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I Love Whistler

Times may be tough, but true love conquers all
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By Pique Staff and Special Contributors

It's no secret that Whistler is in the doldrums right about now - or we should say "back in the doldrums," as about five of the last eight years since 9/11 have been troubled in one way or another. If governments aren't changing I.D. requirements at the border, it's either raining in February or a livestock flu mutates and goes pandemic. So far the Olympics have been more hassle than halcyon, although we can still hope that one day it will all be worth it.

The recent economic crisis is no picnic. Jobs are suddenly scarce in a town where everybody used to be able to work two or three jobs if they wanted (or, frequently, needed), but that hasn't helped to free up beds or lower rental rates. The cost of living remains sky-high, probably the highest in the country.

To make matters worse, the weather - long Whistler's most dependable friend - has betrayed us somewhat. This past winter was terrible, at least until March rolled around, and it came on the heels of a cold, grey summer - our second poor summer in a row if you're keeping track.

This summer has been beautiful so far, although a drought creates its own problems as the people of Kelowna could probably tell you - the last time it was this dry the province closed access to the backcountry to guard against forest fires.

But while Whistler has seen good times and bad times over the decades, it's important to remember that it's mostly been good. If it wasn't then Whistler would probably be a far different and less interesting place to live.

It isn't that hard times are anything new. Talk to anyone who has been here 30 years or more and they'll tell you about the recession in the early '80s when mortgage rates jumped to more than 20 per cent, and the value of homes and land plummeted. At the time there was a popular joke in Vancouver, "Q: What's better to have, syphilis or a house in Whistler? A: Syphilis, because at least you can get rid of it."

A lot of people still clung onto their properties and their belief in what Whistler was and could be, and all were rewarded for their vision. Some have even become wealthy, snapping up properties for thousands that today sell for millions. Whistler emerged from that crisis and every crisis since stronger than ever, on a path to becoming the leading four season resort in North America and one of the leading resort destinations in the world.

Sometimes it might seem like Whistler is a gamble instead of a sure thing, a wager made on some pretty big assumptions about people and how they'll choose to spend their spare time and money. As residents we're all part of that great gamble, and as a result our lives and livelihoods are wrapped up in the world's fickle economic cycles, the growth and decline of winter sports and summer recreation trends, the variances of our weather, and ultimately the success of nearby cities like Vancouver and Seattle that still provide most of our visitors.

With so much on the line it can be stressful to live here. And expensive: when you compare your fortunes to those of your friends back home, wherever that was, it can sometimes seem like you're moving backwards.

But at the end of the day it's always worth it. It's riding a chairlift through the clouds on a winter day to watch the sun rise over the peaks, or the almost ceremonial cracking of the Peak Chair after a three-day blizzard. It's riding your bike over the River Runs Through It bridge for the first time, or standing still in the woods or at a park while a black bear walks by. It's the first winter snowfall in the valley, the first warm day of spring. It's the people you meet from all over the world, and all walks of life. A view that changes dramatically when you move two feet to the left, or wait five minutes. All those experiences you couldn't find anywhere else.

How many live bands have you seen on our festival stages? How many strange spectacles have you witnessed, from the zombie takeover of the village to the world's most insane snowball fight?

A recent San Francisco State University study discovered that money spent on experiences makes people far more happy than money spent on possessions. If that's true - and we're firmly on the side of science here - then Whistler locals truly are the richest people on the planet. Even the possessions we own, our skis and bikes, our golf discs and climbing harnesses, our camping gear and beater cars, are only the means to experience more things.

When all is said and done, we live here because we love it - even if we need to be reminded why from time to time.

Reasons to Love Whistler

1) Those days you really can't get anywhere else.

One awesome birthday I rode River Runs Through It without a single dab, swam in Alta Lake, played disc golf, had friends over for a barbecue and then went out to Dusty's to catch Whole Lotta Led (where it begins to get a little hazy). My bachelor party started with 27 holes of disc golf, followed by road hockey and drinking games, followed by a barbecue, followed by a trip to The Boot Pub for the last Boot Ballet in history.

I remember riding Comfortably Numb one morning, cooling off afterwards with a swim in Lost Lake, then bouncing the rest of the afternoon away on a backyard trampoline.

I remember building a booter on the top of Asumi, then riding down into the Blackcomb Glacier while the sun was setting. When the group I was with hit Mainline we looked up to see about 20 mountain staffers skiing and snowboarding down the mountain buck naked. Afterwards I went to a wine tasting event at the Chateau and won a door prize.

