Whistler Sliding Centre
#4 in Best Things To Do in Whistler
Price & Hours
Details
scorecard
- 5.0Value
- 3.5Facilities
- 4.0Atmosphere
Situated on Whistler Blackcomb near Whistler Village, the Whistler Sliding Centre is home to the 2010 Winter Olympics' bobsled, luge and skeleton tracks. Entry to this Olympic venue is free, but if you've got some extra cash and you're an adrenaline junkie, you should try a bobsled or skeleton ride. A ride on the course is sure to get your blood pumping on a chilly winter day. The 4,757-foot-long track with a nearly 500-foot vertical drop whisks you around 10 icy curves and reaches speeds of up to 78 mph, making the Whistler track the fastest in the world.
Recent visitors enjoyed zipping down the attraction's track in a bobsled. However, a few were disappointed with the high fees for this experience, even though one child receives a discounted rate with each paying adult. Many also appreciated the center's friendly, informative guides and drivers.
The Whistler Sliding Centre is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and takes reservations by phone or online for the public sliding programs. Bobsledding during the summer months costs 99 Canadian dollars (about $78.50) per person, while winter bobsled rides and skeleton experiences will set you back CA$179 (or roughly $142) per person, per activity. To be eligible, you must be between 14 and 75 years old and weigh 90 to 220 pounds in full winter clothing (285 pounds for bobsledding). You can get to the property by driving and parking for free on-site or taking the Excalibur Gondola to its first stop, then walk through parking lot No. 7 and up Glacier Lane to the entrance. For more information on tour availability and bobsled and skeleton requirements, visit the venue's website.
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#1 Whistler Blackcomb
In Whistler, this is the main event. Hordes of skiers and snowboarders flock to Whistler Blackcomb every year and for good reason – its slopes stretch across more than 8,100 acres of 200-plus trails, offer terrain to accommodate all skill levels and see an annual average snowfall of around 40 feet. Stunt-lovers can practice tricks on the ramps and half pipes in any of the five terrain parks, while less-experienced skiers can glide down one of the 7-mile-long trails that wind across the mountains, which are not as steep as the mountains' more challenging runs.
But this resort isn't only for skiers and boarders. Other wintertime activities visitors can check out include snowshoeing, tubing, snowmobiling, dog sledding and zip lining. Meanwhile, summer visitors can go biking and hiking or try whitewater rafting or canoeing on the surrounding rapids, lakes and rivers. And be sure to wind down and relax after a day full of activity with an après-ski drink. You'll find plenty of drink and food specials at the bars and restaurants around town.
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