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Tourists coming back?

In response to your editorial (Incremental growth is Whistler's future, Opening Remarks Dec. 2) I do have to agree that value for money is the key.

 

In response to your editorial (Incremental growth is Whistler's future, Opening Remarks Dec. 2) I do have to agree that value for money is the key. We priced up coming again in 2011 and nearly fell off our chairs when the prices quoted were much higher than last year - even though we came at Easter peak season and this trip it will be March. I had given up hope of coming in 2011.

However, just before the early bookings discounts finished I checked again and Virgin came up with a deal that was the same price as last trip. But only them, the rest were still silly money. So we are coming again, but it was only just. I read this paper online most weeks and was stunned when the trip was going to be much more expensive when you are under quota.

I am not sure where the extra money is going as it is all tied up in a package deal for us. Maybe it is the extra tax slapped on, your side and ours. Just like governments to ensure they get their cut. But please note the "downward spiral of prices" you think is happening was not translated to us.

Why do we like coming back there and not heading for Europe?

We know we will always get a great welcome; the staff on the mountain are always especially brilliant. There will be super snow, reasonable lodgings and food each night, as long as we book a table the day before!  Also for us, direct flights from the UK. Direct from Manchester would be even better but that died with Zoom's demise. It's hard work getting to the USA resorts which is why we have never tried it - although we thought about it. Don't lose the daily flights.

What do we want? Keep the welcome, smaller lift queues - open more lifts. Not necessarily more terrain, although you can never have too much. There have been big queues when we come, which has always previously been at peak Easter season so maybe this year it will be better. I do have to comment on the queue management being very well done with everyone taking turns. Much better than the free for all bun fights in Europe with part filled chairs going, as groups only travel together. You meet some great people on chairlifts.

Huge issue for us is more things for non-skiers, non-thrill junkies to do. This is a big issue for our family as my wife does not enjoy skiing. So we have to drag her here kicking and screaming "last time... ever". After the snowshoes then what?

Fingers crossed for snow and sunshine.

Counting the days...

Ian Smithson

Bingley, UK

 

Heroes in Harvey's

If not for the quick and selfless actions of two skiers Saturday I wouldn't be writing this letter today.

December 4 was one of the best early season days in recent memory, tons of fresh snow, cold temperatures and blue skies. After two quick groomers I waited about 45 minutes for the Harmony Chair to open for the season; I was sixth in line, which meant I'd be on the second chair up the hill.

After we dismounted the chair I headed to Harvey's; my buddy headed further right towards Robertson's. This is an area that we have skied hundreds of time over the last 30 years.

As I headed towards the last pitch on Harvey's my downhill ski released prematurely. Before I could react I found myself head down in a tree well. I knew I was in trouble immediately.

My buddy was nowhere near me and I was completely immobilized. Upside down, snow began to fill around my face. I knew the seriousness of the situation. As I struggled I became more and more immersed, snow began to fill my gasping mouth. I wondered how long it would be before I blacked out. I knew the expanse of the area and I knew the chance of rescue was slim. I knew I was dead.

I thought, "Is this how it happens? Forty-four years old and in a f*cking tree well?" I thought of my parents and my girlfriend Taryn. I couldn't believe I was going to put them through this.

The next thing I remember is being awoken from a deep sleep by the yelling of some stranger. I was disorientated, blood was dripping from my lip. After several moments, I collected my breath and thoughts. I realized that the two men attending to me had pulled me from the tree well. I was alive. It's impossible to describe the feeling, of waking up to find you are alive.

Harvey's is expansive and gnarly terrain. A pair of ski boots sticking out from a tree well is not overtly obvious. As luck would have it, they noticed my inverted legs as they skied by.

My rescuers later told me that I was blue, non-responsive and lifeless when they pulled me out of the tree well. The attending physician speculated that they discovered me anywhere from five to 15 minutes after I passed out.

These two men, Brad Tkachuk and Eamon Sallam, are heroes. It must have taken great physical exertion, strength and effort to free me. The snow was deep, the terrain steep. I question whether a less competent duo would have been successful.

The actions of these two men saved my life. They are heroes - no other way to put it. They risked their own welfare by rescuing me. What do you say or do for someone who has saved your life?

If it wasn't for having two healthy, strong, snow-smart, saviors I wouldn't be writing this letter today.

The attending ski patrol were tremendous and my heartfelt acknowledgement goes out to them as well. Noah was with me from recovery to clinic and was very supportive. You understand the magnitude of the situation when the ski patrollers are shaking their heads and calling me the luckiest guy on the hill.

The reason for this letter is threefold.

