Intrawest CEO Says Ski Industry Recovery Could Take Longer Than Expected

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Intrawest CEO Says Ski Industry Recovery Could Take Longer Than Expected

Jensen says signs of recovery aren’t likely until 2011-12.

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mike lewis

July 08 2009 | 321 views | 2 comments

Press Releases

Frequency Releases Summer Snowboarder Journal Issue

Frequency drops their latest issue packed with great photos and articles. Check it out!

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Grenade Invades Canada with Monster

Unveils Detailed Plan to Take Over Whistler, British Columbia for Grenade Games 5

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Whistler Chairlift Collapses While Resort Is Closed

Whistler experienced its second major lift malfunction on the night February 18 when a chair came crashing to the ground on the Harmony Express.

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Showcase Snowboards Retail Stores Take Over Westbeach Locations

Whistler (BC), Canada - Whistler Blackcomb has announced the integration of the Westbeach retail stores under the banner of the Showcase Snowboards brand. A piece of Whistler is being transplanted to Vancouver with the rebranding of the Vancouver Westbeach Store as a Showcase Snowboards location, as well as the Westbeach Whistler location.

“Showcase Snowboards was the first snowboard shop in Whistler and has been a very strong brand for us at Whistler Blackcomb,” says Todd Friesen, vice president of retail and rental at Whistler Blackcomb. “Combining two competing snowboard store brands will create a strategic advantage that we believe will enable Showcase Snowboards to reach its full potential and excel as a top retail experience.”

More than a retail store, Showcase features live DJ’s, industry parties, and professional athletes, and is the connection to snowboard, surf and skate

culture. The new Showcase stores will offer snow, skate and surf casual fashion.

Showcase Online is being redeveloped to integrate the Westbeach community site with the Showcase online store and the new store locations. The new format will be launched this fall featuring the products found in-store; hard-goods, outerwear, street wear and accessories.

Customers can expect the integration of the new stores to happen through the fall with the official launch date of early November.

Press Release

September 29 2008 | 462 views | 5 comments

News

First Day of Fall or Winter? Snow Blankets Whistler Blackcomb Mountains

Mother Nature Skips Fall, Delivering 6 centimetres of Snow Overnight

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Press Release

September 22 2008 | 306 views | 2 comments

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Whistler’s Peak 2 Peak Gondola Official Opening December 12, 2008

Whistler, BC – Whistler Blackcomb’s PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola will officially open to the public December 12, 2008. This engineering marvel is set to become a new Canadian tourism icon, and will forever revolutionize the way visitors experience this four-season resort.

“This spring we had to move massive amounts of snow so it was a slow start but we have been able to stay on track with each construction phase,” says Rick Temple, PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola Construction Manager. “To be at this point in construction at this time is unheard of. Typically for a lift installation you are fighting the weather in November to get things done. However due to the incredible work by everyone involved we are ahead of schedule. We are very excited to have our official opening day announced and are looking forward to the day when our guests can experience this gondola.”

The arrival of 28 Sky Cabins, including two with glass floors, and the completion of the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola ropework has set the stage for what will be the biggest construction milestone of the lift installation – the first Sky Cabin to cross the record-breaking 3 kilometre/1.88 mile, unsupported span between Whistler and Blackcomb mountains.

Through October and November load testing will take place as well as evacuation training and simulations, and operator training. The PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola will also be examined by the British Columbia Safety Authority through their Passenger Ropeways Safety Program which regulates the safety of lifts.

“There is always a ton of anticipation for the winter season and being able to announce the official opening for the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola gives our guests something else to look forward to this winter, a definitive date to mark on their calendars,” says Dave Brownlie President and Chief Operating Officer of Whistler Blackcomb. “We know that on December 12, the way our guests use Whistler Blackcomb will be changed forever and we are extremely excited for that day to come.”

Construction progress of the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola is captured daily via webcams, and weekly via photography and construction blogs on the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola microsite at whistlerblackcomb.com. The PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola will open in December.

About Whistler

Consistently ranked as North America’s top ski and snowboard resort, Whistler Blackcomb continues to raise the level of mountain excitement for its guests. With the landmark PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola project underway, the return of the popular Symphony Amphitheatre, and a host of other on-mountain improvements, this winter promises to be one of the most exciting yet. Located a scenic two-hour drive north of Vancouver up the spectacular ‘Sea to Sky’ Highway, this resort is home to the continent’s two greatest vertical-rise ski mountains – Whistler and Blackcomb. With over 17 alpine bowls, four glaciers, 200 trails, 8,171 acres of skiable terrain and a one mile vertical rise, the choices of where and what to ski/ride at Whistler Blackcomb from beginner to advanced terrain are staggering. Joined at the base by a vibrant pedestrian village filled with restaurants, patios, cafes, shops, galleries and spas, and surrounded by breathtaking scenery, this four season resort is spectacular. Check it all out at whistlerblackcomb.com.

