Whistler Boarding & Freestyle

What’s good for skis is good for boards at Whistler-Blackcomb, and as heli-boarding is also on offer, backcountry is possible with the use of a split board or snow shoes.

Free riders have plenty of bowls to make their powder turns, while freestylers have well-groomed pipes to choose from, and carvers are just spoiled for choice whether beginner, intermediate or advanced.

Both mountains have snowboarding lessons and clinics, and there are specialized camps offering accommodations, instruction, and fun activities. Each mountain has its own set of Nintendo Terrain parks. Both mountains have beginner terrain park features (S), park staff recommend the Blackcomb Terrain Garden (accessed from Easy Out) as the best place to start. The main parks on both Blackcomb and Whistler have medium (M) to large (L) features where majority of park riders spend their time. The Highest Level Terrain Park (XL) on Blackcomb requires a special pass and a helmet.

The World Cup Halfpipe is located at the bottom of the Blackcomb terrain park and is considered one of the best in North America. It is cut every night with 17-foot (5m) radius and 15-foot (4.5m) walls, conditions in the pipe largely depend on how many people are using it.

Every park has a mix of jump and rail features appropriate to the signed level (S, M, L or XL). The popularity of park riding in Whistler means crowding and queues for jumps are inevitable. If you want to practice without lining up or having dozens of people watching you then get in there before lunch time.

The only pitfall of Blackcomb’s park layout is that it has no dedicated lift service, all traffic must either descend to Solar Coaster or take the slower Catskinner chair.