GNARLY TIMES IN WHISTLER BLACKCOMB
Ski Club Rep Ryan Crisp hits upon the Whistler Bible – and is soon tackling the most nuts of lines…
PHOTOS RYAN CRISP
“Follow me. Just like this,” offered my Whistler Blackcomb coach (I’ll spare his name to save blushes), a CSIA Level 4 pro skier and coach, before he fell and slid down the entire face of Sunshine, an alarmingly steep single black diamond run on Whistler Mountain. As I watched this usually demigod skier navigate Sunshine on his back, I turned to my fellow students… but they’d already scarpered, the sounds of "good luck" faint on the icy air.
“Just like that, eh?” I yelled down to my instructor, humour masking fear. Fortunately, he was in a fit of hysterics. I thought, “heck, I can do that no problem,” and not being one for the smarts in situations like these, I said a quick prayer and started sliding into what I was convinced was more cliff than ‘run’.
I was in the first few weeks of a season-long training programme with the excellent Alltracks Academy, and my group and I had recently graduated from new instructors to big mountain thrill seekers, pushing our boundaries and trying to expand our comfort zones.
Well, right now, the only thing expanding was my adrenaline, as I made three unimpressive leap of faith jump turns down the entire face. It wasn’t pretty, but I was soon back with my snow-covered coach. “Well done. You’ve bagged yourself a tick on Sunshine for that ugly-a** effort.”
“A tick?” I replied… And this was when I was introduced to the Whistler Bible, aka Brian Finstone and Kevin Hodder’s Ski and Snowboard Guide to Whistler Blackcomb, a legendary book and rite of passage for locals and repeat visitors; a guide that spills the beans on a plethora of hidden nooks and crannies within this epic resort. The 120-plus ‘runs’ not on the map are accompanied by ratings, instructions on how to access, and most importantly, an empty box to tick once you’ve conquered them. We picked up a copy upon safe return to terra firma and a new hobby was born.
Before we knew it, our group was tackling the most nuts of lines, drops, and no-fall traverses – the GNAR as it is so affectionately known, thanks to pioneers like Shane McConkey and Robb Gaffney (Gaffney’s Numerical Assessment of Radness, for those wondering).
Let the radness begin…
Fun as all of this tick scoring was, we were developing our skillset all the while, learning big mountain tactics, how to best use our new and improving technique, how to read the terrain and minimise surprise. I was also soaking up the secrets of these two great mountains like a thirsty sponge, eager to share them with the scores of Ski Club Members I would go on to introduce (and occasionally nurse down) many of these interesting lines.
As the season progressed, the ticks tallied up, but so did the reality that bagging them all was unlikely, and I soon heard from locals that this was a folly best forgotten: “I’ve skied these hills for 20 seasons and not got close.” And, you know what? That was just fine by me, as several of them looked horrendous!
PARADISE BEACKONS
The beauty of the Whistler Bible is that for those of us who like goals, the book allows us to document and keep them organised. And throwing the book into your backpack can be super helpful when planning a day out. Now it goes without saying that the bulk of these runs should be skied with an experienced buddy, preferably one wearing an instructor’s uniform or SCGB branding.
There were many challenges during my first season. Some ticks proved more well earned than others, but the next big comfort zone tester came after a hike up The Stupids, a spiky ridge near the peak of Blackcomb Mountain, accessed after exiting the 7th Heaven Express. After a 15-minute boot-pack I found myself looking down the partially blind funnel gully of Way Stupid – a different coach now helpfully demonstrating that you “just hop in, like this… TURN… and shoot forward…”. Aye, fat chance mate. But before I knew what was what, I was deep in the gully, my newly developing skills carrying me to another well-earned tick.
We were being developed through fun. I went into the Alltracks programme a half-decent skier, a Ski Club Rep, somewhat seasoned, but I was soon broken down, smashed apart, and rebuilt with a stronger technical foundation that would see me better equipped to push myself, allowing more play and freedom in my skiing.
It would be wrong to think the idea of bagging a tick was making us leap off things. That was a fun angle, sure, but it was a growing trust in ourselves that was allowing this progression, allowing us to explore these lesser known and tricky areas and see the entire mountain in a different light.
Whistler Blackcomb has plenty to offer all abilities, but for skiers who enjoy the steeps, the interesting entrances, who welcome the flutter of nerves, then it’s a paradise.
There are so many incredible areas with their own unique set of challenges, but the one with the greatest reputation has to be Chainsaw Ridge, home of the infamous Saudain Couloir (aka Couloir Extreme). An exposed ridge, off-kilter rocky entrances, drops if you want them, all funnelling into a consistently so-steep-you-can-kiss-the-ground couloir. Interestingly, it is one of the easiest descents on the entire ridge, a mere double black diamond set on a band of sparkling triples!
I have skied SCGB groups down many routes on this ridge, but never have I taken a group down the toughest of them all: Hawaii 5-0. It’s a ghastly 50 degrees, and once you’re in, you’re in. But don’t get scared now, just rejoice at the mandatory air half way down and your heart will be thumping as you’re spat out into the belly of Couloir Extreme, which after a trip to Hawaii, feels like piña coladas in the surf!
LASHINGS OF JOY
Here in British Columbia, the thirst for thrills is rarely quenched, and on a powder day you’ll find scores of parched adrenaline seekers queuing to hike Spanky’s Ladder into the classic Gemstone Bowls: the land of Rubies, Garnets, Sapphires and Diamonds.
Exploring with someone who knows the area well could see you find those heart-racing jewels in many differing and dazzling cuts, but the standout thrill, for me, comes in the shape of Bad Attitude. Nothing quite prepares you for the mid-traverse movement you have to make as part of the cliff overhangs and juts out at you. Thing is, once navigated, due to its gnarly entrance not many hit this crown jewel so the snow is a royal delight.
I have been fortunate to ski Whistler every year since I got the bug (barring the soulless void of 2020/21). It has provided me so much, regularly humbles, brings lashings of joy, and yet I still possess a huge list of things I’m yet to ski. Yet to tick off. That is testament to the vastness and brilliance of this mega area.
The GNAR needn’t be so grandiose or exclusive – we all have our own version. From ticking off big lines to conquering that pesky mogul run, many of us seek personal peaks to summit.
We all learn differently, but if you want to expand that comfort zone, consider some challenge-based goals that you can gradually build up to. It helped me in ways I could never imagine. And more than anything, it's a helluva lot of fun!
Diamond Bowl glory: on a powder day scores of adrenaline seekers head for the classic Gemstone Bowls
SKI CANADA WITH FRESHTRACKS
FreshTracks is running two Canada trips this winter. You can still book onto the Alberta Adventure, the 10-night Peak Experience Banff + Lake Louise trip is running from 1 March 2022 and costs £1,499.
Factfile
Ryan Crisp is a photographer, qualified Canadian ski instructor, and self-proclaimed Whistler ski bum. He passed his SCGB course in 2012 and can be found repping in Whistler this January, March and April. You can find Ryan through his website or on the SCGB Whistler Facebook page. For information on the Club’s rep service in Whistler.
The Ski and Snowboard Guide to Whistler Blackcomb (Brian Finstone and Kevin Hodder) can be found in Whistler's local bookstore and various other shops.
