Telus World Ski & Snowboard Festival 2012 Starts April 13

WSSF at Whistler Village. Photo: WSSF / Mike Crane Photography

Considered by many to be the “defining celebration of Whistler,” the annual TELUS World Ski and Snowboard Festival (WSSF) is both a ten-day showcase of the latest progressions in the skiing and snowboarding world and Canada’s largest free outdoor concert series. The festival also covers every facet of mountain culture, transforming Whistler Village into an arts mecca, with additional events in fashion and film, plus the famous Whistler Dogfest.

WSSF in Whistler. Photo: WSSF / Christopher Collie Photography

For snow sports fans, WSSF 2012 has the World Ski Invitational / AFP World Championship—Slopestyle, the Big Air Jump and Superpipe—all of which are free to watch (and feature some of the most exciting “ski-voyeurism” you’ll ever see). There are also the major, high-crowd events of The Shred Show, which includes the Big Hip event on Saturday, April 14, where you can watch the world’s best snowboarders compete on a huge hip jump in a two-round elimination.

For music fans, the WSSF Outdoor Concert Series offers free, live music every day of the festival, at the Main Stage in Skiers Plaza. 2012 acts include The Dudes, Trouble Andrew, The Cat Empire, The Beautiful Girls, JUNO-winning Dragonette, and DJ Grandtheft. For those who prefer their music indoors and accompanied by alcohol, there’s the Kokanee Freeride Club Series, which fills Whistler Village’s nightspots and bars with live concerts every night.

There’s also a huge arts scene at WSSF, with fashion shows, the Olympus 72 hr. Filmmaker Showdown, the Mountain Culture Variety Show, and Best of the Fest. And we can’t forget Whistler Dogfest: the Dog Parade, exhibitions, agility demonstrations and competitions.

The Telus World Ski Snowboard Festival is free to attend and loads of fun for all ages. WSSF 2012 runs from April 13 – 22, 2012. See the site for a complete schedule of events.

Article source: http://www.insidevancouver.ca/2012/04/11/telus-world-ski-snowboard-festival-2012-starts-april-13/