About Intrawest ULC

Intrawest is a world leader in experiential destination resorts. The company has interests in ten resorts at North America’s most popular mountain destinations including Whistler Blackcomb, a host venue for the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Intrawest network also includes Canadian Mountain Holidays, the largest heli-skiing operation in the world, Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort in Florida and Club Intrawest—a private resort club with locations throughout North America. In addition, Intrawest develops real estate at its resorts and at other locations across North America and in Europe. Intrawest is headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia. For more information, visit intrawest.com

Press Release

September 18 2008 | 97 views

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Renewable Power Project At Whistler Blackcomb Offsets Mountains Annual Energy Consumption

Fitzsimmons Creek small hydro project begins construction after six year study

Whistler, BC - Construction has begun on a renewable energy project that will offset the total annual energy consumption at Whistler Blackcomb. The Fitzsimmons Creek Hydro Project, located entirely within Whistler Blackcomb’s operating area, will produce 33.5 gigawatt hours of hydro electricity per year, the equivalent of powering the ski resort’s winter and summer operations including 38 lifts, 17 restaurants, 269 snowguns and countless other buildings and services.

The 7.5 megawatt hydro project is being developed by Fitzsimmons Creek Hydro Limited Partnership, part of a joint venture between Innergex Renewable Energy and Ledcor Power Group. “Whistler Blackcomb is a strategic partner in the project, their efforts to facilitate the water rights licensing and coordinate the various stakeholders allowed the project to move ahead,” says Jamie Horner, Project Manager for the Fitzsimmons Creek Hydro Project. Whistler Blackcomb is directly involved in the construction and environmental stewardship of the project.

“This project marks a new chapter in Whistler Blackcomb’s history book and will become the bedrock of our enactment on climate change,” says Arthur DeJong, Whistler Blackcomb’s Mountain Planning and Environmental Resource Manager. “Climate change is our number one threat, and our efforts to address this issue can be categorized under the headings conservation and renewable energy generation. While we have a solid track record on conservation, this is our first major renewable energy project and we are thrilled to see it come to fruition after six years of project assessments, careful planning, and stakeholder discussions. We can now firmly step forward in producing a renewable energy project that makes sense, and to help us move ever-closer to our goal of achieving a net zero footprint within our operating area.”

The Fitzsimmons Creek area provides the ultimate conditions for a successful small hydro electric project. The creek has an abundance of water, the necessary vertical drop, it is not a major fish-bearing stream, nor is the creek used recreationally within the project area. The creek is already tied extensively into Whistler Blackcomb’s snowmaking system, and much of the area that will need to be developed runs along an existing access road for Whistler Blackcomb’s operations. The project will not require above-ground hydro lines and the lines can travel underground in a previously disturbed area.

The Fitzsimmons Creek Hydro Project will have a single turbine with a capacity of 7.5 megawatt, and the power generated by the project will be sold to British Columbia’s hydro electric utility, BC Hydro. The project will be among the first to use BC Hydro’s Standing Offer Program that was created under the BC government’s 2007 Energy Plan.

In addition to being a significant milestone in Whistler Blackcomb’s environmental policy, the project also supports the Resort Municipality of Whistler’s 2020 plan, which lays out a vision for success through 2020 based on the three pillars of sustainability; economic, social and environmental. “From what I understand about the project, it supports Whistler2020’s Energy Vision of providing local sources of low impact, renewable energy, says Dan Wilson, Whistler2020 Energy Task Force Member. “It is an early stepping stone towards Whistler2020’s goal of a sustainable Whistler.”

Ledcor CMI Limited is the contractor for the project, and is the major contractor for other hydro projects in the Sea to Sky corridor. Construction is currently underway and the project is expected to be operational by 2010. A series of open houses will be conducted in the fall of 2008 offering tours of the construction site and providing an opportunity for the community to learn more about the project. For further information about Whistler Blackcomb’s environmental policy, visit whistlerblackcomb.com.

About Innergex Renewable Energy Inc.

Innergex Renewable Energy Inc. is a developer, owner and operator of run-of-river hydroelectric facilities and wind energy projects in North America. The Corporation’s management team has been involved in the renewable power industry since 1990. Without giving effect to this transaction, the Corporation owns a portfolio of projects which consists of one operating facility (8 MW), interests in nine development projects with power purchase agreements under construction or to be constructed between 2008 and 2012 (gross expected capacity of 565 MW), and prospective projects (gross expected capacity of more than 1,500 MW). Innergex Renewable Energy Inc. also owns a 16.1% interest in Innergex Power Income Fund, a publicly traded income fund listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (IEF.UN), and acts as its manager under long-term management agreements. Innergex Power Income Fund’s 12 projects, all in operation, have a combined gross capacity of 340 MW.

About Ledcor Power Group Ltd.

Ledcor Power Group is an independent power producer (IPP) currently focused on developing environmentally

friendly “green” energy projects in British Columbia. Ledcor Power is a wholly owned subsidiary within the Ledcor Group of Companies. Founded in 1947, Ledcor is a leading, privately-held, employee-owned group of companies, specializing in building, civil, industrial and telecommunications projects and services. Ledcor brings an established history of construction excellence with a team of professionals who measure their success by client satisfaction.

