TRAVEL TIPS

“EVERY MOUNTAIN h
* ski school, and Whistler
resort, with side-by-side
‘Whistler and Blackcomb
mountains, has two. But the
biggest ski schoo! program is
something quite different —
Ski Esprit.
*~ Founded 10 years ago, Ski
- Esprit combines ski school with a
Club Med-approach to stiding -
», downhill. You simply sign up fora
“three or four-day program, join a
“smail group, and an amiable
"instructor takes you to ali the best -
“places on both mountains,
' Kristy, my instructor, even
helped pick up the pieces when my
‘descent from the Whistler Peak

asa

. Presents . :
‘TREASURES OF GREECE
2 TRAVELOGUE FILM -.
“narrated live on stage -

--by Dr. Dwayne Merry.
NORTH VAN. CENTENNIAL THERE

‘Tues. Mar. 8 6:00 & 8:30pm
s ~» Tickets 12.75
plus service charge, includes GST-

: HEea, ACTER fp,
info and Chargeline 280-4444

- “SOUTHERN
~~ CALIFORNIA &
MEXICO CRUISE
‘plus DISNEYLAND.
° 7 NIGHTS”
: from CON $865 PP/DBL’
Chile rate from CON $650
« March 07 to Dec, 19

_ Inclusive of:

Round trip airtare from
Vancouver to Los Angeles

4 night cruise to Catalina:
island, San Diego and
Ensenada

3 nights’ hotel accommoda-
tion in Disneyland

'* All ground transfers —
Pier/Anaheim/Airport

Taxes are extra.

became more of a free-fall.

The sociability of Ski Esprit is a
big draw, particularty for singles.
and it also aliows members of the
same family to ski at their awn
level, For example my group
included a Japanese woman, a
banker, whose husband was with a
more advanced squad.

Programs sGirt Sunday night and
Thursday night with a reception
where skiers get acquainted and can
talk to instructors about ability fev-
els from novice to expert.

Many are intermediates who apt
for group five, but once on the
slopes some skiers slot up and
down to other groups until they find
their comfort level.

Then we're skiing. Whistler ane
day, Blackcontb the next. These are
two very large mountiins, and a Ski
Esprit vuided tour can be an eye-
opener even for skiers who have
been coming here for years,

For example, the resort has the
most extensive high-speed lift sys-
tem on the continent with access to
6.900 acres of skiable terrain, more
than 200 runs, six massive alpine
bowls and three glaciers.

Blackcomb mountain offers a
vertical mile (5.280 1.) and
Whistler boasts 5.020 1L. making
them the greatest vertical rise ski
mountains in North America.

The second day features video
analysis anc apres-ski.

-There’s a race the third day, and
the group ahead of us featured two
Scots who went round the poles in
their kilts. Downhill spies report
that nothing is worn under the kilt

histler experience

while racing.

On day four brunch is laid on,
and there's an optional wind-up
banquet for $30. The three-day re.
gram is $160 and the four-day $195
plus tax. This does not include hotel
or Lilt Gckets.

There ts also a Young at Heart
Ski Esprit on school breaks and
major holidays for skiers aged 13 to
18, Snowboard Ski Esprit and
Customized Ski Esprit for groups
(special rates available),

One advantage of Skt Esprit ts
that participants get fHilt-line priori-
ty. areal plus when the mountains
are busy on weekends and holidays.

Whistler will he ia full winter
operation until April 24 and
Blackcomb until May 23,
Blackcomb has glacier skiing all
suminer.

Ski Esprit is a joint venture of
both mountains and is run by the
Dual Mountain Office.

eee

A new concept of a litness-get-
away-hote] package slarts in April
atthe Whistler Village Inis. It is
the Back to Basics program, und
coordinator Riki Jager is bringing it
to Whistler after a successful sun at
Lake Louise Inn.

The package, which will run
until October, is targeted to women
35 ta 50 and men 45 to 50.
However, says Jager. all ages can
enjoy it

“The beauty of the program is
that it has something Vor seniors,
and | mean 85-year-olds, and we
have had teenagers come io enjoy
the outdoor activities and health-

limmers

GRAND PRIZE WINNERS

Rio de Janeiro, courtesy of Canadian Airlines and Gateways international - Maisia

Westarhout.

