Whistler celebrates Little hill has ‘grown’ to be one of skiing’s finest WHISTLER — It’s hard to imagine, but 25 years ago Whistler Mountain was known only to a handful of businessmen and a few bold skiers. Then, on Feb. 15, 1966, Whistler Mountain’s four- passenger gondola opened for business, offering a ride to mid- station, the red chair, the blue chair, a T-bar, day lodge — and another world. The first green chair was in- stalled two years later, and then extended, the olive and orange chairs were added in 1972, a se- cond T-bar in 1973, the second green chair in 1975 and the little red chair in 1978. The peak chair came in 1986 and the 10-person gondola in 1988. Last season saw the two green chairs replaced by a high- speed quad. Future plans are concentrated on the development of the gon- dola area, now known as Whistler Creek, including a new day lodge and express lifts to replace the gondola. Along the way skier visits have soared to last year’s figure of 600,000, and less happily, to this year’s daily lift ticket price of $38. On the other hand, that new gon- dola is sure dead brilliant. Blackcomb, which will also be charging $38 for a day ticket, also had 600,000 skier visits last season for a valley total of 1.2 million, which puts the resort in the top five in North America. Skiing begins officially Nov. 22 David Wishart TRAVEL TIPS but it may start as early as Nov. 10, Watch this space. Whistler’s marketing people say they have plans for silver anniver- sary celebrations, but so far they will only say that the focus will be on the Whistler Creek area. When pressed for details, the spokesmen were abnormally reti- cent, alluding to ‘‘contests on the mountain and that sort of thing." Then the penny dropped. Blackcomb, you see, is celebrating its 10th birthday this year, and do you think their PR machine is in overdrive? Forget it. Neither mountain wants to reveal any plans for fear of being scooped, upstaged or stabbed in the baseline. Blackcomb, meanwhile, has just doubled its snow making capacity above mid-station to cover eight of the 13 lifts, including the Jersey Cream area. The mountain is also installing Canada’s first on-mountain TV information system. Five sets of triple monitors will be located around Blackcomb to keep skiers posted on line-ups, snow condi- lions, missing children and what kind of car Umberto Menghi just drove up in. The Fiberglas World Cup, one of four stops in North America for the World Cup freestyle skiing REMEMBRANCE DAY November 11, 1990 The flower that means peace. We ask you to remember all those who are only memories by your donation to the fund which helps ex service mer and worner, and their dependents in time of need. WE WEAR A POPPY - DISPLAY A WREATH CARE POPPY TAG DAYS - NOVEMBER 8,9,10 THE ROVAL CANADIAN LEGION Br. #118, 123 W. 15th St., N. Van. 988-3712 or 985-3255 Br. #60, 503 18th St., W. Van. 1820 Cy AN.AF. Vets of CDA #45 - 119 E. 3rd St. N. Van. : 888-7811 Br. #114 . 1630 Lynn Valley Rd. N.V. 987-2050 Too much rain? PANAMA CANAL — 10 days fly free — excellent rates check & compare. @ Holland America Cruises a Shin's registry Netherlands Antilles 1507 BELLEVUE AVE., WEST VANCOUVER 926-6871 TRAVEL Poa Ae haya — Sunday, October 28, 1990 - North Shore News - 39 Photo submitted WINTER FUN coming up ... and a second season for Chateau Whistler. circuit, will be held at Blackcomb Jan. 7 to 13. This is the first time this event has been held in the valley and promises lots of thrijls and big crowds. CBC and ESPN will be there. At the Blackcomb Mountain base, the 85-unit Woodrun condo hotel is about to open. David Perry, marketing manager for Blackcomb Real Estate, says it 4 We rings it all will be the most spectacular prop- erty in the valley with the best ski-in, ski-out location in North America. Blackcomb will have a new Plaza Pavillion at the base of the Wizard with a seafood restaurant, sundecks and a ski shop. Le Chamois, another new con- do hotel with 62 units, opens this month. Rates will range from about $200 for a one-bedroom to SHOP THE FLYERS > wednesday Eaton's Woodward's * Save-On-Foods > frida * Sears . Stacy’s Furniture > sunday Safeway Shoppers Drug Mart * SuperValu if you miss any of these flyers call North Shore News Distribution 986-1337 * delwored te selected weds only SUNDAY + WEDNEBDAY « FRIDAY 25 years $400 for a four-bedroom. it is located near the Chateau Whistler Resort, which reportedly had a good first summer Season, Nancy Greene said that, despite a 35 per cent increase in village beds last season, Nancy Greene Lodge did not drop any market share. Said Greene, ‘‘ht was a fittle nerve-racking to sce all those big new hotels opening, but in the end it didn’t affect us."’ Room rates, averaging $139 in high season, will not rise this year, largely because of nervousness over the Canadian government’s new Goods and Services Tax (GST) which adds seven per cent to the cost of just about everything. However, said Greene, the hotel would continue to do well from its packages, ranging from $382 for a five-night off-season midweek to the $722 seven-night high season, all including breakfasts and dual-mountain ski passes. Whistler Resort Association is planning the Whistler Festival Jan. 12 to 20 to run in conjunc- tion with the World Cup freestyle event. WRA president Tom Eddie says there will be a snow golf tourna- ment, street entertainment, recre- ational ski races on Whistler Mountaiii, ice-carving demonstra- tions, saow sculpture competitions and a themed costume dance in the Conference Centre. -Could it be a rock ‘n’ roll par- ty, circa 1966? VENTURE TRAVEL COOK ISLANDS 2 weeks | vom e484 54 pron Price includes * Return airfare from Vancouver © 12 nights accommodation © Airport transfers PORTUGAL The Bargain of the Season 2 weeks | from ca? LOGS PPIDDI. Price includes ¢ Return airfare from Vancouver © 12 nights in the ALGARVE — studio apartment a Car rental in Portugal — 12 | days 3 © Car insurance and taxes ¢ Hotel taxes & service charges 1 © 1 night accommodation in Amsterdam a NORTH SHORE Experience | COSTA RICA | 2 weeks rom cin LOD PP/DbI. Price includes © Return charter airfare from Vancouver e 5 nights San Jose City e 2 nights El Tucano highland resort °7 nights Pacitic beach resort ¢ 5 sightseeing excursions ¢ Airport transfers 110 East 14th St. (at Lonsdale) North Vancouver 986-377