I'd have to say that the two-day Samurai of Singletrack ride in 2006 was the most epic bike ride of my life.

I was married here. My child was born in a powder day as I white knuckled my way down to Squamish.

For all those good times I still feel like my best days are yet come.

-Andrew Mitchell

2) Falling in love is all about firsts

First kiss, first weekend trip together, first time the words "I love you" spill out in a natural way, like a beautiful "Gesundheit!" Well, falling in love with Whistler is all about firsts as well - first excursion under the ropes in Khyber's, first time down Spanky's or Pakalolo, first Fraggle side trip, first time on a mountain bike, first time at the Lucy In the Sky With Diamonds bridges during the spring thaw, first rope swing into One Duck/Loggers/Alpha/Alta Lake, first Toonie Ride, first time running Comfortably Numb, first (ever) game of Disk Golf, first afternoon beer at Citta, or après nachos at Merlin's...

My personal list is endless. What's on yours?

-Andrew Mitchell

3) Lost Lake Park.

Where I grew up in Toronto a park was a patch of grass with swing sets, maybe a ball diamond or tennis courts if it was big enough. Over the years I've watched Lost Lake evolve into a perfect place with a maze of gravel trails, three distinct sets of singletrack biking and running trails that are expanding all the time, a 27-hole disk golf course, a lake with separate beaches for people and dogs, a grassy area to set up a blanket, and a dock for nude sunbathing if that's your thing. There is an interpretive nature walk, fish viewing platforms and toad bridges to protect our fragile western toadlets as they migrate from the lake to the forest. During the winter there are trails for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. The Valley Trail also goes through the park and connects the Upper Village to Nicklaus North, and at the White Gold entrance there's a great playground... and tennis court.

-Andrew Mitchell

4) Our municipality is not afraid

The neighbourhood I grew up in Toronto once cut a tube slide in half because of lawsuit fears, took out the only BMX dirt jumps we had, and got rid of the diving board at the local pool. Fear of being sued meant that nobody could have any fun at all.

By contrast, we have a municipality that over the years has installed a credible skatepark, a massive dirt jump park, and a gnarly mountain bike trials park. When the original River Runs Through It bridge collapsed the muni put in a new one. When they became aware of the Comfortably Numb trail they arranged with developers to fund a new bridge over Wedge Creek. The municipality is actively building and supporting mountain bike trails in Lost Lake Park and Emerald Forest and last year added a new section to A River Runs Through It.

-Andrew Mitchell

5) Random celebrity sightings

Whistler is always good for random celebrity sightings. A quick canvass of the office turned up glimpses of Pamela Anderson with and without Tommy Lee, Demi Moore, Justin Timberlake, Cameron Diaz, Gene Simmons, Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon, Donald Sutherland, Eric Bana, Robin Williams, Scott Speedman, Woody Harrelson, Ben Afleck, Tom Petty, Eddie Murphy, Eddie Vedder, Rob Zombie, Sarah McLaughlin, Bill Murray, Goldie Hawn, Goldie's daughter Kate Hudson, Katie Holmes, Seal and Heidi Klum, and about eight dozen NHL stars past present and future.

But while it's awesome to see some all-too familiar faces in the crowd, it's also awesome that most people leave our visiting celebs alone.

6) Where the streets have cool names

Although house prices are not within reach of the average Joe, once upon a time you could afford to buy an affordable lot on Easy Street. Just up the hill and around the corner from there you'll find Seppo's Way - named after an infamously hard-partying man who was famous for taking in transients, skiing all day and celebrating all night. There's also a run named after him, which he cut himself with a chainsaw.

There's Rob Boyd Way and Nancy Greene Drive, named after alpine ski legends, while Tony Sailer Lane is named after the first skier to win all three alpine events in the 1956 winter games.

Sapporo is a city in Japan, best known for the Sapporo brand of beer. Perfect for Creekside.

The new Rainbow subdivision includes Crazy Canuck Drive, a homage to Canada's famous downhillers.

7) The Peak 2 Peak Gondola

Regardless of whether you supported this or not, you probably use it all the time and it's on your list of things to do with visitors from out of town. Peak 2 Peak is a convenient way to traverse between Whistler and Blackcomb mountains, as well as an attraction unto itself. A recent survey by Whistler Blackcomb found that a significant number of summer visitors - around 70 per cent - were here specifically to ride the Peak 2 Peak.

