3 Things You Need to Know WSSF 2014 in Whistler

Posted on April 2, 2014 by Whistler Maps

World Ski & Snowboard Festival

This has been my favorite Whistler festival since the very first year. The concept, created by Doug Perry and the gang back in the 90’s, was to invite ski and snowboard industry staff and fanatics from all over North America. You see, Whistler had tons of snow… and empty hotel rooms… and a great party scene… and we wanted to share it with anyone that mattered in the ski world.

Looking back, hosting a big snow sports event in April was a very brave move. But hey, what did we have to loose?!

Without sounding like an old Whistler relic, here are my top 3 things you need to know about WSSF 2014:

Buy a beer at the Longhorn Apres by way of thanks

The cornerstone big-name ski events of the annual World Ski and Snowboard Festival will be saved from the chopping block this year thanks to a major cash injection from a local businessman. Joey Gibbons, owner of several Whistler bars, has stepped up to the plate at the 11th hour with a cheque for $50,000.…

Source: WSSF skiing Big Air saved thanks to private support

WSSF Tickets are on sale… and they sell out fast

Tickets are on sale for the biggest annual gathering of winter sports, music, arts and culture in North America, the World Ski and Snowboard Festival.

WSSF motto: “Party in April. Sleep in May.”

No matter how you do it, by boat, by plane, by train, just get to Whistler from April 11-20, 2014 and get involved!

Free Music Concerts – Music is happening in Whistler all week long. The 2014 line-up has started to roll in! Cut Chemist, Shapeshifter, The Original Wailers, The Planet Smashers and Bombino have been confirmed…

Silent Disco is Back! Here’s how it works. Plug in your ear phones (supplied to you at the door), choose from one of three LIVE DJ’s spinning, and you got it… dance the night away! Everyone will get a white t-shirt and glow marker for fun in the black lights. Buy tickets early because this notoriously legendary event will sell out.

OLYMPUS 72 Hour Filmmarker Showdown – The ultimate filmmaker challenge – filmmakers are tasked to shoot, edit and produce a 3-5 minute short film within 100km of Whistler, over a course of 72 hours.

Demo Park – Want to have a say on what skis and snowboards hit the shelves? The Demo Park gives you the opportunity to snow-test the latest skis and snowboards for free and kick-start the decision process.

Big Air – For 15 years, Saturday night during the WSSF has always been reserved for the biggest events, the biggest crowds and the most energy. On April 20th, max-capacity crowds will witness the world’s best snowboarders compete on a huge 70 foot table jump for $25,000.

This is just a snapshot of the events happening during the 10 days WSSF 2014 takes over the town. So be sure to check out the full schedule, to determine what events you want to be a part of. With spring skiing conditions (skiing in your t-shirt) and music and roaring crowds you can hear from the peaks, there’s no better time to ride Whistler and Blackcomb, then during the WSSF.

Source: World Ski & Snowboard Festival April 11-20, 2014

WSSF Volunteers are needed and appreciated… and cool

Volunteers are wanted for events from the photo, film and art galas in the Whistler Conference Centre, to the Outdoor Concert Series at the Main Stage in Skiers Plaza. Volunteers are also needed for on-mountain ski and snowboard events.

Those interested can visit www.wssf.com/volunteering. If you’re not sure, check out this WSSF video for some festival motivation…

Find a Great Place to Stay for WSSF Whistler

Whistler rentals including condos, cabins, rental homes, and chalets. Mostly owner-direct reservations, so you’ll find deals on budget to luxury flats. Whistler vacation rentals by owner in prime Whistler Blackcomb locations.

Perfect accommodation for WSSF. Many homes feature private hot tubs and secure ski, snowboard, bike and equipment storage. Cheap or luxury, studios to mansions… for way less than a hotel.

You can also order discount Whistler lift tickets and have them delivered to your Whistler vacation rental when you arrive in resort.

ResortAc.com offers a simple, fast and convenient way to search about 100 Whistler accommodations for rent by owner. Stay in a Whistler vacation rental that suits your budget while providing all the amenities you want.

Avoiding Whistler Vacation Rental Scams :: Tips & Advice

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Posted on February 11, 2013 by Whistler Maps

There has been a tsunami of growth in Whistler VRBO accommodations (Vacation Rentals by Owner) with many holiday travelers renting Whistler condos or a chalet instead of hotel rooms.

When planning your Whistler vacation, you really should consider a private rental home. After all, you have extra room in these private homes. You can cook in your own kitchen, if you'd like. You may have laundry facilities for your convenience, especially handy if you are skiing with the whole family.

