Whistler Blackcomb is ramping up for another year. The official opening day is set for November 24th, but with good early season conditions the resort may open earlier.

This year guests will see a number of improvements, including Whistler Blackcomb’s Learning Areas. The resort is spending over $2.4 million to improve the learning areas on Whistler Mountain. Work includes terrain grading in the Olympic Zone to optimize learning for new skiers and snowboarders, and the installation of two new covered carpet lifts to help eliminate congestion and improve learning progression. 32 new low energy snow guns have also been added in the Olympic Zone to ensure the early opening of the learning area and to guarantee the best possible surface for learning throughout the season. On Blackcomb Mountain, another 13 low energy snow guns are being added to the Base Learning Area accessible from the Magic Chair.

The resort will also add 7 new groomers by spending $3.3 million to bolster its grooming fleet for the upcoming season. The equipment will include the addition of a new model 400 Pisten Bully Park Pro terrain park grooming cat, two new model 600 Pisten Bully regular piste grooming cats, two new model 600 Pisten Bully Polar piste grooming cats, Pisten Bully’s most powerful machines ideal for moving deep winter snow, and two new model 600 Pisten Bully Polar Winch grooming cats.

Whistler Blackcomb’s snow-making pilot project is entering its second season this winter to determine if a full-scale snow-making system is an option to prevent further recession of the Horstman Glacier. The focus for 2016/17 will shift to snow production using high volume ‘fan’ snow guns on towers mounted directly on the glacier ice.

Upgrades also include a new Gourmet Grilled Cheese Restaurant on Whistler Mountain and patio upgrades at the Roundhouse Lodge and Garibaldi Lift Co.

Filed under: Ski, Snow, Snowboard, Squamish, Whistler, WhistlerBlackcomb