This lift also sets several records - the longest unsupported span of 3,024 metres, the highest lift from the ground at 436 metres, the world's longest continuous lift system... as well as the most expensive lift in the world at $51 million.

8) Lift Lines

Seriously? Seriously. Okay, not all lift lines. But a surprising number of them, considering the low regard in which most people hold their ticket to ride. Let's face it, without lift lines there would be no ski hills, just a few crazies hiking up the mountain to slide back down. Try it some time. Ask yourself - honestly, no cheating - just how many times a day for how many days would you do it. No need to take off both gloves; you'll never break double digits if you count truthfully.

Without sinking into the mundane, let me shortlist four favourite lift lines. By no means exhaustive, these are absolutely the best.  By comparison, the others are just a chance to catch my breath.

1. Creekside, Opening Day. On a good opening day - lots o' snow - the lift line at Creekside snakes out the Gondy corral, across the courtyard, up the steps, over the bridge and begins to wrap around Whistler Kids where it crosses another line of people getting their morning coffees. Part extended family reunion, part tailgate party, you shuffle along, greeting people you maybe haven't seen since ski season ended last spring. It's a warm way to greet a fresh start. It's prolonged foreplay. It's all anticipation, all the time.

2. Peak Chair, Powder Day. You know the ones. Puking snow, high anticipation, loosely-structured "lift line" that looks more like the floor of a rock concert. Much muttering as you weigh the cost of standing there, hoping the rope will drop in another couple of minutes versus cutting and running for Franz's Meadows. The outrage when some Twink with a death wish brings a class of lemmings into the Ski School line and is greeted with a barrage of loving snowballs. If you're far enough back in line, the anxiety of watching countless full chairs head uphill, the bleeding cuts seeing the lucky few breach the horizon and begin tracking out Shale Slope, skiers doodling turn after turn, snowboarders cutting figure-ones, is almost more than a poor boy can bear. The inevitable oohs and ahhs when the first daredevil flies off Air Jordan and sticks the landing is tribal. Eventually, your turn to sit - and wait four more minutes - is the cherry on the sundae of anticipation.

3. Harmony Chair, Busy Weekend. Feel the love, peeps. You've just crested McConkey's or Gunbarrels or GS and spied the immense twin nebula of people spilling out the corrals on both sides of Harmony. Join the fun or skate Sidewinder to Green? Is that a serious question, dude? Jump into the end of the "line" and commence the slow shuffle. Old friends, new friends, weird people still wearing rear-entry boots, day-glo lime one-pieces smelling faintly of mothballs, inane snippets of conversation about love gone wrong, secret powder stashes, last night's indulgences, lusted after new equipment, betrayal, hope, frustration, cretins who can't understand the effortless ebb and flow of organized lift lines - Spreken sie deutsch, Hermann dude? And finally, arrival. Ski to another chair? Are you kidding?

4. 7 th Heaven, Sunny Day. Any edge will do. Cut high under the lift line because the left side is two or three or 50 chairs shorter than the right. Bask in the warmth of spring sunshine. Transcend the stench of sweat, sunscreen, mouldering gloves, unwashed outerwear, beerbreath, fresh dirt poking through disappearing snow, lift lube and somewhere, just a tower or two uphill, fresh air... at last.

Lift lines? Love 'em.

-G.D. Maxwell

9) Happy Trails

Whistler's pedestrian-friendly village garners high praise from visitors who appreciate the joy of walking out the door of their condo and strolling to lifts, shopping, restaurants and entertainment. But the hidden beauty of pedestrianism only really reveals itself once the snow starts to melt.

Walk out any door in town, from Function to Emerald; keep putting one foot in front of the other and within minutes something magical will happen. You'll find yourself on a trail you can follow for as long as your stamina, water and snacks hold out. Not just any trail, mind you, but in almost all cases a trail tailormade to your hiking, trail running or biking desires, from paved to wilderness and all levels of challenge and satisfaction in between.

Here's a trinity, just to get you started.

1. Flank Trail. You can bite-size this one into the south and north (mid) sections if you wish. Starting at Function Junction, the Flank Trail runs all the way to Alpine Meadows, a scenic 30 km jaunt. Don't be daunted; there are plenty of places along the way to peel off and head back to (un)civilization. Take water, fer sure.

