive showdown of the season features the best international skiers, while the Superpipe lottery allows up and coming skiers the opportunity to flaunt their latest tricks at the opening qualifier. Highest scoring competitors advance to the semi-final and final rounds. Judged by their peers, the one-shot Superhit is the grand finale of the Superpipe, giving skiers a no-holds barred no-second chances run at the walls to show off their ultimate form.
ORAGE Masters: Eight teams of four skiers (one female and three males) battle head to head in an event that's truly taken on a life of its own. The ORAGE Masters is one part slopestyle, one part free for all and one part masquerade party. Expect to see skiing's heavy weights wearing anything from Wizard of Oz costumes, to Chuck Norris suits to pirate outfits. Competing for unique prizing on a custom built slope course in the HL Blackcomb Terrain Park, the Orage Masters is unlike anything you've ever seen before.
Grenade Games: Known as the snowboard industry's best end-of-season contest and party, the Grenade Games combine typical snowboard events with an unexpected twist. The Superpipe sees snowboarders hurl themselves down a mogul field for the first-of-its-kind dual slalom mogul and a Saturday night showcase send off is like nothing the TWSSF has ever seen before.
Demo Park: Test-drive the newest gear from the 2009/2010 lines at the Demo Park, North America’s largest selection of skis and snowboards. Open both weekends of the festival, it’s a gear-hound’s nirvana.
Mascot Mayhem: Big Air Bear, the festival’s official mascot, rounds up his favourite fellows to celebrate his 7th birthday in front of a legion of pint-sized fans.
Entertainment
Whistler Chefs Challenge: A series of heats pit two local chefs head-to-head in the ultimate foodie throwdown. With DJs spinning, live commentary providing heckling and insight and all Chefs mic’ed for some interactive banter, it’s game on as competitors make the most of 30 minutes to produce delicious fare utilizing a themed ingredient.
Outdoor Concert Series: Rock out every day for free! The Outdoor Concert Series is why the TELUS Festival is the mother of all winter wrap parties. FREE concerts on the main stage in Skier's Plaza, every day from 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm.
The END: The best way to celebrate the end of the TELUS World Ski & Snowboard Festival is to go down standing-up, dancing-boots on. An all-hours afterburner, the END promises one night without end, with soundscape provided by a cadre of internationally famous DJs.
Kokanee Freeride Club Series: Find out why Whistler was voted Best Après Scene by Skiing magazine. The Kokanee Freeride Club Series ensures the festival's after-dark experience has as much action as the on-mountain adventuring. Expect a yin-yang balance of established and emerging bands and DJs, in the intimate spaces of Whistler’s favourite clubs and bars.
Parties and Nightlife: An onslaught of legendary parties offer party-goers endless chances to bump elbows with the who’s who of the industry.
Art & Culture
Pro Photographer Showdown: Dubbed the “Sundance Festival of Action Photography”, the Pro Photographer Showdown is a visual feast and the preeminent action sports photography event in the world.
Filmmaker Showdown: Filmmaking becomes an athletic endeavour at Whistler’s annual 72 Hour Filmmaker Showdown. The competition, an integral part of the festival’s line-up, challenges artists to perform feats of speed, endurance and precision, with the call to shoot, edit and produce a 3-5 minute digital film set within a 100 km radius of Whistler in the space of 72 hours. The screening of the eight finalists is one of the hottest tickets in town!
Icon Gone: Whistler personalities strap on the gloves in a verbal gladiator match full of stand-up tale-spinning and verbal takedowns over who or what is Whistler’s greatest icon. Presented in conjunction with the Whistler Museum, Icon Gone promises to raise history from the dead.
State of the ART: Showcasing more than 30 artists in a 150 plus piece installation, art mediums include canvas, sculpture, skate decks, photography, film and graffiti. DJs, drinks, livepainting and an artist reception make the State of the ART opening a must-do event.
The Chairlift Revue: Back by popular demand, Whistler trickster and Pique columnist GD Maxwell produces the Chairlift Revue, an irreverent showcase of original theatre shorts, capturing conversations from the chair, where mountain culture really gets down and dirty.
Fashion EXPOSED: The story of what would happen if the world’s fashion houses got bumped out of their limos, onto a mountain highway, and had to face real weather, the outdoors, and Ma Nature in all her glory.
ThreePointOh Multimedia Challenge: This multimedia event aims to take the photography slideshow to the next level, with an open form call for new media creations that morph film, photo, graphics, sound and sport into digital art that is smarter and greater than the sum of its parts. The rules are simple; entries must be projectable, 3-5 minute long original works that are informed by some kind of collaboration - of medium or of minds. Six to 10 finalists will be chosen to screen at the ThreePointOh Gala.
Whistler DogFest: Since 1998, canines of all stripes have been invited to lead their owners, in finest frockery, in the 200-strong Dog Parade. Proceeds support Whistler Animals Galore.
A full schedule with be announced soon! For more information, see TELUS World Ski & Snowboard Festival.