Snowboarding in Canada at whistler help!?

Question

Hi everyone, I'm trying to plan a holiday for snowboarding in Canada but have no idea what to book except for flights and hotels and snowboard equipment hire

Do we need to pay to get on the slopes?

Is there such thing as doing like 2 hours of lessons a day for the trip? (total 5 days)

Are their opening times for the slopes or can we just go whenever?

Answer 1

You obviously need somewhere to stay.

You pay to get on the slopes - it is called a lift pass.  There will be various combinations from a single day to a season long pass.  Check the web site.

Lifts run for set times - usually between 8-30 to 3-30 or 4-00.  I don't know Whistlers' hours.  Within that period you can ride whenever you want.

You can also get a series of lessons as you describe.  There are two basic sorts - classes where the instructor may have up to 10 other students, or private where you hire an instructor and have 1, 2, 3 or 4 students.  How many is your choice.  Private lessons are more expensive but you get intensive, individual instruction.

For a first trip a good plan is a package deal.  Someone else will have already thought of everything for you.

Answer 2

The morning trip up the mountain is about 1 hour, bottom to top, there is an early breakfast at a premium rate at the top. The main ride starts at 9 am always a long line.  The lifts run over $50/ day US, get a 5 day lift ticket for both mountains.  If you check the Whistler web site many of your questions can be answered on it.  The ski school does have a variety of lesson packages for all customers.  This is the Premier Resort in North America, it will host many of the Alpine events in 2010 for the Winter Olympic Games.  Have a great time, bring money, it is a great area.