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CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING: Whistler’s Nordic Renaissance
A CROSS-COUNTRY SKIER ENJOYS THE TRAILS IN WHISTLER VALLEY.
WHISTLER’S NORDIC RENAISSANCE
STORY BY HARRISON BROOKS
Anne parent, a nordic skier since she was three years old, has long understood the appeal of cross-country skiing, especially in a place like Whistler.
There’s something magical about the rhythmic cadence to gliding over snow; it’s solitary and peaceful, and the backdrop to the sport is typically a winter wonderland in B.C.’s beautiful backcountry.
In Whistler, cross-country skiing has always been overshadowed by its downhill counterpart. Last winter season, however, as Whistler and the world continued to struggle with the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, cross-country skiing was perfectly poised for a renaissance of sorts as people looked for ways to exercise safely as well as ways to find some respite and peace in an increasingly fraught world. >>
WHERE TO SKI
LOST LAKE PARK 32 kms of trails in the heart of the forest within walking distance to the Village. Four kms are lit for night skiing. Lessons, rentals and passes are available at Lost Lake PassivHaus.
WHISTLER OLYMPIC PARK The multi-million dollar legacy from the 2010 Olympic Game offers more than a breathtaking network of cross-country trails, including snow shoeing trails and over 40 kilometres of dog-friendly trails! Tickets and rentals available at the Day Lodge.
EVO (formerly Callaghan Wilderness) This is the ultimate backcountry experience with easy to advanced trails, as well as wilderness trails with no grooming. Don’t forget the Journeyman Lodge, the backcountry lodge in the heart of the Callaghan Valley for an extra-special experience.
Check out Tourism Whistler’s website (whistler.com) for more information.
A COUPLE ENJOYS A DAY OF SKATE SKIING ON ONE OF THE CALLAGHAN VALLEY’S MANY CROSS-COUNTRY SKI TRAILS.
WHISTLER OLYMPIC PARK AND CALLAGHAN COUNTRY ADVENTURES SHARE A NETWORK OF OVER 120-KILOMETRES OF CROSS-COUNTRY SKI TRAILS IN THE CALLAGHAN VALLEY.
people like anita fawcett who decided to pick up skinny skis again last season after more than 40 years. She wasn’t the only one with that idea, making equipment hard to come by.
“I had bought some skis at the beginning of the season, but they were way too long. But even though I knew I needed shorter ones, there were none in the stores, everyone was sold out,” recalls Fawcett. “[Eventually] I was able to get some boots in Squamish and the skis in Whistler, but it was hard because I didn’t know exactly what I needed because I was new to the sport. And all the people that sell stuff just couldn’t get their hands on the amount of equipment that they could have sold.”
The equipment may have been in short supply in the height of the pandemic, but the trails were in great form.
Whistler is graced with many crosscountry options. There’s Lost Lake Park, just a walk from the Village, with trails for every ability, and rentals available at Cross Country Connection. There’s the Olympic venue at Whistler Olympic Park, again with trails for every level, rentals, and even some dogfriendly trails too. And, there are the free municipally groomed trails like the Valley Trail from Meadow Park to Rainbow Park.>>
– ANNE PARENT
cross country connection
snowshoe & XC ski rentals discover package $119 Lost Lake PassivHaus
Rentals Skills Tours
EVO’S JOURNEYMAN LODGE IN THE CALLAGHAN VALLEY.
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the skier visitor numbers tell the story of the Nordic renaissance. Over winter 2020, Whistler Olympic Park reported “considerable growth” in its cross-country ski passes with nearly 68,000 out of a total 90,000 visits to the park for cross-country skiing. In the same time span, Callaghan Country Wilderness Adventures, located close to Olympic park, also reported a massive influx of skiers with a 33 per cent increase in cross-country sales during the pandemic. This fall, Callaghan Country’s longtime owners sold to Seattle-based company, evo. The general manager for evo Canada, Colleen Farrell, believes that this is just the start of the cross-country scene in Whistler and expects numbers to keep rising as the company continues to make Nordic skiing a priority moving forward. “There is a significant focus on cross-country skiing and snowshoeing as we look at our long-term vision and path for Callaghan Country and The Journeyman Lodge,” she says. “Our goal is to connect people to the outdoors, removing the barriers to participation and providing guests with a truly incredible experience.” Files in PDF format, greyscale or CMYK Whether you are new to the sport, like Fawcett, or have been doing it since you were three-years old like Parent, the same sensation of being confirmation: 604.905.0071 connected to nature is what first gets you hooked on the sport, but also what keeps you coming back year after year. That’s what evo is banking technical concerns: Brian Hydesmithon as it invests in Whistler in the long term. design@hydesmith.com or call 204.487.0067 “I feel confident that we will continue to see participation increase,” says Farrell. “I think many of these new participants were blown away by the experience and the alternative it poses to what the city offers. Among the many indicators, we are seeing a significant increase in demand for cross-country and backcountry gear across our evo Whistler store locations.” Still, Parent wonders if the numbers will continue to grow as life slowly returns to pre-pandemic normal. “I do love to show up there as early as they'll let me because I love being alone to just connect with nature. And, I know I sound really granola right now, but I have this spot called top of the world and you can see Black Tusk from there. I always take a little pause and salute Black Tusk on my way and carry on.” W
