Whistler-Blackcomb announced last week that the new 1,000-acre lift-accessed area in the high alpine of Whistler Mountain will be called the Symphony Amphitheatre to reflect its spectacular natural amphitheatre-like terrain.
A new name for the high-speed detachable quad that will open on Whistler Mountain this November has also been announced. The previously announced Piccolo Express will be renamed Symphony Express to reflect the zone’s new branding.
"Piccolo Express was an appropriate name for the new lift as it was named for the mountain peak it was accessing, but it didn’t inspire the story of this incredible area," said Stuart Rempel, Whistler-Blackcomb’s senior vice president of marketing and sales. "After receiving community input in support of the magnificence of the area, we decided to revisit the branding process and determined that the Symphony Amphitheatre offered much more potential."
The zone’s new name was inspired by the area’s natural theatre with its unmatched views, vast open bowls, deep snow and gladed finales. Drawing further inspiration from its symphonic similarities, the area also features new run names such as Rhapsody Bowl, Adagio, Founders’ Run, Staccato Glades, Glissando Glades, Encore Ridge, Flute Bowl, North Flute Bowl and Hidden Chute, adding to the established runs in the region such as Burnt Stew Trail, Symphony Bowl, Sun Bowl, Harvey’s, Robertson’s, and Crescendo. Founders’ Run will be dedicated to the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation who will auction the run name annually to the highest bidder. Proceeds from the auction will benefit Whistler Blackcomb Foundation charities.
The Symphony Amphitheatre brings to the fore one of Whistler Mountain’s favorite in-bounds backcountry experiences. Long referred to by locals as being part of the Musical Bumps, Piccolo and Flute, along with Symphony Bowl are the encore to Whistler’s Harmony Bowl, but until now have been reserved for those willing to hike for their turns. This winter, the addition of the Symphony Express, a detachable, high speed quad chair connecting the bottom of Flute Bowl to the peak of Piccolo, will provide access to over 1,000 acres of intermediate and advanced terrain.
Construction is well underway on the Symphony Express and the lift towers are expected to be flown in by mid-September in time for the lift to open with the winter season this November.
