Whistler’s infamous rock jump, beloved by many, has once again been removed by the municipality.
This summer, social media was flooded with videos of locals and visitors testing their skills by leaping onto the rock, with some sticking the landing and others walking away with bruises, soaked clothes and injuries, as crowds of onlookers cheered their successes and failures.
Despite—or perhaps because of—its popularity, the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) confirmed the rock was removed Aug. 14 with a backhoe.
This isn’t the first time the feature has caught the municipality’s attention. In 2023, the original rock jump was taken out, but a second remained. Mayor Jack Crompton told Pique at the time crews believed the second rock would be out of reach.
“We were wrong. People in Whistler can jump. The second rock turned out to be quick work,” he said.
The feature sits in a small, man-made waterway officially listed as “The Village Park East” stream on the RMOW’s Village Stroll map. A municipal spokesperson previously told Pique the stream, which flows under a pedestrian bridge near Whistler Olympic Plaza, was likely constructed around 1999 or 2000.
The fun, games—and potential for pain—came to an end once again this month. On Aug. 11, staff placed orange cones on the rock as a deterrent, but jumpers simply removed them. On Aug. 12, the rock was submerged with machinery. Youth later “resurrected” it, leading to the final removal Aug. 14.
Crompton said while he understands the attraction, the municipality’s primary concern is safety.
“The RMOW needs to ensure the infrastructure we own and manage is used safely. It was getting a lot of attention online,” he said.
He added the rock wasn’t removed because of a specific recent injury, nor due to increased attention during Crankworx.
“The rock gets attention either way, but with adrenaline junkies and people who connect with Whistler, they find things to turn into fun, competitive challenges," Crompton said. "This was that for sure—entertaining, but ultimately we have to ensure safety is our top priority.”
Though the rock is gone, it’s likely only a matter of time before residents and visitors discover a new extreme pastime. If not on municipal infrastructure or in the backcountry, thrills can be found at more established venues—from the Whistler Mountain Bike Park to Whistler Blackcomb, which is tentatively set to open for winter operations Nov. 21.
For those still missing the spectacle, a highlight reel of jumpers lives on via Instagram account @whistler.blower.
