As any snow chaser worth their wax knows, Whistler Blackcomb is one of North America's best places to catch fresh pow. Now, Curbediverse, our longtime love of this classic resort has been confirmed by SKI Magazine's reader poll, naming Whistler Blackcomb the No. 1 overall best ski resort in North America.
This comes as no big surprise given that Whistler Blackcomb is one of the most skiable resorts in North America with the second most vertical drops (5,280 feet) and the most skiable acres (8,171). It even made our snow lover's bucket list with its iconic Peak to Creak run. The rate at which Whistler Blackcomb has grown over the last 25 years is impressive, especially since even when your parents were rocking their neons in the 1980s, Whistler Blackcomb was already one of North America's largest resorts. Everyone knows about the massive Peak 2 Peak gondola that opened in 2008, but since then Whistler has continued to upgrade lifts. In 2013 they replaced an old triple lift with a new high-speed quad, the Crystal Ridge Express, and part of the chair upgrade project included the new Harmony 6 Express. This season, Whistler will debut new 8-person gondola cabins and a brand spankin new radio frequency identification system that will shorten lift lines.
Whistler won SKI's top spot because of all its epic skiing, but the resort amenities keep people coming back. Off-hill activities, like spa treatments, heli-skiing, sleigh rides, and tubing also received high marks. SKI Magazine readers voted the resort number one in après (champagne sabering anyone?) and number two in lodging (just check out our guide to the 38 Essential Ski Town Hotels).
Whistler Blackcomb is scheduled to open on November 27, 2014, so start your snow dances, this year's going to be epic.
-By Tara Tubb
· SKI Magazine [Official Site]
· Whistler Blackcomb [Official Site]
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