If you want to take a break from exerting yourself by skiing, snowboarding or other activities at Whistler Mountain in British Columbia, you can always entertain yourself by spectating at professional sports events. Depending on when you visit, you may be able to view several professional ski and mountain biking competitions in Whistler, B.C.
Competitions of the The TELUS World Ski and Snowboard Festival
One of the events where you'll be able to see professional winter athletes demonstrate their considerable skills is the TELUS World Ski and Snowboard Festival. This event has been a Whistler tradition since 1997. Some of the sporting competitions at this festival are open to the public, as is true of the numerous open Whistler ski races that regularly take place on the mountain's slopes. Others are restricted to qualifying racers who compete to win large cash prizes. • The World Skiing Invitational/Association of Freeskiing Professionals (AFP) Championships: This event features two major professional competitions. The first, the Slopestyle event, is a downhill race with winding turns, jumps and rail obstacles. The Big Air event, meanwhile, pits skiers against each other to perform the most spectacular and impressive ski tricks and jumps. • The Show: Snowboarders compete in the various stages of this event, which are interspersed with a number of parties and activities. As is true of the AFP race, competing boarders will be able to prove their snowboarding worth in mogul races, half-pipe trick competitions and timed, straight downhill races.
Kokanee Crankworx: Mountain Bikers Face Off
Taking place during the Whistler summer season in July, the Kokanee Crankworx festival features both professional and amateur mountain biking competitions in each of its various race events. Some of the professional events, which are viewed by some as rivaling the prestige of the Olympic competition in Whistler, include the following: • Garbanzo Downhill: This competition starts at an altitude of 3,400 feet and sends racers speeding downhill over natural and artificial stunt elements and obstacles, culminating in a race to the finish line once the bottom of the hill is reached. • Jeep Air Downhill: Racers start at the Olympic station and rocket downhill, passing more than 100 jumps and berms. • Teva Best Trick Showdown: Twenty-five of the best professional mountain bikers are selected to prove their ability to master the most difficult tricks in the sport, such as tailwhips and 360- and 720-degree spins.