Whistler For The Non-Skier

*By Anne-Marie Marais*

I don’t ski and really have no interest in trying it at this point. But winter, I love. Along with a good dose of après ski, of course. Recently, I had the chance to experience what a destination like Whistler, BC, has to offer an extreme non-skier like me. With an open mind and looking for a challenge, I was ready to take on Whistler, from the picturesque to the extreme rush of adrenalin…

Four Snow Adventures In Whistler For the Non-Skier

1. Peak 2 Peak 360 Experience

Just over 4 kilometres long, the Peak 2 Peak Gondola ride from Whistler to Blackcomb (or vice versa) takes about 10 minutes, which gives you plenty of time to snap many pictures and soak it all in. From glass bottom gondolas to the 360° views of the blue-sky meeting the snow capped mountains and forests, these breathtaking views are some of the most gorgeous I’ve seen in this part of Canada.

A stop on either side offers more views plus delicious eateries for all budgets. If you really want to treat yourself to extraordinary food and drink with a view, a meal at Christine’s on Blackcomb is a must.

2. Coca-Cola Tubing Park

Located in the Base 2 Zone on Blackcomb Mountain, the Coca-Cola Tubing Park will have you laughing all the way up on the magic carpet and all the way down as you speed, spin, bounce and bump down the runs. With multiple runs to try from slower to pretty fast, everyone will enjoy the exhilaration of tubing.

3. Ziplining

For many, the idea of flying through the air, the very cold air, is not something that they would consider. Maybe you see yourself doing this in shorts and a t-shirt during the warm, summer months. But ziplining in the winter has it’s own beauty: there’s nothing more gorgeous than flying through mountain valleys over the snow capped forest with the sun in your face. A vantage point that not all get to see…

Now, don’t get me wrong, it is cold. But dress for the weather and it will be completely worth it. I joined a group from Superfly Ziplines for this amazing activity. After a short bus ride, some safety information and equipment testing, we donned our helmets and went up Rainbow Mountain in 4X4s to get to our start point. From there we ziplined via four lines back down to base camp…

From zipline to zipline we reached speeds upwards of 100km/h and soared 180 metres above ground. Now all this might sound like a big challenge, but I have a great fear of heights and felt completely comfortable and safe throughout this entire experience. This is an adrenaline-filled activity you’ll want to add to your bucket list.

4. Bobsledding

As a big lover of everything Olympic, especially that of the Winter Games, my number one priority in Whistler was to give bobsledding a try. And that I did at the Whistler Sliding Centre. This experience definitely the tops when it comes to a rush of adrenalin in Whistler for the non-skier, but it is not to be missed. Don’t worry you won’t have to do anything more than sit in the sled and enjoy the ride. You’re not going to have to play out a scene from the Jamaican Bobsled movie, ‘Cool Runnings’. There will be no ‘Feel the Rhythm! Feel the Rhyme! Get on up, it’s bobsled time!’

The knowledgeable staff at the Whistler Sliding Centre create teams of three based on various factors like height and weight. You are also grouped with an experienced driver/brake person. To give you more piece of mind, I must say that once they get you in the sled there isn’t much space, or really any, for your lower body and legs to move around. And when you follow the instructions, you’ll keep your upper body strong and enjoy the 40+ second ride down the course at speeds upwards of 126 km/h while experiencing about 4Gs of force…

Along with all of these snowy adventures , Whistler has no shortage of amazing restaurants and bars to enjoy with your skier and non-skiers friends at the beginning, middle and end of your day. The village also has many shops, museums and cultural events year-round. It would definitely not take much convincing for me to head back to Whistler Blackcomb to experience, all over again, what the destination has to offer non-skiers.

A huge thanks to Tourism Whistler for hosting us on this press trip. As always, reviews and opinions are our own. For more on Whistler – including where to go and what to do – check out www.whistler.com