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No sleep for Whistler

Festival a record breaker
1416bigair02by_scottbrammer
Catching the big air, photo by Scott Brammer, coastphoto.com

Despite soggy weather, border turn backs and a change of festival producers, the Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival continues to defy all odds thanks to the hard work of Watermark organizers and countless volunteers.

It has been a hands up event as crowds bounced to the new Rasta love of Bob Marley’s son Stephen at the Outdoor Concert Series mainstage last weekend. Rain and snowstorms didn’t stop crowds in the thousands from attending the sky-high Big Air event, nor the live show from Juno award-winner Sam Roberts.

Snowboarders Craig Beaulieu and Molly Milligan, and skiers Mike Riddle and Virginie Faivre won the McDonald’s Stompede Championships. Snowboarder Matt Belzile and skier TJ Schiller won the Old Spice Big Air and will move on to compete in Playstation’s Big Air Saturday, April 21 in Skier’s Plaza.

Somali-born spoken word master K’naan jumped into Words and Stories when freeskier Glen Plake was denied access to Canada.

Brave Art and Brave Locals welcomed more alternative art enthusiasts than ever before. The Chairlift Revue millennium debut saw G.D. Maxwell in a tux as well as the need to make it an annual event. Lisa Richardson’s heartfelt storytelling reduced Words and Stories audiences to tears. Robjn Taylor continues to wow filmgoers with a honourable mention from Filmmaker Showdown judges and plenty of audience applause.

No sleep for the wicked, there are still four more days to come, with Fashion Exposed, the DJ Experience, Rail Session, free concerts, Backcountry Freeride Jam, Big Air and more.

Keep the coffee brewing. The 96 showdown of art and sport has just begun.