Set in the pristine back-country of the Callaghan Valley, is Whistler’s Olympic Park, venue for the 2010 Olympic Games.

This weekend 200 athletes from around the world arrive to compete in a three-day Nordic Combined World Cup.

For information on tickets, schedules and events see
http://nordiccombined-vancouver.com/home/tabid/257/language/en-CA/default.aspx

For details on Whistler Olympic Park see http://www.whistlerolympicpark.com/

Whistler’s food and wine festival kicked off last night with the popular event ARTragous held at Dusty’s in Creekside.

Back for it’s 13th year and the original Cornucopia event ARTragous is a celebration of all things creative with inter-active art’s, body painting, photography and dance.

For the full schedule of events see Cornucopia Whistler 2008

The fifth annual Kokanee Crankworks festival is well under way in Whistler. The festival opener, typically a 4x event, was replaced by a dual slalom this year. A few hundred riders charged down the newly crafted course entertaining the crowd with the intensity of head-to-head action. Despite a little rain in the mix, the event went off without a hitch. In the end America’s weapon JD Swanguen took down top spot in the men’s pro class while 2007 4x World Cup Champion Anneke Beerten won the women’s pro class. 

Check out the events yet to come!  

Whistler Kokanee Crankworx Schedule

Saturday August 9 - Dual Slalom

Sunday August 10 - Garbanzo Downhill, Ken Quon Cross Country

Monday August 11 - Womenzworx Clinics

Tuesday August 12 - Womenzworx, Gala Competition

Wednesday August 13 - Jim Beam, Air Downhill

Thursday August 14 - VW Trick Showdown

Friday August 15  - Kidsworx, Giant Slalom

Saturday August 16 - Trialsworx, Slopestyle

Sunday August 17 - Canadian Open Downhill

Pemberton Festival reached full capacity of 40,000 music fans this past weekend, making the three day event a success in its very first year. The festival utilized Live Nation’s vertically integrated company to produce the festival, handle all of the ticketing, website, merchandise and creative services. 
The success of Pemberton in its first year is a testament to an incredible line-up of artists, led by headliners Coldplay, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Nine Inch Nails, JAY-Z and The Tragically Hip. The success is also due in part to it’s breathtaking setting where artists performed against the beautiful backdrop of Mount Currie to fans enjoying the event on the grounds of some of Canada’s richest farm country. Rolling Stone exclaimed that “the first annual Pemberton Festival will gladly take the title of next Glastonbury.”
“We built a world-class music festival from scratch which attracted the world’s most successful and talented artists and music fans from every corner of the globe,” said Shane Bourbonnais, President of Touring and Business Development for Live Nation Canada. “The lessons we’ve learned as the global leader in festival production and the enormous support we received from the government and people of Pemberton all came together to create a one-of-a-kind event that we expect to produce for many years to come.”

The recent explosion of sunny weather has people waiting in anticipation of the summer’s biggest event. The Pemberton Music festival’s three-day outdoor concert showcasing such headliners in the music industry as Coldplay, Jay-Z and Tom Petty are gearing up to play from July 25 to 27.

The number of music fans expected to attend is 40,000, drawing people in from Canada, the US and Europe.  Quite a number for a quiet farm community with a population of just over 2000. Event promoter Shane Bourbonnais of Live Nation commented “It’s very dramatic (with Mount Currie in the background), the scenery is beautiful, the community has been from day one very supportive, and played a really great role and that’s been a great thing”.

Modeled after multi-day music festivals in Europe, this concert could become an annual event.  There are very few examples of other similar festivals in North America.

The organizers are focused on logistics and eco-friendly planning. The traffic feasibility study completed in September 2007 led to approved of the traffic management plan by the Ministry of Transportation. Other agencies to approve the festival include the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, RCMP, Squamish Lillooet Regional District and regional tourism agencies.

Carpooling is encouraged, the parking area is separate from ‘tent city’ and hydro-electric power is the main source of energy fueling the concert stages. Whistler is the official water sponsor, so there is bound to be a healthy supply.

Cost has not been a factor as early bird tickets are sold out. Three-day event passes are still available for $259.00. Daily parking passes go for $149.50 and camping fees are $90 for a three-day pass. 

Whistler will celebrate and promote a healthier lifestyle next week with the 3rd annual Whistler Wellness Week. Taking place from May 31 - June 7 with events focusing on focusing on body, beauty and betterment with more than 100 seminars and yoga opportunities.

It is the event is quickly becoming recognized as a premier wellness event, attracting locals and visitors alike.

With this years focus on “boby, beauty and betterment” event manager, Glenn Iles comments “Wellness requires a holistic approach to life, so the seminars address everything from physical fitness and beauty to uncluttering your home to provide a more harmonious living space.  Participants will be able to choose from up to five sessions each day in these three areas.”

A new addition to this year’s event is the emphasis on the environment.  Whistler Wellness Week has teamed up with Envirofest and AWARE (Association of Whistler Area Residents for the Environment) to feature a number of workshops with an environmental focus.

A variety of hotels and spas are offering packages to coincide with the week.

For more details see www.whistlerwellness.com

In the lead up to the 2010 Olympics all eyes were on Whistler this weekend for the Alpine Skiing World Cup. Throughout the four-day event at Whistler’s Creekside the weather co-operated providing excellent quality & quantity of snow complemented by beautiful blue skies.

Crowds were around the 2000-3000 thousand with many coming out to support Whistler’s local racers Britt Janyk and Quebecer Erik Guay who were each fourth in their races.

Germany’s Maria Riesch has won the women’s World Cup super combined race in a time of two minutes 10.07 seconds. Skiracing.com commenting “Maria Riesch put down a blazing super G run and grabbed the early lead in the super combined World Cup at Whistler Sunday. Julia Mancuso holds second after the super G leg with a run of slalom still left to race. Canadian Emily Brydon holds third”

Maria Riesch then went on in the slalom to win a World Cup super-combined on Sunday. Austria’s Marlies Schild came second by just nine one-hundredths of a second and Sweden’s Anja Paerson was third.

Swiss Nadia Styger won the Whistler women’s World Cup downhill race Friday just ahead of American Lindsey Vonn, who took the overall downhill season title with a second-place finish.

Austria’s Christoph Gruber won the men’s super-G race Thursday ahead of compatriot Hannes Reichelt and Slovenia’s Ales Gorza. American Bode Miller, leader of the overall standings, failed to complete the race.

Austria’s Hannes Reichelt won his first World Cup giant slalom on Saturday commenting “”I know that slope is perfect for me, I can be fast here and that gives me a lot of confidence. It’s good to know you can be fast on this slope in two years, but a lot can happen.”

Bode Miller of the United States held his lead in the overall standings with 1,103 points. Raich is second with 1,058 and Cuche has 998.

The Vancouver Olympic Games Organizing Committee spent $27.6 million upgrading the Creekside facility for the Olympic and although the overall feedback on the course was positive, the spectators we somewhat frustrated by the 30min hike up the mountain to get to the finish line. Vice President in charge of venue management on the Olympic organizing committe, Cathy Priestner-Allinger acknowledged that complaints from spectators were heard and will be corrected by 2010, adding “plans are in the works for a 7,000-seat grandstand at the finish area and fans will be able to line the course to cheer on their countries athletes to gold.”

Overall there is no doubt that as the countdown begins excitement and interest in Whistler for the 2010 Olympics continues to boom!!