The next Winter Olympics will be here before we know it . Even if you ’ re unlikely to win a gold medal in PyeongChang , South Korea , in February 2018 , you can have a championship-calibre experience at Whistler Blackcomb with former Canadian Olympic skiing and snowboarding stars .
Whistler was the official host mountain resort of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games . The Ski or Ride with an Olympian program lets guests spend a full day tearing up the slopes with locals who ’ ve competed at the highest level . Some of the skiing aces include Rob Boyd , Julia Murray and Britt Janyk . For boarders , Maëlle Ricker ( who won gold in snowboard cross in 2010 ), Mercedes Nicoll and Darren Chalmers are among the big names .
They ’ re eager to help you find the best powder , build your confidence and technique , and share stories about Whistler and their Olympic experiences .
“ What we all love most is sharing the knowledge we have about this ski town and this area we grew up in ,” says Janyk . “ With this program , you get deeper into what Whistler ’ s about . We all come from a
background of love and passion for skiing and the snow .”
Janyk , who topped the podium at a 2007 World Cup race in Aspen , competed in downhill , super-G and giant slalom at the 2010 Winter Games . The 36-yearold Whistler native loves going out with different clients , from lawyers and stockbrokers to young families with kids . Her favourite spots range from Ridge Runner to the Blackcomb Glacier .
Her teaching approach is simple : “ It takes time to get to know the person . Some people learn better visually and others by listening . Start off on an easy run and feel good about that , instead of trying to bump it up too soon .”
There ’ s lots to explore with your expert guides . Whistler Blackcomb offers 3,307 hectares ( 8,171 acres ) of terrain , 37 lifts and more than 200 runs . SKI Magazine recently named it North America ’ s top ski resort for the third straight year . A full day with the Ski or Ride with an Olympian program costs $ 950 total for one to four people .
“ Any day you get to go out on your skis is better than a day in the office ,” says Janyk with a smile . where . ca 13