2. Riverside Loop. Possibly the most stunning valley trail of all, the loop starts near Cheakamus Crossing and runs along the river a few kilometres until you get to MacLaurin's Crossing, a bouncy suspension bridge across the river to the other side, where you can come back through the forest and along the other side of the river and right back to where you started. A great walk and a really good 5 km run because of the elevation gain and loss. Clockwise is moderately easy but counterclockwise will hit you with a seemingly endless hill to test your endurance.

3. No Name. The No Name trail is simply the one closest to your house. Mine follows the hydro road at the top of Cardiac Hill, picks up Lower Sproatt, Moose Knuckles, Middle Danimal, Beaver Lake and back home. It's Zippy's favourite run... mine too.

- G.D. Maxwell

10) Envy

Certainly not the most heinous of the seven deadly sins, envy isn't, arguably, even a sin when it's not you doing the envying but you being envied.  It has something to do with the peculiar, yeah unique, quality of skiing and boarding.

Sliding down snowy mountains is a universal equalizer. No other activity dissolves social, political, racial, class, national and economic barriers quite like skiing and boarding. Standing atop Whistler Bowl, the Blowhole, or even the top of a green run, no one cares who you are, what you do, what you own or how important you might be. The only thing that matters is what you can do once gravity begins to suck you downhill. And regardless of how well or poorly you ski, you're having the time of your life. 

Once you get on the chairlift back up, the après bar at the base or the hot tub at your condo, the buzz is all about the good time you had. You may find yourself swapping stories with people who wouldn't give you the time of day in the outside world but treat you like a compadre because you share the passion.

And if they happen to find out you live here and get to ski, say, 90 days or so a season, well, for just a moment, whether they're even willing to admit it to themselves, they wish they were you. There's nothing quite like having visiting royalty or the CEO of MegaCorp wishing they were you.

Isn't that special?

- G.D. Maxwell

11) Because your neighbour who parties all night long and steals your internet is also a pro snowboarder.

It may be annoying when a name like GnarBoarder keeps popping up on your Internet provider. But there is a certain feeling of satisfaction to later see your upstairs neighbour hucking switch back double flips on the latest snowboarding flick. Or seeing their name on the roster for next week's big DH mountain bike competition.

12) For one day each year, the Australians take over

Suddenly, they were everywhere. On the patio of the Longhorn, the interior of Crystal Lounge, dancing on the bar in Moe Joe's. The cold weather didn't stop them from sporting tank tops and flashing skin like it was the middle of July. The Canadian landscape also didn't prevent them back from wearing Australian flags around their shoulders, pressing temporary tattoos onto their cheeks, and wearing Uggs like they were still in style.

To be in Whistler on January 26 this year (and the year before that, and the year before that) was to be reminded of the secret backbone to this British Columbian resort: the rowdy youth from Down Under. These are the people who make this place buzz. They are the ones who scoop up minimum wage jobs without complaint. And they are the ones who never fail to be amazed when the first snowflakes fall from the sky in November.

So what keeps drawing these Ockers back across the Pacific Ocean to live in shoddy, choc-a-blok housing with 20 other seasonal workers? What makes them leave the sweet comforts of home - with their rissoles, pavs and cobbers - to get a constant earbashing from their profit-hungry bosses? And what would the Village Stroll look like without their budgie smugglers, barbies, Maccas, utes, sangers, strides, sunnies, togs, packages of Vegemite, cozies and lollies at every turn?

We may never find out exactly why Aussies love Whistler, but one thing is for sure: January 26 th just wouldn't be the same without 'em. Ah Yeh!

- Claire Piech

13) Our Mayor is also a ski patroller and village host

Pay parking! Tax increases! Who is responsible for this mess? These days, it seems more people are pointing their fingers at The Short Man with Red Hair running this mountain resort than giving him props for making tough decisions. Half a year after re-election, the streets aren't running wild with people singing applause for their leader. They are running wild with red faced men, women and, sometimes, children eager to give the head of state a piece of their mind.

But let's rewind 32 years. Back then the Resort Municipality of Whistler had just gotten started. The main base of town was Creekside. Today's hopping village was a garbage dump with squatters living nearby. The Winter Olympics was that thing Denver was offered and decided not to host and so it was being held in Innsbruck, Austria. Oh... And a young fellow by the name of Ken Melamed had just shown up.

