World Cup Bobsled/Whistler/Blackcomb Feb 7-8 2009

My niece competed in the two person bobsled World Cup competition on the new Olympic course at Whistler. Scotsman obliged and came along for the trip with visions of powder skiing.
My niece (Bree Schaaf) and her sled partner did real well for their 1st World Cup comp and placed 6th in the USA3 sled edging out those fierce Germans. USA1 took 1st and USA2 took third. These sleds rip near 95MPH down a course that would makes your head spin to follow them. Article HERE

The skiing was as firm as the Bobsled course in some places, but really pretty good groomed skiing at Blackcomb. Off piste was a variety of carvable bumps, but the best was Blackcomb Glacier on Sat and Sun. Sunday had wind blowing on the glacier that transported snow to make a wonderful, near powder experience. Smooth soft butter and a tailwind to make it quiet. The long speedy tuck back to the chair was a near bobsled experience.
The Peak 2 Peak lift is quite fun, especially since we had good visibility!
Not to crowded either as Sunday, you could ski on to the lifts.

Better than expected conditions, Whistler is really low on snow. Access to the Coulair Extreme and all chutes are littered with rocks and you need to weasel to get in, but the skiing was smooth an fast below the initial bumps.

Thanks to Scotsman for joining me on this adventure!
Below Scotsman is preparing for skiing at Crystal.

Thanks for inviting me Joe, the bobsledding was very interesting.
We initially set ourselves up at one of the corners but they went by so fast that as a spectator sport , the excitment was over way too fast.

I then discovered that if you waited at the place where the sleds stop and watch the split times on the  board it was more interesting and exciting plus you got to see all the girls get out of the sled in their ski-tight leotards and slap each other on the butt !   I only appear dumb.

The skiing Ok..... lapping Blackcomb Glacier the best of limited options.

Hey Joe, I was up there the week before and enjoyed checking out the Nordic Center. Where is the bobsled venue; didn't see, but would be fun to check out. Thanks

Ps. Un-be-known by us, our visit also happened to coincide with Winterpride, the Whistler gay festival and the town was full of well groomed men with highlights in their hair waking around with miniature dogs. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

But just to show what team we where playing on, I decided not to shave or bathe while up there figuring that no self-respecting gay would be as disreputable.  Joe had a different tactic and walked around talking with a deep voice about "hunting n' fishing". Just kidding!

Good thing you clearly delineated which team you're on, you boys walk a fine line . . .
(P.S. Picture reposted from Tele-What thread.)

I'm sure you fit right in!

If you ever get a chance, take the summertime bobsled ride at Park City. Not quite as fast as on ice, but still quite speedy and incredibly exciting.

Ps. Un-be-known by us, our visit also happened to coincide with Winterpride, the Whistler gay festival and the town was full of well groomed men with highlights in their hair waking around with miniature dogs. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

But just to show what team we where playing on, I decided not to shave or bathe while up there figuring that no self-respecting gay would be as disreputable. Joe had a different tactic and walked around talking with a deep voice about "hunting n' fishing". Just kidding!