Editor’s Note: This blog on the World Ski and Snowboard Festival was updated in February 2025 with dates for the cultural events. We will update this post as more details become available.
Spring is right around the corner which means longer, sunnier days and the arrival of our favourite winter season-ender sender – the World Ski & Snowboard Festival. Happening April 7 to 13, 2025, this mountain culture celebration is the ultimate way to wrap up your ski season. Whether it’s your first year or you’re a festival pro, here’s all the intel you need to make the most of this favourite, local festival.
Born out of a love of all that is mountain culture, the World Ski & Snowboard Festival (known as WSSF) has been the ultimate après of the winter season since 1996. WSSF brings together ski and snowboard competitions with pro athletes, music, art, photography, filmmaking and exciting nightlife, plus some of the best skiing and après sessions of the season. Take our word for it, you’ll need more than the weekend to appreciate this vibe.
NEW! The Grind
New for WSSF 2025 is the grand finale of The Grind, a premier, street-style ski and board competition. Expect jaw-dropping tricks and an electric atmosphere as some of the most progressive riders from around the world descend on Whistler to show their stuff. Happening at the base of Whistler Mountain from Thursday, April 10 to Saturday, April 12, 2025 skiers and boarders of all genders will battle it out for an equally distributed $50,000 prize pool.
“The Grind Series is a movement that is growing across Canada for the street style and park rail scenes,” explained Director of The Grind, Rich Hegarty, in a recent press release. “Canada is a breeding ground for talent in one of the most mind-melting urban winter disciplines. Expect to see tricks that risk everything for glory and totally defy logic.
The beauty of The Grind is we take the unimaginable and sometimes ‘too fast’ to comprehend technical and make it a broadcast product with high-quality cameras and Canada’s largest mobile TV screen, so you, the public get to see the action like never before. I have envisioned ‘The Grind’ in Whistler Village headlining the WSSF for over a decade and am looking forward to this movement growing.”
The Grind Series is run by Shred The North, the events arm of Canada Snowboard and is free to attend. Follow The Grind Series on Instagram for more news on who’s competing as it drops.
Saudan Couloir Ski Race Extreme Presented by Helly Hansen
This classic Whistler race is happening on Friday, April 11, 2025, and is a genuine test of nerves and leg endurance with a course that runs down the double-black Saudan Couloir to the bottom of the Jersey Cream chair on Blackcomb Mountain.
To say it’s steep is a bit of an understatement. The race and run are named after Swiss extreme skier Sylvain Saudan, nicknamed “Skier of the Impossible.” A festival highlight since 1987, it brings out legends of ski racing, big mountain pros and a healthy dose of amateur skiers who aren’t afraid to charge down the 2,500 thigh-burning vertical feet.
Places to Watch
If you’ve ever skied down the sheer face of the Couloir you know it is no easy task. Add gates and berms into the pressure cooker of competition and you have a recipe for some spicy runs and exciting viewing. The classic spectator spot for this race has been to post up beside the Rendezvous Lodge. For more information and how to register visit Whistler Blackcomb’s event page.
Slush Cup Presented by Corona and Supported by Celcius
This event is a LOT of fun. Contestants attempt to make their way across an icy, slushy pool on their skis or board, typically sporting some kind of outfit (or the lack of one). I’m not sure what’s more thrilling, watching or taking part! Prizes are given out for Best Costume, Best Trick, Best Wipe-Out, and more.
See if you’ve got what it takes to brave the slush or simply cheer on the contestants on Sunday, April 13, 2025, right outside the Glacier Creek Lodge area on Blackcomb Mountain.
Live Music at WSSF
The live music lineup for WSSF is legendary, bringing in world-class acts and epic party vibes every year (2025 talent and dates are due to be released in early March). There’s free music in Skiers Plaza at the base of Whistler Mountain from Thursday, April 10 to Sunday, April 13. And new for 2025, the After Dark Music Series, supported by Red Bull, will feature popular guest DJs and parties across Whistler’s bars and clubs.