Firstly, to remind folks of the danger of tree wells (www.treewelldeepsnowsafety.com). I was well aware of their dangers but clearly it helped little when I was engulfed. Death in this case would have been due to snow immersion asphyxiation - non-avalanche-related snow immersion death (NARSID). It's estimated that 90 per cent of those stuck in tree wells cannot self rescue.

Secondly, while it's obvious that skiing with a buddy is imperative it is little help if you aren't within eyesight of one another.

Thirdly, and most importantly I want to acknowledge the efforts of Brad Tkachuk and Eamon Sallam. These men need to be commended for their actions. They have an open tab with me at Apres! I encourage others to treat these two men with respect, reverence and perhaps a free beer if opportunity presents. Brad and Eamon are true heroes and their friends, family, colleagues and acquaintances should feel proud to have these remarkable men in their lives. I know I do.

Sean Hirtle

Vancouver/Whistler

 

Speak up for the library

In Whistler we have residents with a wide variety of financial circumstances: those who struggle to get by and those who have unimaginable wealth. But all people enter the Whistler Public Library as equals. The library provides a dry, warm, free place to go where staff treat all alike and all information is equally accessible. A rarity provided for by the Library Act of B.C. which contributes to affordability in Whistler.

Getting our beautiful library built was a painful process but since opening, the building and usage has wildly exceeded all expectations. In 2009, an average of 845 people used the library every day. More recently, usage has hovered around 1,000 people most days of the week. Whistler Library has the second highest in person visits per capita in the province (Tumbler Ridge is first), with use per capita over triple the numbers of most libraries.

In the municipal budget, the library will experience a $54,000 shortfall for 2011. Since staff is already stretched thin because of the large numbers using the library, the only way to address this shortfall is to close the library nine hours per week, a 17 per cent decrease in total hours. This will result in the library closed one day per week and shorter hours on other days, starting in January. This will affect hundreds of library patrons every week.

The total operating budget for Whistler is $47.4 million. Times are tough and taxpayers want and should get good value for their contribution. Priorities must be considered and addressed to meet the needs of the residents and taxpayers. At the Whistler Public Library, the numbers tell the story: the facility is clearly integral and vital to our community and should be at the top of the list. It makes no sense to shortchange the library, and in consequence, the community as well.

If you feel the library should be adequately funded, please attend the upcoming Budget Open House on Monday, Dec. 13 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Spruce Grove Fieldhouse. This event, attended by municipal staff and councillors, is to provide information about the budget and get feedback from the public: a perfect opportunity to drop in and make your views known. Now is the time to speak up for our public library.

Jane Reid

Co-Chair, Friends of the Whistler Public Library

 

Business 101

After reading some of the letters last week in Pique, and some of the comments by Bill Barratt in his letter last week I feel I too must add my name to the frustration of the municipal survey and our mutual tax problem.

I did not take the survey by phone, but I did complete it from the link on the whistler.ca website. There were the usual questions on satisfaction of this and that, but the real problem came to the questions regarding expenses/services and taxes. Like others who have been involved in the survey I was astounded to find that the ONLY two options were to increase taxes to maintain services or maintain taxes and decrease services.

Being in business for many years at the Director or VP level I was amazed that these were the only options. Anyone with a business 101 understanding knows that a very viable option is to decrease costs WHILE maintaining services. I know that sounds hard, but it is what real companies and real businesses do all the time when your revenue stream is drying up. When your revenue drops management in any well run company will mandate a cut in costs.

Furthermore, many (most) companies cannot afford a drop in service levels in this very competitive marketplace. Therefore the job of staff, at least those that are not let go, is to figure out how to match services to the reduced revenue stream.

Trust me from being there, if you state that you cannot cut costs while maintaining services you might as well polish up your resume because you will not be working long for your company. Every manager worth his salt knows where he can cut, what fat there is and how to do things more efficiently. Is it easy? No. Is it painless? No. Can it be done? Yes.

From Bill Barratt's letter last week, "Like other municipalities, however, the RMOW is faced with budget challenges and the reality of a finite number of revenue streams - hence the reliance on municipal property tax increases to cover operating expenses, contributions to reserves and managing budget shortfalls."

To Bill, and the council, I must reply... I, and many of the other tax-paying members of Whistler, are telling you that this revenue stream is dried up. Please go to one of our funded programs, the library, and check out a book on Business 101. Then figure out how to cut costs. Just don't tell me that it has to be at the expense of services. That doesn't fly in the real business world.