Trip for two to Austrailia, courtesy of Quantas Airways and Quantas Vacations -

Don Kennedy

Alaska Cruise, courtesy of Cruise Connections - A. Wannop

Trip for two to Hawaii

- Courtesy of Air Canada Vacations, Outrigger Hotels,

Maiden Pacific and the Georgia Straight - winner: Olivia Stelver.

ADDITIONAL PRIZE WINNERS

Flight Bag, courtesy of Martin Travel/Thomas Cook # 80t - J.Pok 7479 - Steel;
7078 - OD. Dick; 6697 - Germscheid. Weekender Bag, courtesy of Chateau Victoria
Hotel # 836 - Joan Whittaw: 210 - Willaim Moe; 96 - S. Topley. Hockey Tickets,
coutusy fo Voyageur Insurance #1003 - Fernandez. Hotel Stay, courtesy of Swan's

- Hotel Victoria #6675 - Leslie Robinson; Hotel Stay, Quality Inn downtown # 7036 -
Adams, Hotel Stay, Harrison Hot Springs Hotel # 824 - Catherine Shields; 7071 -

_ J. Birchall; 7026 - A. Wilson. Hotel Stay, Rio Suite Hotel & Casino # 78 - Mrs. E
Thompson; 345 - Anita Celio. Hotel Stay, courtesy of Lincoin City Visitors Bureau
# 7052 - F. Danells, Hotel Stay, courtesy of City Wide Reservations # 1055 - E,
Stafford; 4145 - Chris Gingras. Hotel Stay, Courtesy of XV Victoria Commonwealth
Games # 6057 - Marnie Rusk; 1736 - Van Dyk; 199 - Betty Jang; 6105 - Cindy
Renner, 4004 - Bert Ward; 6486 - D. Linde. Hotel Stay, Flamingo Hilton Laughlin 4
131 - S, Sherwood; 24°7 - E. Sims; 4186 - N. Oragovan; 5610 - Diane Martinson.
Hotel Stay, Aladdin Hote: & Casino # 159 - Joyce Stanley. Pewter Goblets,
courtesy of Singapore Tourist Promotion Board # 3 - T. Holness, Hotel Stay,
Carson City Nugget Hotel & Casino # 15 - D. Hetli, Hotel Stay, Sheraton Gateway
Hote! Toronto # 351 - D. Flynn. Umbrella, courtesy of Northern treland Tourist
Board # 4205 - Don Render. Fiesta West/Canada 3000/Park 'N Fly: Los Angeles #
30 - W. Lenco; Montreal 813 - A Fraser; Amsterdam 6082 - M, Kurlak; Edmonton
1526 - S.C, Minot; Glasgow 5531 - Jenny Yu; Toronto 5560 - B. Salvage;
Manchester 6483 ~ Marion Webber.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL PRIZE WINNERS

from the Holiday Travel Showcase! Winners will be contacted by telephone.
For more information and to claim your prize, please call (604) 681-7469.

enhancing tips we provide.”

Activities are guided and include
brisk morning walks, fimess train-
ing and exercises in the hotel's
heated outdoor poul. Afternoans are
spent hiking, biking or on excur-
sions,

Each evening the groups will
walk toa village restaurant where
menus have been set by Javer.
Chefs will prepare nutritious meats
that allow fora total daily intake of
[800 calories.

Jager started the Stim Inn at
Lake Louise in 1984 and a similar
program in 1990 at Kananaskis
Lodge and Health Spa.

Casts range from $425 for three
nights to $950 for seven nights
including raom, meals and activi-
lies,

For All Destinations

FLOR

SIDETRACKS

Slide Show

ECOSUMMER EXPEDITIONS is
presenting a slide show, Arctic
Dreams — Waters af the Polar
Mnuit, on Tuesday, March 15,

Join founder and expedition
director Jim Allan as he presents
images of Greenland. the world's
premier wilderness kayaking des-
lination, and of the hardy Inuit
people who make the area their
hame.

The slide show takes place at
7:30 pum. at Tigers Restaurant,
2433 Granville St. in Vancouver.
Space is limited, Call Ecosummer.
ut 669-7741 to reserve a spot.

Talk To Us!

A rron’590

Discover Your World Travel

1295 Marine Dr., N.Van.

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980-4526