Ken arrived in Whistler in 1976, loved it, and two seasons later started working as a professional ski patroller on Whistler Mountain (this was before Blackcomb had any lifts or runs on it, of course). After the first season was done, he continued to work there. For the next 28 years. He finished up his Whistler Mountain ski patrol stint in 2005 when he moved from being the environmental guy on the council table to being a full-fledged mayor on a message of sustainability. But, even a career as mayor of the future Olympic mountain host town doesn't seem to be enough to keep this guy away from scouring the slopes. Today, when not ducking angry residents in the grocery store or fending off petition-wielding protestors, Ken still likes to spend his free moments in the winter as a volunteer ski patroller on Whistler Mountain.

Love him or just like him, you have got to admit: it's kind of cool to have a ski patroller in the big chair.

- Claire Piech

14) Jordan Manley has won every single photography competition he's ever entered

"I have been shooting photos for quite a while so it doesn't feel quick to me," photography sensation Jordan Manley replies when asked about his quick rise to the spotlight over the past few years.

"Maybe to other people it is quicker. It is a bit weird, though, getting more attention. But that is okay. It is welcome."

Young. Hard working. Underpaid. Modest.

Since entering the world of big-time photography two years ago, Whistler's adopted local Manley has won every single event he has ever entered. Let's say that one more time for effect: Manley has won every single event he has ever entered. Starting in August 2008, Jordan has taken home two Deep Winter Challenge awards, one Pro Photographer Showdown award, one Cold Shot Foto Faceoff award, and one South American Photo Challenge award. Five out of five, not bad.

His photography mantra? "Showing people images that they can relate to in terms of the environment they live in or trying to describe an environment they have not been in yet."

True, he only spends half his time in Whistler (the other half is spent in North Vancouver) but the scruffy man behind the camera lens is quickly capturing the attention of the action sport photography world for the shots he took riding on Whistler and Blackcomb.

And Manley digs the skiing here in Whistler, too. Big time.

"Obviously the skiing is just amazing. We get so much snow," says Manley when asked what it is about Whistler that keeps drawing him away from the North Shore Mountains, winter after winter.

"And the backcountry access is really good."

- Claire Piech

15) Going to the bar in your snowboard gear is not just accepted, it is applauded

There is something about the age-old tradition of wearing mountain regalia to the bar that is remarkably freeing, if not blissfully grungy. First off, long underwear is, and always will be, sexy. Add on top a thick, baggy layer of snow-pants, woolen socks and snowboard boots, and everyone in the bar will know that you're ripe to take home.

Grab a couple beers, work up a sweat to "Gimme More" on the dance floor, and it'll be all you can do to keep the panting chicks and dudes at bay - lucky you're wearing ski boots. Life is not easy when you have this much style - especially when the folks from the city are eyeing you up like you are, gasp, a ski bum!

(P.S. Extra points if you rock this look in the summer!)

- Claire Piech

16) Because the Re-Use-It Centre is just plain awesome

Ten years ago, a woman named Janet McDonald and a bunch of visionaries at municipal hall came up with a novel, if not unusual, idea: how 'bout we open up a second hand store and then use all the profits from selling people's old clothes and furniture to fund our social programs?

It worked. Enter social entrepreneurship.

Since opening its doors in Function Junction in 1999, the Re-Use-It Centre has become not only the essential retail store for hundreds of seasonal workers trekking temporarily through Whistler each year, it is also the cash source for the 27 social programs run by Whistler Community Services Society, including the Food Bank, Youth Outreach, Emergency Services, and the Greenhouse Project.

"The Re-Use-It Centre basically allowed us the ability to fund about 70 per cent of our programs ourselves," explained Greg McDonnell, Whistler Community Service's executive director.

"It is a really wonderful example of social entrepreneurship, and it came in at a time when non-profits seeking grants from government and foundations was the norm."

The success of the centre has been so robust, in fact, that McDonnell even travelled to China with the Sea to Sky Forum during last year's Summer Olympics in Beijing to give a talk on cyclical economies. And, in homage to Whistler's unique second hand store, McDonnell gave his presentation not in a brand new suit, but in a suit he bought from the Re-Use-It Centre. Yep, we are talking about tie, shirt, pants, everything.