About Whistler Blackcomb.

Consistently ranked as North America’s top ski and snowboard resort, Whistler Blackcomb elevates summer adventure to new heights. On-Mountain activities include high alpine hiking and sightseeing via the Peak Chair on Whistler, epic riding in North America’s number one ranked lift-accessed mountain bike park, and summer skiing and riding on Blackcomb’s Horstman Glacier. In the valley, sparkling mountain lakes and beaches, four championship golf courses, and Whistler’s vibrant pedestrian village filled with restaurants, patios, cafes, shops, galleries and spas are all surrounded by breathtaking scenery. Whistler Blackcomb continues to raise the level of mountain excitement for its guests, introducing a world-record breaking Peak to Peak Gondola connecting Whistler and Blackcomb Mountain’s alpine. Opening December 2008, the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola will revolutionize the winter skiing and riding as well as summer sightseeing and alpine hiking experience. Located a scenic two-hour drive north of Vancouver up the spectacular Sea to Sky Highway, this four season resort is truly spectacular by nature. Check it out at whistlerblackcomb.com.

About Intrawest ULC

Intrawest is a world leader in experiential destination resorts. The company has interests in ten resorts at North America’s most popular mountain destinations including Whistler Blackcomb, a host venue for the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Intrawest network also includes Canadian Mountain Holidays, the largest heli-skiing operation in the world, Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort in Florida and Club Intrawest a private resort club with locations throughout North America. In addition, Intrawest develops real estate at its resorts and at other locations across North America and in Europe. Intrawest is headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia. For more information, visit intrawest.com

Press Release

September 15 2008 | 245 views

News

Whistler Blackcomb Employees Recognized For Exceptional Guest Service

Whistler, BC - Whistler Blackcomb’s employees were recently recognized for delivering exceptional guest service during this last winter season. The company has been named National Winner of the 2008 Canadian Ski Council Industry Recognition and Excellence Research Award, awarded recently at the Canadian Ski Council’s (CSC) annual conference.

Whistler Blackcomb ranked highest amongst Canadian ski resorts for customer loyalty, customer satisfaction and a strong commitment to boosting participation in skiing and snowboarding. Results were based on customer service and satisfaction questions that were included in the CSC national consumer profile and satisfaction survey.

“I’m very proud to receive this award on behalf of our 3,800 employees and 800 volunteers,” says Dave Brownlie, President and Chief Operating Officer for Whistler Blackcomb. “Our commitment to guest service forms the foundation of everything we do, and it’s wonderful to receive such positive recognition directly from our guests. Without the hard work, enthusiasm and dedication of our employees and volunteers, we could not achieve such results. Congratulations and a heartfelt thank you goes out to each and every member of our team.”

Each year, ski areas from each province or region in Canada receive awards for their proven customer service excellence. This year Whistler Blackcomb ranked highest in the British Columbia category, and received the “highest grades” across the country.

Whistler Blackcomb has consistently received top rankings from many industry publications, including No. 1 ski resort in North America for 11 years in a row by SKIING Magazine. Meanwhile, TransWorld SNOWboarding Magazine has ranked Whistler Blackcomb No.1 overall ski resort in North America for two years in a row, while SKI Magazine’s annual “Top 50 Resort Guide” ranked Whistler Blackcomb No. 3 last year. Condé Nast Traveler magazine awarded Whistler the top spot in its 2007 “The Best Places to Ski & Stay in North America” reader survey. Sunset Magazine recently ranked Blackcomb Mountain’s Crystal Hut one of North America’s Top Ten Mountain-Top Restaurants.

About Whistler

Consistently ranked as North America’s top ski and snowboard resort, Whistler Blackcomb elevates summer adventure to new heights. On-Mountain activities include high alpine hiking and sightseeing via the Peak Chair on Whistler, epic riding in North America’s number one ranked lift-accessed mountain bike park, and summer skiing and riding on Blackcomb’s Horstman Glacier. In the valley, sparkling mountain lakes and beaches, four championship golf courses, and Whistler’s vibrant pedestrian village filled with restaurants, patios, cafés, shops, galleries and spas are all surrounded by breathtaking scenery. Whistler Blackcomb continues to raise the level of mountain excitement for its guests, introducing a world-record breaking Peak to Peak Gondola connecting Whistler and Blackcomb Mountain’s alpine. Opening December 2008, the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola will revolutionize the winter skiing and riding as well as summer sightseeing and alpine hiking experience. Located a scenic two-hour drive north of Vancouver up the spectacular Sea to Sky Highway, this four season resort is truly spectacular by nature.

About Intrawest ULC

Intrawest is a world leader in experiential destination resorts. The company has interests in ten resorts at North America’s most popular mountain destinations including Whistler Blackcomb, a host venue for the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Intrawest network also includes Canadian Mountain Holidays, the largest heli-skiing operation in the world, Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort in Florida and Club Intrawest—a private resort club with locations throughout North America. In addition, Intrawest develops real estate at its resorts and at other locations across North America and in Europe. Intrawest is headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia.