A ski day in Whistler is something to get excited about – especially with all of our recent snow! We’re so happy that Whistler Blackcomb was able to open this season, and efforts to follow COVID-19 protocol are reassuringly evident.
PC: Tourism Whistler/Justa Jeskova
Read about 5 ways to maximise your day when planning a ski day in Whistler. These are things that we as Whistler locals can recommend to you to ensure all bases are covered. You’ve got your lift ticket/season pass, here are some other things to remember:
Maximise A Ski Day In Whistler – Make A Reservation
This year, you can’t have a ski day in Whistler without a reservation (in most scenarios). They’re required for lift access but also if you’re hoping to have lunch in one of the mountain’s outlets. The Whistler Blackcomb reservation webpage explains “To ensure physical distancing is possible, we will be managing the number of guests on-mountain at our resorts this season.”
PC: Tourism Whistler/Ben Girardi
Whistler Blackcomb explain that passholder reservations are achieved by following these steps:
- Sign into ‘My Account’ on EpicPass.com
- Select the first resort you want to book
- Pick the days you want, based on what your pass type allows
- Choose the Pass Holders in your account that are going with you
- Enter your contact details and press “complete reservation”
In our mind, a ski day in Whistler is not complete without a delicious burger. However, this year you need to book a timeslot to make that happen (thanks, COVID).
PC: Tourism Whistler/Mike Crane
Make your dining reservation at a Whistler Blackcomb outlet via EpicMix. Time slots open at 7:00 am daily and include Roundhouse, Rendezvous, and Christine’s. Some of Whistler Blackcombs outlets are closed at the time of writing this post. To learn more about on-mountain dining, check out the Whistler Blackcomb dining webpage.
Bring Snacks and Water
To avoid congestion in on-mountain lodges, it’s recommend that resort-goers bring water and snacks with them. We find it most convenient to wear a Camelbak (or other bladder system), and stash smaller snacks, such as Clif Bars and jerky, in pockets throughout our outfit.
PC: Tourism Whistler/Vince Emond
If you’re looking to buy snacks, we can recommend Fix Café in Creekside where you’ll find house-made granola bars and a variety of cookies = awesome, compact snacks! A great option if you’re in the main Village area is Fresh Street Market where you’ll find a great deli area to the left as you enter.
Maximise A Ski Day In Whistler – Remember Your Mask
Masks have very much become the norm here in BC and skiing/snowboarding is no exception. It’s not too big a deal for many of us as face coverings are typically worn on the mountain anyway (yes, facemasks such as Buffs are acceptable).
PC: Tourism Whistler/Vince Emond
Our advice to enjoy a ski day in Whistler would be to bring a spare mask, too! We found that after prolonged periods of use, our facemask would become excessively moist, which in turn can cause goggles to fog. Having a spare, dry mask to hand would help to avoid that. Thank us later.
Remember to Bring Sunscreen
If you’re planning on enjoying a ski day in Whistler, don’t forget the sunscreen. Snow has this incredible ability to accentuate sunlight, which could be causing skin damage and premature ageing. The Spa At Nita Lake Lodge stocks sunscreen by COOLA – an incredible skincare brand prioritizing organic and vegan ingredients, and cruelty-free practices.
A good lip balm can make a world of difference, too. We use Naturopathica Sweet Cherry Lip Scrub and Lip Butter. When used together, they’ll help to keep your lips in good shape. Both products are also available from The Spa At Nita Lake Lodge, which may be found in Whistler Creekside.
Maximise A Ski Day In Whistler – How To Après
Many of us like to round off a ski day in Whistler by enjoying après. Bars and restaurants can fill up quickly due to restricted occupancies and so we would recommend making a reservation. In line with recommendations by the Public Health Officer, après should be enjoyed with your household/bubble only.
PC: Tourism Whistler/Justa Jeskova
If après goes beyond your level of comfort, you can support local by placing an order to takeaway! Outlets in BC are permitted to sell alcohol to-go until March 31. The order must be accompanied by food and come in it’s original packaging, which means beer or wine in most cases.
Alternatively, check out our post where we asked colleagues at Nita to offer up their favourite ways to après differently.