Of course, while McDonald, McDonnell, and the men and woman of municipal hall have helped develop the centre into the essential community amenity it is today, a team of quiet employees is also paramount to Re-Use-It's success; culling through old shirts and sometimes junk is not a glamorous job, but it's their work that allows Re-Use-It to be stacked full of user-ready, affordable goods that residents, seasonal workers, and sometimes visitors just can't seem to get enough of. Hats off to them, too.

- Claire Piech

17) Lunafliks

Question: where else in the world can you take a long walk in the outdoors, traveling between trees on a dirt path to a lake and suddenly find a movie screen there, waiting for you to satisfy your scopophilic desire? Answer: Wednesdays at Lost Lake throughout the summer. LUNAFLIKS is a seasonal series of films from around the world that screen in the heart of nature at the lake. It's a beautiful, safe environment that allows Whistlerites and visitors to appreciate great cinema while admiring the natural beauty that is an entrenched part of the Whistler experience. Coordinator Kiran Pal-Pross always makes some interesting choices for films, and they even come with local musicians and short films screened beforehand. A great community event you probably could find elsewhere, but not nearly with the same kind of ethereal beauty you find at Lost Lake.

- Jesse Ferreras

18) Whistler 2020

Whistler is the envy of the world when it comes to sustainability. Environmentalism is in our blood. It wasn't any government that started the community's recycling program, it was the intense efforts of the Association of Whistler Area Residents for the Environment who saw to it that the community reduce its waste, and the result is that recycling bins can be found alongside every garbage can in the village. Residents are likewise scolded when they throw out plastic bottles - or in some cases, use them to begin with. It's a unique feature of our community that people care about the environment this much, putting it ahead of so many other priorities. Whistler 2020 is a testament to that. It's a shared plan that the community helped put together to achieve 17 strategies. Some of those strategies include protecting the natural ecosystems that are in abundance in this community; looking at food as an integral part of the community's regional identity through events like the Farmer's Market; and gathering our energy through a mix of local and regional sources. We are indeed the world's envy when it comes to sustainability - and a community effort made that happen.

- Jesse Ferreras

19) The Bears

They're the big, cuddly and mangy scavengers that will find every piece of food dropped in the resort on their overnight prowls. On the right day and time you're as likely to see one on our trails as you are to see a dog. They live in and around the valley, munching on skunk cabbage in the spring and seeking out more satisfying food like berries and barbecue leavings as the summer wears on. They can be dangerous, but Whistlerites know how to deal with them. Keep your distance, make noise, and back away slowly. Do not try to pet them, as cuddly as they appear. And feel good knowing that there are few places in the world that you can get this close to nature.

- Jesse Ferreras

20) Kick-ass seniors

Stand at the base of Whistler or Blackcomb mountains and you'll often see skiers flying down to the base, kicking snow up behind them while swerving in, out and around novices as they learn how to turn. Pesky amateurs. Decked out in winter duds, heads hugged snugly by helmets or toques, you have no clue to the identity disguised within. But then the toque comes off to reveal strands of grey and the goggles are lifted to show eyes etched by deep laugh lines and the sun. That skier who just swerved in, out and around you is in fact 65 years old, or older, and putting you to shame on the ski hill. And Whistler is home to plenty of these daredevils, on skis, on bikes, armed with ice axes and lengths of rope. They're tough. They've done things you can only dream of. And they've found the "mountains of youth."

EXHIBIT A) Tom Thomson, a.k.a. The Man Who Helped Bring VANOC To Its Knees. When the medal ceremonies were about to be taken from us, Thomson said "no biggie" and tried to fill the vacuum by creating an alternative "Whistler Medallion" ceremony. Now the medals are back by order of Jacques Rogge and the International Olympic Committee (thanks guys!) but Thomson still isn't giving up on his idea of creating some Whistler memorabilia for the Olympic athletes. It's a pin now - and it'll no doubt be a hot ticket item when the Games finally come to town. Thomson, also a councillor with the Resort Municipality of Whistler, loves this community with every fibre of his being. He's an artist, retired schoolteacher and a gentlemanly presence at almost any community event you can name. He skis, he snowboards, he rides a mountain bike. He loves Whistler and Whistler loves him right back.

EXHIBIT B) Karl Ricker - Want to know how Whistler got its name? Or at what time of year you can find a Yellow-rumped warbler singing in the trees? Karl Ricker can tell you this and so much more. A retired consultant geologist, he first found his way to Whistler in 1965 as part of the University of British Columbia's Varsity Outdoor Club. He served as construction foreman on what was then the club's cabin in Nordic, but is now known as the AMS Whistler Lodge after ownership was transferred to the university's student society. As part of the club he was in the party that made the first traverse of the Spearhead watershed, before there were ski lifts or runs on Whistler or Blackcomb.

