How is Whistler not already open?

[Canuker]

Why is it that so many smaller resorts are opening way before Whistler? I was always under the impression that Whistler had enough snow to be open for a while now, but i just read they dont open until this thursday.

It just seems wierd to me.

 

[howlongcanausern]

there's a lot more that goes into opening a ski area than just snow.

 

[backbarvey]

its opening on friday not thursday

 

[Canuker]

Yea i just realized that its probably due to the fact that it is such a large resort. There must be alot of preperation to open it.

 

[kootenayklaus]

I would think "large" is an understatement.

 

[ski0]

they dont really have an incentive to open super early. they focus on a really strong opening not just as early as possible. if they opened a week earlier they would probobly just have all the locals riding with season passes and not draw in many tourists.

mountains like cypress have a much larger incentive to open because they are able to draw loads of people in the van city area who are close enough for a short afternoon ski sesh.