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All eyes will be on British Columbia in Canada as the Winter Olympics get underway this weekend. Vancouver will play host to the world’s top winter sports athletes as they vie for glory across a multitude of sporting disciplines. Whistler is the venue for many of the ski and snowboard events including the slalom, downhill and halfpipe.
But as well as fantastic skiing, there are loads of other activities to do in the town. Gary King picks five of the best…
1. Ziptrek
Zip between ancient Douglas fir trees in a stunning natural gorge called the Fitzsimmons Valley on what can only be described as an extreme nature trail. The zipwires have been installed so that they’re completely harmless to the trees, and one of them is the longest zipwire in all of North America at 355yd. Between the adrenaline-filled aerial dash to purpose-built platforms, the instructors show you all kinds of flora, fauna and animal life before hurling you into the abyss where you reach speeds of up to 40mph. It’s the only way to fly.
For more information visit www.ziptrek.com.
2. Snow park
As one might expect from a resort of Whistler’s calibre there are some cracking snow parks. Rails, jumps and halfpipes provide a huge variety of challenges to test your freestyle skills to the max. With Shaun White looking to emulate his Olympic gold from Turin 2006 you might find that you have some esteemed company joining you in the mix.
www.whistlerblackcomb.com
3. Heliskiing
There’s something really quite special about pushing your snowboard or skis into a carrying cradle while a helicopter’s rotors whirr over your head. To then take off and seek out virgin powder is another thing all together. Descents are measured in vertical feet and throughout a day it doesn’t take long to rack up several thousand. Lunch is at the top of a mountain on a table fashioned out of snow resplendent with a red checked tablecloth and provisions pulled from a whicker picnic basket. As for the boarding and skiing – the piste will never seem the same again.
www.coastrangeheliskiing.com
4. Skidooing
These workhorses of the mountain tirelessly toil behind the scenes to ensure restaurants are stocked, safety gear is in place and workers get to their stations. However, they’re fantastic fun to blast around on whether you’re exploring or riding just for fun. There are many different skidoo experiences in Whistler including nighttime excursions, snow safaris and following ancient mountain trails. You accelerate with your thumb, hold on with your legs and try to keep your eyes open – especially when doing jumps. www.whistleroutfitters.com
5. Backcountry tours
Whistler is home to one of the best backcountry trails I’ve ever had the good fortune to trek across. The Spearhead Traverse crosses 14 glaciers, skirts around mountain passes and provides some fantastic downhill runs. Nights are spent camping; cooking is done in ice kitchens and the scenery is beyond description. You’ll need a specialist guide to navigate you across the stunning terrain but it’s a three-day trip that will stay with you for the rest of your life. www.whistlerguides.com
Who’s writing?
Gary King is an adventure sports and travel writer based in the UK. He has travelled the world looking for things to leap off, climb up and jump into, and his recent travels have taken him to the jungles of Sumatra, the sea ice of the Arctic and to his homeland of Cornwall. He likes British Columbia very much. To read his blog and catch up on his travels visit www.gary-king.co.uk.
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