He spent every weekend and holiday in Whistler starting then and bought his own place in 1981. He retired in 2001 and moved up to Whistler full-time.

In all that time he has spent his days and nights recording Whistler's evolving natural history, monitoring ice levels on both the Wedgemount and Overlord Glaciers as well as conducting regular bird counts as a member of the Whistler Naturalists.

He volunteers with the Weasel Worker, and travels the country to help put on ski races.

He also played a big role in ensuring Whistler kept its name. For a time Whistler Mountain was known as London Mountain; meddlesome politicians renamed it after a mining claim on a 1928 map. Karl took the issue to the Canadian Permanent Committee of Geographic Names in 1965 and ensured that Whistler kept its proper name.

In fact, Ricker helped name a lot of peaks and geological features in this area, and along the coast from Vancouver to the Yukon.

He still climbs mountains, guiding expeditions every year. Last year he reached the summit of Garibaldi using classic gear, part of the B.C. Mountaineering Club's 100 th anniversary in 2007.

He's a historian, a geologist and a guardian of information that has helped this community maintain its identity. His daughter is one of the top snowboardcross racers in the world. His son is a former competitive snowboader turned filmmaker.

- Jesse Ferreras

21) Because Chili Thom loves Whistler:

Pique: Is Chili your REAL name?

CT: My real/ birth name isn't Chili, but that has been my name for about 14 years now. Even my parents call me that, so you can't really argue that it's not my "real" name...

Pique: You're very well known for your paintings, but you're also a DJ and a filmmaker. Does Whistler offer enough diversity for you?

CT: I have always found that in order to be a creative and successful artist one needs to live an exciting artistic life. They say, "variety is the spice of life," so I try to live a very dynamic and spicy life and express my creativity in a number of ways. Whistler offers such a dynamic range of amazingness and has an incredibly high concentration of amazing, exciting, athletic and fun loving people that there is continual support for everything from art, film, music and athletics. I feel that I need to get my art beyond Whistler in terms of shows, but I often find it hard to keep enough stock of paintings to have enough for a show anywhere else. It seems to be in perfect balance here with such an international client base that is continually rolling through town. I think exposure here for an artist, if they play their cards right, is better than most other towns I've ever been to. And one doesn't have to sacrifice their enjoyment for life and move to an urban centre and become removed from the very thing we are all here to enjoy... nature!

Pique: Are there any downsides to living here?

CT: There are some downsides to living in Whistler... housing problems, pay parking, the crazy rumour mill that exists because the whole town is so interconnected (which is also the reason the town is so amazing) and traffic on the weekends trying to leave town. I'm sure someone could find things to complain about even up in heaven so it's just best to focus on all the incredible things here and those few little issues just dissolve away. Besides, the little issues are really fun to read about in the letters to the editor!

Pique: So, what keeps you in Whistler?

CT: I have travelled to tons of places around the world that are either very beautiful, very full of culture, or are cheaper, but none have the whole package like Whistler has. The people and community support would be my main reason though. I can find beauty in nature anywhere, but being able to walk through the village or drive down the highway and run into at least five smiling friends at any given time really makes you appreciate what has been created here. I would love to thank the whole community and all my friends for all of their support, energy, and encouragement over the past 14 years. If it wasn't for all of them my life would be nowhere near as enriched and blessed as it is now. I am deeply grateful that... trying to pinpoint any one thing that specifically makes Whistler great is as hard as pinpointing any single alcohol in the classic high school "shitmix" of everything in your parents' liquor cabinet mixed together with several juices and pops to make it taste drinkable: it doesn't really matter what ingredients make the end result, as long as it gets the job done, and Whistler sure does that!

Pique: Where are the top three places to hang out?

CT: 1) Anywhere out in nature... I love the alpine for the fresh air and amazing views. 2) Behind the turntables anywhere in town looking at smiling faces and shaking asses. 3) Anywhere simply surrounded by friends.

-Holly Fraughton

22) WAC's Art Workshops on the Lake

We have an impressive array of lakes in this little town of 10,000: Lost, Alpha, Alta, Nita, Logger's, One Duck and Green, just to name a few. Each boasts an impressive range of activities for people and their furry friends.

