The next big thing?
Peak to Peak Gondola would become tourism icon, revolutionize the way mountains experienced
Published Date: 2005-09-22 Time: 10:53:57
By Alison Taylor
One of Whistler’s most pervasive rumours – the one that has a gondola suspended high in the sky linking Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains – may actually come true.
Whistler-Blackcomb has submitted an application to the province, through Land and Water B.C., to build an estimated $40 million-$50 million gondola from Whistler Mountain’s Roundhouse to the Rendezvous on Blackcomb.
The cable will stretch almost four and a half kilometres across the sky and span the Fitzsimmons Creek valley in a gentle bend, allowing riders to capture a unique, 360-degree bird’s eye view.
It will take just 10 minutes from one side to the other. That, said Dave Brownlie, chief operating officer for Intrawest Mountain Resorts in B.C., will revolutionize the way guests enjoy the two mountains.
"Once you ride it and understand it’s 10 minutes from one side to the other, it will absolutely provide more choice, more opportunity for your ski or snowboarding day," he said this week.
While providing a better guest experience was key to the decision to pursue this project, the gondola attraction is also expected to grow business to Whistler-Blackcomb and to the Resort Municipality of Whistler.
"We think that this would be a phenomenal win for everybody, not only the mountain resort business but the community and the tourism business to this resort in general," said Brownlie. "We really do need to take that next step in our product and development life cycle and I think there’s a lot of people really looking for… the next big thing."
There’s no doubt it’s big.
The Peak to Peak Gondola will set three world records. It will have the longest stretch of free span at 2.9 km – there will be no tower support for that distance. It will have the highest vertical drop, at 415 metres, from the bottom of the cable sag to the valley floor. And it will be the longest continuous lift system in the world, linking the Whistler Village gondola to lifts on Blackcomb.
It will also be the first of its kind in North America.
"It’ll become a tourism icon, much like the CN Tower or Niagara Falls," said Stuart Rempel, senior vice president of marketing and sales.
The community got its first look at the project during a presentation at Monday’s council meeting. While some councillors such as Nick Davies offered praise, others were more reserved in their comments.
"I keep feeling like our resort is becoming more and more like an amusement park," said Councillor Ken Melamed.
A self-admitted Luddite and "ski purist," Melamed said he was one of those people who thought the Peak Chair was a bad idea. Skiers should have to hike for their powder he said.
Though he vowed to keep open-minded as Whistler-Blackcomb works through the public consultation process in the coming months, he couldn’t help but express concerns about what he called a priceless and internationally famous view.
He was referring to the view between Whistler and Blackcomb with Fissile Mountain standing in the background.
"My immediate reaction is I think it’s a terrible blow for the view," said Melamed.
Brownlie presented a slide at the council meeting with a photograph of that view from the corner of Lorimer Road and Highway 99. The gondola was superimposed on the picture. From that distance the cable and the gondola cars are barely visible.
Whistler-Blackcomb senior staff isn’t surprised by the concerns about the view. These concerns are all a part of the community consultation, which they hope to address in the coming months.
Despite the concerns about the view and about Whistler turning into a Disneyland, they also recognize the resort is at a critical point in its history.
Since its peak at 616,000 winter room nights in 1999-2000, there has been a steady decline in visits to the resort. Last year, one of the worst winter weather years in history, winter room nights dipped below 500,000.
"We’re in a place where we can’t afford to be right now," said Brownlie.
The Peak to Peak Gondola is a piece of the puzzle to make Whistler’s tourism industry sustainable.
It’s also a way to set Whistler apart from the rest of the competition said Tourism Whistler President Barrett Fisher.
"Tourism Whistler is extremely excited about Whistler-Blackcomb’s plans to develop the Peak to Peak gondola," she said. "By providing guests with a one-of-a-kind sightseeing and gondola experience between two of the world’s most celebrated mountains, this initiative would serve as a year-round icon – further distinguishing Whistler from other destinations worldwide."
In terms of the environmental impact, the gondola will have a smaller footprint than a standard high-speed quad. It should also ease congestion and traffic in the village as guests can move from Blackcomb and easily make their way to Creekside on Whistler.
If Whistler-Blackcomb can find a joint venture partner in the coming months, and if other pieces fall into place with the community consultation and provincial approvals, the company will be ordering the multi-million dollar lift by the end of the year. They hope for it to be operational by 2007-08 season, in time to show off Whistler-Blackcomb as interest grows in the 2010 Olympics.
Brownlie said they are not in discussions right now with any joint partners.
"We are working our avenues of identifying potential companies or people that may be interested," he said.
The company will be working on its community engagement over the coming weeks, connecting with various local groups and hosting an open house next month.
From an outsiders’ perspective however, the news is recognized as a strategic move in a competitive industry.
"That is great news," said SKI Magazine executive editor Greg Ditrinco. "It would certainly help the congestion at the base too. I think it is very significant."
SKI Magazine ranks the top 50 resorts every year in their October issue and he has found that those on top are consistently adding new products for the customers.
"The resorts that stay ahead in our rankings are those which anticipate the next amenity that needs to be brought in," he said.
But as Councillor Melamed asked: what happens when the novelty of the Peak to Peak Gondola wears off.
"Do you ever get daunted by the challenge of coming up with new stories all the time?" he asked Brownlie.
The answer is that it’s time to take risks.
Brownlie said the Peak to Peak Gondola would stand the test of time. "This is something that really is a major opportunity for our two mountains. This lift will provide greater choice and more convenience every day for our guests."
The public open house will be held on Saturday, Oct. 15, from 2 to 5 p.m. at Legends in Creekside.
****
****
****
****
If they are going to spend $40-$50 million, there better be some damn good skiing underneath it...otherwise dont waste your money...
