The snow is (slowly) starting to arrive in the valley, and Whistler Blackcomb is preparing to kick the 2023-24 ski season up a notch with the grand opening of its new Fitzsimmons Express chairlift.
The new-and-improved eight-seater is set to open to the public on Tuesday, Dec. 12 at 9:30 a.m.
The grand opening ceremony will include remarks from Whistler Blackcomb COO Belinda Trembath and a ceremonial welcome and cedar rope drop from the Squamish Lilwat Cultural Centre Cultural Ambassadors. Representatives from Dopplemayr Canada, WB leadership, resort partners and the community at large will also be in attendance.
"In addition to the celebration of the grand opening, we will recognize those who work tirelessly to support mental wellness in our community. For each ride on Fitz on its opening day, Whistler Blackcomb Epic Promise will donate $1 to support the work of the Whistler Community Services Outreach Team," a WB spokesperson said.
Work to replace the previous four-pack Fitzsimmons chair with a new eight-pack began in early 2023, after WB announced the plans back in September 2022 to upgrade the critical piece of mountain infrastructure. According to WB, it will increase uphill capacity by 73 per cent in winter.
A new high-speed six-pack is also in the works to replace the current high-speed quad in the Jersey Cream zone. The upgrade is expected to increase uphill capacity by 29 per cent, also reducing lift-line wait times and improving circulation in Blackcomb's high-traffic mid-mountain area.
The Fitzsimmons that was removed in March ran at Whistler Blackcomb between 1999 and 2023, giving it a 24-year lifespan, while the Jersey Cream chairlift still in use this season was installed in 1989. Both of the replacement chairs are expected to serve the resort for 25 to 30 years.
Fast facts about the new Fitz Express, courtesy of Whistler Blackcomb:
About Fitzsimmons 8 Express
- The previous four-person chairlift has been replaced by a high speed, eight-person chair, the first of its kind in North America across Vail Resorts, which will significantly reduce wait times in Whistler Village and improve efficiency.
- In the Squamish language, it is known as Sḵwexwnách for Valley Creek.
- In the Lil’wat language, Fitzsimmons is known as Tsíqten which means Fish Spear.
- The upgraded Fitzsimmons Express will make a big difference in terms of reducing congestion in the skiers plaza and improving circulation on-mountain.
- The Whistler Blackcomb lift ops team will be continuously monitoring uphill flow and adjusting the operation of the lift accordingly to ensure optimal guest distribution.
- This includes looking at adjusting volume and speed to preserve the guest experience for those who choose to ride the chairlifts to access Whistler vs the Gondolas.
- Ultimately, this new high speed, eight-person chair will significantly cut back on wait times, improve efficiency, and will also serve to significantly support our bike park operations in the spring/summer/fall.
