Cervantes once said: “Proverbs are short sayings drawn from long experience”. And while some people call them clichés, these wordy little truisms that seem to have been around since forever actually have a lot of merit and can be used in many aspects of life, including how to get the most out of your time in Whistler.
The Early Bird Gets the Worm
This is not just grandmotherly advice designed to get you out of bed, this truism also a playbook on how to beat the crowds on a big Whistler pow day.
Start with First Tracks. This means being at the bottom of the Whistler Village Gondola by 7.30 AM at the latest. The first 600 people to show up get to upload at 7:30 AM, so right when everyone else starts waking up and getting out the door, you are unleashed on a fresh mountain to enjoy a few laps of pow and solitude.
Since you started ripping early, why not do lunch early too? A meal at 10:30-11 AM will be much mellower and leisurely than when everyone else comes in from noon – 1 PM. Which means you can be knocking off more great runs while half the mountain is inside eating.
After being early to everything all day, and actually getting more runs in than a regularly timed day, why not do après a bit earlier too? A wise mountain sage once said, “Those who hit après at 2 o’clock will surely get the seat by the fireplace.”
Chuck a hot tub into the mix as you watch the end-of-day alpenglow, followed by an early dinner, and you’ve just nailed the ultimate early-bird day. Now get some sleep and do it again. You know what they say, “Early to bed and early to rise, makes you healthy, wealthy and wise.”
Look Before You Leap
This truism is one of the ingrained absolute rules of getting gnarly. Be it cliff drop, terrain park hit or backcountry booter, only a fool rides into something without knowing how much air there will be and what the landing looks like. See also: “It’s what you DON’T see that matters.”
Actions Speak Louder Than Words
Yes, claiming how awesome you are will not get you very far in Whistler, actually being awesome (and having the video footage to prove it) is an entirely different story. Of course, not telling or videoing/Instagramming/cyberbragging about your awesomeness works best of all because everyone one knows “talk is cheap.”
On the other hand: more than a few people have found success with the classic “Fake it ‘til you make it” approach too.
Variety Is the Spice of Life
So it’s nice to have two giant ski hills to choose from and a PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola joining them with one amazing 11-minute ride.
Patience Is a Virtue
And waiting for Peak Chair to open on a big pow day is always worth it.
It Ain’t Over ‘Til It’s Over
Whistler boasts the longest ski season in North America, and it all climaxes with the iconic Gaper Day (the last day of the season, where everyone dresses up and tries not to get too sunburnt)!
Here Today, Gone Tomorrow
Pow days, fresh tracks and even life itself are ephemeral moments that need to be appreciated and enjoyed in the moment. The good news is, every snowfall offers a fresh canvas to play on.
Fortune Favours the Brave
Whistler Blackcomb has 8100 acres of skiable terrain with 3 glaciers and 16 alpine bowls so there is always a chance to test your ability on something outside the regular comfort zone.
If at First You Don’t Succeed… Try, Try Again
See also “Practice makes perfect”. It’s all true. You wanna rip? Take a lesson and ride as much as possible. If you don’t fall, you’re not learning.
If It’s Too Loud, You’re Too Old
And the Whistler nightlife scene will prove it, but fear not, if those block rocking beats are not your style Whistler Village has lots of mellow bars, pubs and lounges that feature everything from live music to stand-up comedy to trivia nights.
All That Glitters Is Not Gold
If that perfect field of untouched pow just outside the boundary ropes looks too good to be true, it probably is. Heed the boundary signs and ride safe, always.
Better Late Than Never
Even if you don’t make it to the gondola until noon, it will still be a better day than if you’d stayed at home. (Having said that, if it’s snowing “You snooze, you lose”).
A picture’s worth a thousand words.
Don’t Quit Your Day Job
Wrong, wrong, wrong. Quit it and move to a ski town, I promise your soul will be happier.
This list of Whistler truisms could probably keep going forever, but it might be better to just come to Whistler yourself and find some valuable life truisms of your own. Get your holiday plans rolling over at Whistler.com