Culture Events at WSSF
Hey, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Perfected over years and years of festivals, some core culture events have stood the test of time to return for this year’s festival, like the 72-Hour Filmmaker Showdown, on April 7, 2025, Pro Photo Showdown on April 8, 2025, and Intersection on April 9, 2025. Tickets sell out fast for these events so make sure you get yours asap!
WSSF Culture Events Overview:
- 72-Hour Filmmaker Showdown (April 7) challenges teams to shoot, edit and produce a five to seven-minute film captured within 100 kilometres of Whistler in just 72 hours.
- Pro Photo Showdown, presented by Arc’teryx (April 8) is an awe-inspiring celebration of the craft of action sports photography, bringing together some of the world’s best to share some of their all-time favourite images capturing sport, culture and the human spirit. The four invited photographers for 2025 include Morgan Maassen, Paris Gore, Zoya Lynch, and Aaron Schwartz.
- Intersection, presented by Arc’teryx (April 9) pushes artistic snow sports crews to their limits, five invited crews and one Wild Card selection will have a four-week window to shoot, edit and submit a five to seven-minute winter action sports film. The six teams competing this year are Airtime, Friendly Fire, Baked Goods, Shmobb, The Reserves and wild card, Buck Hunters. The films will be shown and judged live by a panel of industry experts.
You’ll also find that Whistler Village comes alive with art displays, demo days and the Village Expo with vendors displaying the latest gear and brands (typically with some fun freebies).
NEW for 2025: Coffee + Creatives
Coffee + Creatives are free, live speaker series events happening at the Whistler Conference Centre, from 9 AM to noon, where industry professionals talk on a variety of topics.
On Monday, April 7 pro photographer Blake Jorgenson talks about the Psychology of Success. Tuesday brings you a panel discussion with the pro photographer showdown contestants about life Behind the Lens and then the series wraps on Wednesday with Magabafire Media’s Head of Creative, Darren Rayner for Storytelling in Motion: Lessons From Action Sports Films to Branded Content.
Don’t miss out on hearing from these creative pioneers. The talks are free to attend but you need to register to secure your spot.
Pro Festival Tips
- Book early – The combination of killer spring weather and tons of entertainment means WSSF draws big crowds. For the best rate and the most options, I recommend locking down your accommodation early. Extend your stay during WSSF and for every third night booked receive a free $75 CAD Whistler Après Voucher.
- Get your event tickets early – In the same vein, tickets for the WSSF culture events, like the Filmmaker Showdown, get snapped up like hotcakes. Buy your tickets online long before the show to save disappointment. Hot tip; you can get the Multimedia Ticket Bundle, which gets you a ticket to each multimedia show.
- Sunscreen – After a long winter of hiding from the cold your winter skin is primed for the roasting of a lifetime. Slap on plenty of sunscreen before venturing outdoors to save the scorch.
- Pack costumes – Dust off that neon onesie or animal outfit! Wearing crazy outfits during WSSF is not just allowed, it’s encouraged. To see some real outfit creativity, you won’t want to miss out on the Slush Cup. Not everyone makes it across the pond, but at least they look good doing it.
- Hydrate – Between skiing in the hot sun all day and dancing your face off all night it can be easy to get dehydrated. Remember to pack a refillable water bottle and use it often to keep your fluids up.
- Hearing protection for little ones – When the concert jams get pumping in Skier’s Plaza it can be a bit loud for little ears. Pack some hearing protection for them so you can get amongst the action.
Free $75 Après Voucher for Every Third Night Booked
Get your goggle tan on with some sunny, soft, spring skiing alongside the WSSF action. Extend your stay during WSSF and for every third night booked receive a free $75 CAD Whistler Après Voucher.
Come for spring skiing and every third night you book between March 1 and April 30, 2025, receive a free $75 CAD Whistler Après Voucher. Stay longer and save more, book now and save up to 25% on lodging and up to 35% on gear rentals.
Come experience Whistler Blackcomb’s extensive terrain and adventure at every turn to see why we're known as one of the best resorts on the planet. Secure your mountain getaway with Whistler.com for personalized service and the local knowledge of our Whistler-based team. If all this has you dreaming of Whistler, enter the Find Your Edge contest to win a six-night trip, including flights, accommodation and adventures.
