24 Mar

Ballin’ and Flossin’: Whistler’s On-Mountain Luxury

TAG: Amped-Up Adventure, Culinary

Posted by: Feet Banks

Christine’s on Blackcomb. WHISTLER BLACKCOMB PHOTO

Regardless of your financial status, if you’re spending time in the mountains with the people you love you’re living a very rich life. The lap of luxury is definitely softer when it’s covered in fresh powder and the mountains create feelings and bonds that can truly transcend finances. There really are some things money can’t buy.

But there are lots of things that it can. And Whistler is not afraid of embracing the luxurious side of life, even on the ski hills. Check The Insider’s Guide to On-Mountain Luxury:

Lift Line Priority

While it does provide a good look at mountain culture, the idea of waiting in line is not all that luxurious. Thankfully, if you book a private lesson with the Snow School you not only get one-on-one instruction and guiding from a local pro, you also get to mosey past the masses via the ski school priority lift line.

(A Note of Caution: on big pow days when everyone in town lines up to wait for Peak or Harmony to crack, even private lessons have to give the masses a ten minute head start before utilizing the priority line. The instructors know this though, so no stress— Only a few people have been ridden out of town on a rail.)

Ski with an Olympian

Let’s be honest, there are some things money can’t buy and an Olympic gold medal is one of them. But sign up for a ski day with one of Whistler’s local Olympians, and you might get to at least hold one. This incredible program gives you on-mountain time with some of the best skiers and snowboarders on the planet unleashed in their home terrain. And if you want to really get exclusive and capture that all-time unbeatable selfie for your Instagram feed: Heli-ski with an Olympian.

WHISTLER BLACKCOMB PHOTOS

Coat/Helmet Check at the New Christine’s

The Rendezvous restaurant on Blackcomb enjoyed a pretty significant renovation this season and a lot of that effort went into making Christine’s even more amazing. This is the spot for true mountain-top, full service dining with panoramic views, linen tablecloths, napkins, dedicated bartenders whipping up fancy drinks and, yes, a coat and helmet check so you can move freely about the room without worrying about your gear.

Over on Whistler Mountain, Steeps Grill Wine Bar offers another luxurious dining option in the Roundhouse. And regardless of what mountain you are on, Caesars taste better at altitude.

Premium Rental Boutique

Hey billionaire, how do you feel about sliding your feet into the same pair of rental boots a punk rocker kid from Nanaimo was wearing last week on his school ski trip? I thought so. Fear not- the Rental Boutique has top of the line exclusive gear from Rossignol, Lange and Dynastar along with skilled technicians who will custom-fit everything exactly how you like it.

Left: MIKE CRANE PHOTO. Right: PAUL MORRISON PHOTO

Event: Winemaker Après at Steeps Grill

Wine and Dine at 6000 feet with special après sessions featuring world class wines and the people who make them. Plus, Whistler Blackcomb Executive Chef Wolfgang Sterr puts together a full-course dinner featuring locally sourced ingredients paired exclusively to the wine of the hour. The next one is March 31, 2016 with BC’s Nk’Mip cellers. Tix are $85. More info

Event: Whiskey Wednesdays at Steeps Grill

Why let the wine geeks have all the fun? The final Whiskey Wednesday of the season goes down on Wednesday March 30, 2016. Is there a better way to celebrate the middle of the week than skiing Whistler Mountain then kicking back in luxury with three flights of Whiskey and food pairings for each ? No, I didn’t think so either. More info

Stick to cocktails for après, a top restaurant for dinner and a luxury hotel to end your ski day on a high note. Get 5-star advice on all of these at Whistler.com