Somewhere far, far away in a time much like this, a person is dreaming of going on an outdoor adventure. When this person wakes, the drive to make this dream a reality will take over and the search will begin for the perfect place to realize this dream. For this person, and thousands of others, this search for the perfect adventure has just been made easier thanks to a Whistler-based company, computers, the Internet, telephones and the good old-fashioned hard work of others. Sport Source is not just another mall in Cyberspace, as their promotional material indicates, but it is an interactive information service based out of Whistler. While the information is on the Internet, it is also accessible by telephone using the increasingly popular 1-900 service. After contacting Sport Source, the user is guided through the entire database of thousands of outdoor adventure companies by a series of menus for different activities, seasons and ability levels. Most of these companies are based in Western and Northern Canada, but the Sport Source list may eventually lead to adventures around the world. Sport Source is the realization of a dream for owner Walter Powell, an architect who enjoys the outdoors and the adventures to be found there. A Whistler resident for the past five years, Powell's main focus these days is the computer screen. While a brief listing in Sport Source is free, Powell is also offering smaller businesses an inexpensive alternative to advertising in specialty recreation magazines. "A small operation can't afford to advertise in Outside Magazine for $20,000," Powell says while sitting in an electronic playroom/office which serves as Sport Source Central. An advertising budget of $675 will allow this same operator to be seen by more than one million potential customers annually through Whistler Networks. Sport Source will be marketed in most major sports and recreation publications. Powell believes Sport Source will also benefit the consumer by saving time, as well as providing information which may not be available from a travel agent or through traditional means. "Someone in Boston will not know where to go kayaking," he gives as an example. By calling the 900 line or surfing the ’net this person will get a complete list of kayaking operators and details of the adventures offered. "The idea here is to provide instant public access to sporting and leisure information," Powell says. Sport Source can be accessed through local Internet providers Whistler Networks at www.whistler.net/SportSource or by calling 1-900-451-5432.