Rick Doucette

Whistler

 

Missing Translink

With regard to the issue of the transit system in Whistler, I wonder if any thought has been given to the idea of making the Whistler system a part of the Translink system rather than a separate one as it is now? There might be some advantages: lower costs of operating due to economies of scale; better utilization of buses from season to season; access to a larger supply of experienced operators; and less impact on the budget of the RMOW.

It appears that the impact on the community of Whistler is more than was bargained for.

Ted Handford

Surrey

 

Time for regional transit

During the past two decades about 20 reports, studies, proposals and surveys have been prepared on the future shape of transit in the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District. The next one should be ready for presentation to the SLRD in January.

Three levels of service are being looked at. The first covers the existing services, connecting Pemberton, Whistler and Squamish. The second adds commuter service between Squamish and Metro Vancouver. The third is a bold vision, looking at transit to areas not currently served, including Lillooet and smaller communities.

Squamish has become a satellite to Metro Vancouver. A decade ago we had to go "to the city" for many of our shopping needs and government and medical services. They are now available in Squamish. They are here for all the people in the Sea to Sky corridor, not just the people of Squamish. Every day hundreds of people drive from Pemberton and Whistler to Squamish.

In the central corridor, transit needs to go both ways. It is not just to get workers to Whistler. It needs to get people from Pemberton and Whistler to Squamish too.

The 2006 Census found that over 800 people commute from Squamish to Metro Vancouver. About 40 per cent are heading to the North Shore, another 40 per cent to Vancouver and the rest scatter out between Burnaby, Surrey and White Rock. The same census found over 1,300 people commuting to Whistler.

Southbound transit, to Metro Vancouver, would have a destination spread out over hundreds of square kilometres. Whistler destinations are focused in a few central areas. There are more commuters going to Whistler than Vancouver. There are people coming to Squamish from Whistler and Pemberton for shopping and services. There are smaller geographic areas to serve in Squamish and Whistler than in Metro Vancouver.

You'd think then, that after five years, the Squamish commuter must be a bustling success if we're already thinking about commuter transit to Vancouver. Last month fares on the Squamish commuter jumped 60 per cent. The number of riders dropped. Next month routes will be reduced, with only two stops in Squamish. There will be no more service to Valleycliffe. There is doubt that there will be any service left on April 1.

For reasons that no one can explain, the cost of this service has more than doubled in the past two years. For five years there have been no changes to trip times, many of which don't work for commuters. There has been no effort to encourage use by Whistler residents, although many of them have found it on their own.

It sounds like time for new management. It might be time for the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District to create a regional transit authority.

The most talked about way to fund regional transit is a tax on gasoline. We pay the same price for gas as people in the Lower Mainland, where there is a 15 cent per litre tax. Where does our 15 cents go? The question to those who balk at a gas tax is this: would you rather pay 10 cents per litre to reduce the number of cars on the road, or would you rather keep sending it to the oil companies? The price for gas will be the same either way.

To learn more, share your thoughts and express your opinions, join Whistler Squamish Bus on Facebook. Helping to spread Regional Transit, one bus route at a time.

Murray Gamble

Squamish

 

Appreciating the slow ride

You guys who can fly down the mountain, I'm asking you, please when you see a yellow Mountain Safety Jacket, slow down. Chances are we are standing in front of a rolling blind, a half exposed creekbed, a convergence zone or maybe a fallen skier.

It's not cool when a guy in a $3,000 Spyder outfit blasts past a young kid and his mom. It's even less cool for a seasoned rider to do it.

Look, less than five per cent of the mountain is reserved for beginners, some of these people who are navigating their way down have had the toughest day on the mountain. Good, but tough. We need these people to leave happy and not too much worse for wear. We want and need them to come back. In some ways they personify the future of our industry.

Here's an idea, when some of you better riders come burning down into 10/10 (the corner of Easy Out and Road Five) instead of blasting by some kid or any beginner for that matter, you slow down and offer encouragement. How much would it mean to a little kid who feels too tired to ski out that some cool guy stops to help him up and encourages him a little?

Two brilliant Saturdays in a row! I feel so grateful to be on the mountain. There were moments that were just so perfect. Like you could hold them up and look at them. A gem. Connected yet separate from everything else. I don't want to take them for granted. I don't want them to blend in with all the others.

I was discussing this with a few twenty-somethings on the bus Saturday night when a gruff voice from a few rows up said, "I used to feel the same way, now I can't remember what year I got here." It drove the point home and made me feel kind of silly.

Still, I can't help wanting to slow things down a bit. Here's hoping you can too. Life is short and we're here to escape the rat race after all. So why race past a perfect moment just to get to the next one?

Y.A.H.

Robin Avery

Whistler