WSSF: Why You Should Be Here

by WinterReview

Total Score

User Score

You have rated this

There’s a reason why the “World Skis Whistler”. As host of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games Whistler is North America’s largest ski area with the greatest uphill capacity. Two mega mountains joined in 1997 to become Whistler Blackcomb, nothing short of a world class Winter playground. The world flocks here to ski and ride … and party.

The World Ski And Snowboard Festival was born in April, 1996 under humble beginnings. It has grown into a world stage of ski and snowboard competition. For the first time in history the WSSF brought skiers and snowboarders together to compete on a world stage in the same venue. Olympics, you’re welcome. WSSF has pioneered the inclusion of multi-discipline competition into it’s events. Back country skiing, freeskiing, park riding and more are all included in the snow sports mega-festival.

The World Ski and Snowboard festival didn’t stop there. In the early 2000s WSSF began adding visual arts. The 72 Hour Filmmaker Showdown sells out quick, so plan early if you’d like to attend this signature event. Hundreds of visual artists from around the world flock to WSSF to show off their talents and their love of Skiing and Boarding. And the photography is epic, you know that skiers and snowboarders love to show off, and the photography exhibits at the festival will leave you breathless.

If Art and Film aren’t enough for you, how about music. WSSF is the largest outdoor free concert series in the country. More than 50 free concerts and over 100 hours of free music in the streets of Whistler Village from bands you don’t want to miss.

The Après at WSSF is legendary. With big sponsored events like the Kokonee Freeride Club Series there is a motto that the festival has lovingly embraced: Party in April, Sleep in May. Every club in Whistler Village and beyond embraces the festival atmosphere and you won’t be able to hit them all during the 10 day event, we dare you to try, party animals.

Skiing, Boarding, Art, Photography, Movies, Music and Parties. The World Ski and Snowboard Festival does it all, and they do it best. Bottom line, you should be here. But it’s ok if you can’t be, we’ve got you covered. WinterReviewer Magee Walker is our Whistler Reviewer and she’ll be on site all week (2014) to give us all the highlights, the pictures and the stories of the festival. You’re totally welcome, she doesn’t mind.

Image credits: Dave Humphreys / dhump.ca