When the Downhill Derelicts gather in Whistler each year, there’s always a healthy competitive aspect among the ever-growing group—ski racing, sled racing, poker tournaments, drinking games, and even a pursuit for the most vertical skied.
Launched in 2003 by friends DJ Taylor and Jeremy Town, the group’s annual excursion to Whistler has burgeoned from two members to more than 100, hailing from five different countries.
But it’s not just a boys’ trip—since adding a fundraising element back in 2017, the Derelicts have raised more than $340,000 for the Whistler Adaptive Sports Program (WASP).
Not bad for a couple ski buddies from Vermont.
With multiple servicemembers now counted among its ranks, when the group heard about WASP, choosing it as their beneficiary was a no-brainer, Taylor said.
“That’s us … we want to figure out, how do we get access to people to enjoy the exact same things that we’re doing every single day? I will tell you, skiing is probably my favourite thing in the world to do. I’ve got an 11-year-old little girl that I’ve taught to ski. She races. And we talk about how it’s probably the closest thing to flying that you can do,” he said.
“And I’m like, how do how do we give that experience to people who otherwise would never imagine that they would have it? So that became the focus for us.”
The Downhill Derelicts make their return to Whistler this week, with a private opening ceremonies kick-off party planned for March 9 at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre.
Forty-two Derelicts will hit the slopes of Whistler Blackcomb during their five-day trip, raising more funds for WASP with every turn.
Whistlerite Deidre Potter was managing retail for Whistler Blackcomb in 2017 when one of her bootfitters clued her in to the Derelicts and their charitable mission. When they returned the following March, she helped organize a silent auction to boost their efforts.
“I think that I was just taken aback. I live my life through kindness, and I think that giving back to the community has always been my priority, and figuring out ways to connect with people, to help them feel included,” Potter said. “And it was just insane to me that there was a group of guys that weren’t from Whistler, weren’t from the country, and were so hell-bent on trying to figure out how to help an organization that truly needed help at the time.”
To that point, more than 90 per cent of the money raised by the Downhill Derelicts comes from outside Whistler.
“It’s less about the money now and more about how do we create awareness—for me, how do we create awareness of these crazy, amazing guys that are coming here and just ripping up the ski hill for five days, and then also writing a big, goofy check at the Longhorn for $80,000,” Potter said, referencing the group’s 2024 donation.
For many non-profits, raising money is serious business, devoid of fun. Not so for the Derelicts.
“I think that what’s so inspiring about the guys coming up here is that they absolutely have not removed any fun from their trip,” Potter said. “But year on year, they’re increasing their ability to be able to provide these insane cheques to Whistler Adaptive, and yeah, it’s really cool. It’s really neat to see the progression over the years.”
While fun is still at the core of the trip, the fundraising is not taking a backseat—in 2024, the Derelicts created their own non-profit, and even launched an endowment fund to ensure a lasting legacy.
“One of the things that I do let the guys know at our opening ceremonies, because I think we’ve got like 10 new people this year, is I try to explain to them, you’re joining a group that has built a brand here in town. So all of their behaviour is reflective of us. Don’t mess it up, right?” Taylor said.
“I mean, have a good time … we’re all grown men. We’re up there, we’re on vacation, having fun, but just understand that bad behaviour won’t be tolerated.”
Though shenanigans naturally occur (boys will be boys, after all), the Derelicts are always respectful of Whistler, Potter added.
“The guys work really hard to be able to get here, but also to represent and be thoughtful of the culture, and what they’re doing,” she said. “And even though they have those shenanigans that happen, they’re very respectful of the environment.”
Anyone interested in learning more can chat up the Derelicts on the hill—you’ll know them for their distinct badges and branded ski-wear.
Raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for a Whistler charity wasn’t the plan when Taylor and Town first ventured to the resort together in 2003, and Taylor is hopeful others will take inspiration from the Derelicts’ story.
“The trajectory I want this to go on is sending out a message to people,” he said.
“Hey, anyone can do this, right?”
Read more at facebook.com/DownhillDerelicts.