Vacation rental by owner is a better choice if you have a large group of people, and vrbo deals are usually quite a bit cheaper than staying in Whistler hotels.

But beware… there has been an increase in vacation rental scams, so you need to be careful.

Unsuspecting travelers are arriving at the vacation rental home they thought they had rented, only to find another group of guests already staying there. Or, the vacation rental may not even exist. The property manager they rented from could actually be an Internet scammer who preys on unsuspecting renters.

If you book a fraudulent vacation rental in Whistler, it obviously puts a huge damper on your holiday plans. You will lose your rental deposit or maybe even the full rental amount. You probably won't be able to get a rental refund if you wire transferred your payments… and you have nowhere to stay in the busy resort. Really bad news for your Whistler vacation.

One sure-fire way to avoid Whistler vacation rental scams is to book through a reputable VRBO website like www.WhistlerbyOwner.com or www.ResortAc.com. These websites have been renting scam free vacation rentals in Whistler for over a decade. Members in good standing with the Whistler Chamber of Commerce and the Better Business Bureau, with zero complaints… and hundreds of happy customers. Read Whistler vacation rental reviews here…

For tips on how to avoid being ripped off by vacation rental scammers, check out this article: http://skiing.about.com/od/skitravel/a/avoid-vacation-rental-scams.htm

If you think you may have been scammed, you can see real examples of emails and fraudulent Craigslist ads on this Whistler blog.

Whistler Ski In Ski Out :: Luxury Hotel vs Vacation Rental by Owner

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Posted on January 22, 2013 by Whistler Maps

If you are looking for a Whistler luxury hotel with ski in ski out access, you may want to reconsider your accommodation preference… Hotel vs. VRBO

Whistler ski in ski out lodging options for rent by owner include: Whistler condos, townhouses, chalets & private homes. Whistler VRBO is short for Vacation Rental by Owner.

Of course there are only certain Whistler neighborhoods that have ski in ski out rental homes. You may want to check out a Whistler hotel map to see for yourself which Whistler vacation rentals are actually ski in ski out. You want to locate the best rental locations before you make your reservations.

Depending what you’re after, you should also consider lodging that is ‘Walk to Lifts’ if you want to find a better Whistler deal. For example, Intrawest Resort Club is between the Fairmont and Four Seasons luxury hotels. It’s not true ski in ski out, but it’s pretty close… and definately a convenient location relative to the chairlifts on Blackcomb.

Whistler Ski In Ski Out Rentals (50 listings) here.

Now, if you are a bit nervous about rental by owner (VRBO) have a read thru this story about Dave. Matt (from www.VacationRentalMarketingBlog.com) tells us,

“Why Dave Cancelled His Hotel Reservations In Favor Of A Vacation Rental”

Dave McCormick is like a lot of people. As the Owner of Pro Kitchen Gear, Dave travels a lot. And whether for business or pleasure, he has been a hotel traveler all his life. He’s always liked the standardization, the amenities, and the comfort in knowing precisely what he was booking prior to arrival. As a matter of fact, he used to work for Sheraton a number of years ago. So to say Dave was opposite to a vacation rental traveler would not be an exaggeration. Until recently that is…

You can tell that Dave kinda wanted to switch to a vacation rental and forgo some of the conveniences of hotel travel. So Matt asked him what were the real concrete reasons he was happy he stayed in a rental. We wanted to live like a local. We wanted to feel like we were coming home every day and being able to cook in our “own” kitchen. It made the experience unforgettable since we weren’t rushing around trying to find food every 4 – 5 hours and had remarkable views and half the price.

Dave goes on to explain all the details about living like a local in the vacation rental he rented. You can read the rest here…

Whistler Hotel Maps

Whistler Village, Blackcomb Upper Village, and Whistler Creekside all offer Ski In Ski Out rentals. Here are some Whistler condos and chalets in each area:

3 Bedroom Ski In Ski Out
2 Bedroom Ski In Ski Out
1 Bedroom Ski In Ski Out

Whistler Accommodation Maps (Village Ski In Ski Out Locations) here.
Whistler Accommodation Maps (Upper Village at Blackcomb Base) here.

Whistler Scam Free Vacation Rental Directory

In case you haven’t heard, there are scammers on Craigslist and other free vacation rental directories. Photos and descriptions of legitimate rentals are swiped, then the scammers create a free listing with the hijacked pictures and details. Potential vacation rental guests are asked to wire transfer money to bogus bank accounts and, ultimately, lose their hard earned money.

When you are looking for a great Whistler rental, always verify who you are renting from. You should have a written rental agreement, references from past guests, and contact with the home owner or manager.