Negotiations between Alpine Canada and the W5 group to make Whistler a permanent stop on the men’s World Cup downhill circuit continue, but a final decision must be reached in the next month in order to get the engineering work done in time for next December’s scheduled race. Bill McNeney, representing the Vancouver Ski Foundation, says a proposal was sent to the Alpine Canada board of directors last week. Alpine Canada’s Nick Wilson says the board should be voting on the proposal this week and he anticipates a positive outcome. However, negotiations haven’t been easy, as the W5 group — the municipality, the Whistler Resort Association, the Chamber of Commerce, Whistler Mountain Ski Corp. and the Vancouver Ski Foundation — want to ensure they have the right to market the event in a way that will benefit the whole community. Wilson says Alpine Canada has three main objectives: 1) to have an excellent, quality event 2) to try and help the Canadian team perform, by racing at home early in the season 3) and to help develop Alpine Canada’s relationship with Whistler in the off season, as a training area He said Alpine Canada would like to see some financial success out of the Whistler event, but added: "I think it’s in our interest that Whistler run on its own, and get the best possible event."
