December 21, 2015 – Whistler Blackcomb has signed an agreement with the Whistler Blackcomb Freestyle Ski Club (WBFSC) and the Canadian Freestyle Ski Association (CFSA) to build a national training centre for freestyle skiing on Blackcomb Mountain. The facility will consist of a permanent mogul and airbag training area and event site, built to International Ski Federation (FIS) specifications. The new training facility will enhance the WBFSC’s existing program, helping to foster the development of freestyle ski athletes and future Olympians in the Sea-to-Sky Corridor.
“We are excited about this project and what it could mean for the sport of freestyle skiing in Whistler,” says Dave Brownlie, President and CEO of Whistler Blackcomb. “Whistler Blackcomb prides itself on being a training ground for athletes at every level. This new training centre, combined with the fact Whistler Blackcomb boasts one of the longest ski seasons in North America, will attract regional, provincial, national and international teams to come and train at the world-class facilities available here.”
The new training centre will be located on the right side of the upper pitch of Catskinner run. It will be adjacent to Whistler Blackcomb’s Nintendo Terrain Park, creating an optimal freestyle skiing training centre on Blackcomb Mountain. The facility will be used by a wide user group, including mogul, park and pipe skiers. The airbag site can also be used by other disciplines such as snowboarding and ski cross athletes to safely train aerial skills and build acrobatic literacy.
"The plan falls into CFSA's strategic vision for Whistler as a turnkey high performance training and event hosting centre,” says Bruce Robinson, CEO of the Canadian Freestyle Ski Association. “The proposed mogul site and airbag facility on Blackcomb Mountain will be highly flexible to serve all levels of athletes, from club to elite level."
Adding a national training centre for freestyle skiing at Whistler Blackcomb will ensure Canada continues to produce world class mogul skiers and will support the development of freestyle athletes and coaches both locally and across the country. The facility will also be able to host a wide range of events, from regional to national championships, to World Cup events.
Construction of the facility is expected to begin next summer with additional fundraising efforts currently underway to help raise the necessary money for the project. The WBFSC is looking for additional sponsors or private donors interested in supporting the project in return for long-term naming rights at Whistler Blackcomb and the association of helping to foster future Olympians from the strong talent pool in the Sea-to-Sky Corridor.
“We are excited about this project and what it could mean for the sport of freestyle skiing in Whistler,” says Dave Brownlie, President and CEO of Whistler Blackcomb. “Whistler Blackcomb prides itself on being a training ground for athletes at every level. This new training centre, combined with the fact Whistler Blackcomb boasts one of the longest ski seasons in North America, will attract regional, provincial, national and international teams to come and train at the world-class facilities available here.”
The new training centre will be located on the right side of the upper pitch of Catskinner run. It will be adjacent to Whistler Blackcomb’s Nintendo Terrain Park, creating an optimal freestyle skiing training centre on Blackcomb Mountain. The facility will be used by a wide user group, including mogul, park and pipe skiers. The airbag site can also be used by other disciplines such as snowboarding and ski cross athletes to safely train aerial skills and build acrobatic literacy.
"The plan falls into CFSA's strategic vision for Whistler as a turnkey high performance training and event hosting centre,” says Bruce Robinson, CEO of the Canadian Freestyle Ski Association. “The proposed mogul site and airbag facility on Blackcomb Mountain will be highly flexible to serve all levels of athletes, from club to elite level."
Adding a national training centre for freestyle skiing at Whistler Blackcomb will ensure Canada continues to produce world class mogul skiers and will support the development of freestyle athletes and coaches both locally and across the country. The facility will also be able to host a wide range of events, from regional to national championships, to World Cup events.
Construction of the facility is expected to begin next summer with additional fundraising efforts currently underway to help raise the necessary money for the project. The WBFSC is looking for additional sponsors or private donors interested in supporting the project in return for long-term naming rights at Whistler Blackcomb and the association of helping to foster future Olympians from the strong talent pool in the Sea-to-Sky Corridor.
