WHISTLER HELI-SKIING CELEBRATES 30th SEASON

New this Year: Lunches catered by The Bearfoot Bistro and Après at the Cinnamon Bear Bar

Whistler Heli-Skiing kicks off its 30th season on December 4 bringing guests the thrill of a lifetime for yet another winter.

“Entering our 30th season is a momentous occasion and we’re marking it with some very exciting new offerings,” says Mike Sedan, General Manager of Whistler Heli-Skiing. “With our experienced guides, 432,000 acres of terrain, and the opportunity to ski 10 000 to 15 000 vertical feet in a day, our guests are guaranteed fantastic powder turns even in the early season.”

Along with an experienced heli-ski guide, skiers and riders who are an intermediate level or above can experience the thrill of flying in a helicopter, and the exhilaration of shredding untracked powder. You don’t have to be a professional freeskier to try the adrenaline-packed adventure. Whistler Heli-Skiing offers a variety of packages for ability levels ranging from intermediate to expert. No powder experience is necessary. Professional photo and video services are also available so guests can capture their epic day forever.

There are a number of new and exciting additions to the Whistler Heli-Skiing experience this year. Guests will be able take a break in an incredible setting and enjoy lunch supplied by one of Whistler’s most elegant restaurants, The Bearfoot Bistro. The menu includes a selection of hot teas, gourmet soups, delicious sandwiches and some tasty treats to keep skiers and riders fuelled for a full-day of adventure.

When the day is done, guests are invited for après at the Cinnamon Bear Bar in the Hilton Whistler Resort and Spa, where they will be joined by their guide, photographer and pilot to view their photos and video and relive their awesome day in the mountains.

Back by popular demand this season will be Whistler Heli-Skiing’s Powder Hut Ski and Snowboard Rental Shop. Located at the Whistler Golf Course Driving Range, the Powder Hut will be open daily between 4pm-7pm so guests can pick up rentals the day prior.

British Columbia’s vast wilderness and abundance of powder is home to 90 per cent of the world’s heli-skiing. The Whistler area offers the cream-of-the-crop terrain and the powder options are endless. Whistler Heli-Skiing’s regular drop spots include 173 glaciers and 475 runs.

Whistler Heli-Skiing offers a variety of packages based on ability level and number of drops and the season runs to April 25,2011. To book a heli-skiing trip, call 1-888- HELISKI (435-4754) or visit whistlerheliskiing.com.

 About Whistler Blackcomb

Whistler Blackcomb, the official alpine skiing venue for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, is situated in the Resort Municipality of Whistler located in the Coast Mountains of British Columbia 125 kilometres (78 miles) from Vancouver, British Columbia. North America’s premier four season mountain resort, Whistler and Blackcomb are two side-by-side mountains which combined offer over 200 marked runs, over 8,000 acres of terrain, 14 alpine bowls, three glaciers, receives on average over 1,090 centimetres (430 inches) of snow annually, and one of the longest ski seasons in North America. In the summer, Whistler Blackcomb offers a variety of activities, including hiking and biking trails, the Whistler Mountain Bike Park, and sightseeing on the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola.  For more information, visit whistlerblackcomb.com.