Aside from traditional lakeside activities, like biking, hiking, swimming, boating and, of course, tanning, there are even some artistic options on offer, thanks to the Whistler Arts Council. WAC has been operating a myriad of workshops, which include pottery, sketching, watercolour, acrylic and oil painting, all out of the RMOW's Alta Lake Station House, since 2006. In just three years, the program has become incredibly popular, drawing aspiring and amateur artists from within Whistler and further abroad out to set up their easels and flex their artistic muscles, with the beauty of Alta Lake and the surrounding area as inspiration.

-Holly Fraughton

23) The nudie dock

Speaking of lakes, there's one swimming hole in town that hasn't lost Whistler's free love, hippie vibe from the '70s. The north end of Lost Lake still features a dock that is friendly to those who opt to hang out au naturel . Safely tucked away down the trail from the main beach at the lake, the nudie dock always seems to be packed with people. It's good to know that we've held onto a bit of the uninhibited spirit of our infamous Toad Hall forefathers.

24) Lights, camera, action!

This might be a small town, but it sure seems to be packed with creative minds, including a whole host of über-talented filmmakers. Case in point: the Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival's annual 72-Hour Filmmaker Showdown, which sees teams of filmmakers frantically creating a short film in just three days. With the help of copious amounts of caffeine, the submissions at this competition just seem to get better and better each year.

Then, of course, we have the incredible Heavy Hitting B-Grade Horror Fest. Organized by none other than Feet Banks and Chili Thom, this grassroots event, which is held around Halloween, brings out the zombie in all of us with loads of gore and other B-Grade goodies.

Last but certainly not least, the Whistler Film Festival has made Whistler a legit player on the film festival circuit.

Launched nine years ago, the Whistler Film Festival Society now produces one of Canada's leading film festivals, which draws industry members to town to take part in screenings, premieres, tributes, workshops and parties, of course. Aside from the four-day film extravaganza they hold here every winter, the WFFS also hosts the Whistler Filmmaker Forum, Western Canada's premier industry event, and runs year round activities like Reel Alternatives, Whistler's monthly independent film series, the Get Reel Youth Film Workshop, and the CFC Go West Project Lab.

-       Holly Fraughton

25) The Kids are all right

Kids have problems and Whistler is not different. But Whistler also has outlets, outlets you never dreamed of growing up wherever you grew up. Quite simply, Whistler kids kick ass. There are Whistler kids on the national teams for ski cross, snowboardcross, snowboard halfpipe, and alpine skiing. There are ski and snowboard pros that are pushing the boundaries of their branches of the sport in the backcountry. There are Whistler kids in the finals of the annual slopestyle event at Crankworx, and on national mountain bike podiums for cross country and downhill. There are Whistler kids playing Junior A hockey, performing on stages before thousands of people.

Once upon a time the average Whistler kid wanted nothing more than to get out of town, to move to Vancouver or somewhere where there's a little more action. Now, more of those kids are staying to work and play, taking over the family business. There's nothing wrong with taking some time to see the rest of the world, but sooner or later everyone figures out that there's no better place to be than here.

26) The love goes all around

"Where else can you ski, snowboard, skateboard, BMX, dirt jump, XC mountain bike, DH mountain bike, canoe, kayak, kite surf, stand up paddle surf, swim, rope swing, rock climb, mountaineer, hike and mushroom pick, all in the same day? There are a lot of cool places on earth but very few offer the lifestyle and quality of living we have in Whistler. Of course there is a price to pay for these elements in the form of added expenses and inconveniences, but the pros far outweigh the cons for most of us, or we would simply leave. I have explored just about all of Whistler in the process of writing the Whistler Guidebook series and always get excited when I find some new gem I didn't know about; a new trail, a lookout point, or small lake that was not on the map.

Most of us came for the recreation, but it is the people that keep us here. The friendships with like-minded souls seem to run deeper here and many of us are far from family so we extend those bonds and support networks usually reserved for blood relations to our network of friends. When a friend suffers hardships here, the rallying support is astonishing. Things may be bigger in Texas but they are undoubtedly better in Whistler, you can bike elsewhere but it's better here, you can ski other mountains but it is better here. You can make friends anywhere, but they are better here. Isn't that reason enough to love Whistler?" - Brian Finestone, bike park manager and producer of two guidebooks for mountain biking and exploring the mountains.



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