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Whistler-Blackcomb ratchets up snowmaking system

Anticipating November 23 opening day

By Andrew Mitchell

With temperatures dropping and days getting shorter, Whistler-Blackcomb activated its 225-gun snowmaking system on Tuesday.

According to Bob Dufour, vice president of mountain operations, most snowmaking guns turn on automatically once the temperature dips to –2 Celsius. “Today (Tuesday) we’re sitting at around –5 Celsius and –3 mid-mountain, optimal temperatures for a quality snow product.”

The goal is to create a solid base for when the real stuff starts falling, which could happen at any time. Last year Whistler-Blackcomb opened on Nov. 5, almost three weeks ahead of schedule, with heavy snowstorms blanketing the alpine in late October. It was the earliest opening in 20 years.

The official opening day of the 2006-07 season is Thursday, Nov. 23.