Take a Tour of Whistler’s 2010 Winter Games Venues
June 26, 2008
Whistler Olympic Park/Whistler Paralympic Park (Dave McColm, VANOC photo)
The Whistler Sliding Centre
Beginning Thursday, July 3, The Whistler Sliding Centre on
Blackcomb Mountain will be offering self-guided public walking
tours Thursdays to Sundays until the end of August. Walking tours
provide an opportunity for the public to learn about preparations
for the 2010 Winter Games, as well as a glimpse of the venue and an
understanding for the sliding sports of bobsleigh, luge and
skeleton that will take place there.
High performance track
Nestled in the backyard playground of Whistler Village, the
sliding track at
The
Whistler Sliding Centre is a new addition to the many adventure
activities in the area. The track has been certified and approved
by International Sport Federations for sliding training camps and
Sport Events in the 2008-09 winter season. Post-Games, the facility
will be operated by the Whistler Legacies Society as a centre for
high performance development, youth and recreational sport
programming, tourism (passenger rides and venue tours), and group
and corporate events.
One of two sliding tracks in Canada, the Whistler sliding track
will elevate the Canadian high-performance sport development
program and increase participation specifically in the Sea to Sky
corridor.
The Whistler Sliding Centre (VANOC photo)
Fast facts: The Whistler Sliding Centre
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The Whistler Sliding Centre is one of 15 international competition sliding tracks in the world and has the highest vertical drop of all (152 metres)
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Track G-force is expected to reach 5.02 Gs (men’s luge)
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In 2007-08, the track’s inaugural season, the highest speed reached was 147.9 kilometres per hour (four-man bobsleigh)
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The track measures 1,450 metres from start to finish, with an elevation change of over 150 metres
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350 tons of concrete were used to construct the track
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A thin ice surface measuring between two and five centimetres is produced and maintained by hand
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The track has 36 on-track cameras and 42 “timing eyes”
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The track is designed to minimize refrigeration energy by using an ammonia refrigeration system. Ammonia is one of the most energy-efficient refrigerants, producing no chlorofluorocarbons (which contribute to ozone-layer depletion and global climate change)
Summer tours at The Whistler Sliding Centre
Canada
Day special access on July 1, 2008
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Following the Whistler Canada Day Parade, all parade participants and spectators are invited to visit: the venue is open from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm
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A shuttle service will run from the base of Blackcomb Mountain to the venue and return
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Admission is by donation
Regular tour dates
Every Thursday to Sunday from July 3 to August 31, 2008
Hours of operation
11:00 am to 5:00 pm
General admission
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$5 per person
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Free for children 12 years old and under
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$20 for a family of more than four
Admission includes:
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Wheelchair accessible, self-guided walking tour of the track lower loop and finish stadium (some pathways are steep)
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A brochure map (available in English and French) marking points of interest, including venue history, sport facts, events timeline and sustainability attributes
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Access to the Track Lodge showcase of sport equipment, sport history, photos, venue history and more
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Admission fees go towards pre-Games operations of The Whistler Sliding Centre tour program
Touring The Whistler Sliding Centre. (VANOC photo)
Whistler Olympic Park/Whistler Paralympic
Park
Another tour opportunity lies just 15 kilometres south of
Whistler, at
Whistler
Olympic Park/Whistler Paralympic Park, the home of biathlon,
cross-country skiing, Nordic combined and ski jumping for the
Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
Whistler Olympic Park/Whistler Paralympic Park first opened its
doors to recreational and competitive skiers during the 2007-08
winter season. Anyone who has yet to cruise through the stunning
Callaghan Valley on cross-country skis will have many opportunities
this summer to explore the trails and recreational facilities on
foot with self-guided tours, guided tours or ski jump
tours.
Fast facts: Whistler Olympic Park/Whistler Paralympic
Park
-
For the first time in Olympic Winter Games history, all four Nordic disciplines (biathlon, cross-country skiing, Nordic combined and ski jumping) are occurring at the same venue
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Over 13 days of Olympic competition, athletes will compete for a total 24 Olympic medals at The Whistler Sliding Centre
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The venue will host 30 per cent of the Olympic medal events and 50 per cent of the Paralympic medal events
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Athletes will ski an average speed of about 25 kilometres per hour during cross-country ski races, reaching maximum speeds near 60 kilometres per hour
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During the men’s 50-kilometre race, athletes will climb approximately 2,000 vertical metres (more than twice the vertical of the men’s alpine downhill course at Whistler Creekside).
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The only snowmaking system at the venue is used for the ski jump landing hill
Summer tours at the Whistler Olympic Park/Whistler
Paralympic Park
Dates
Self-guided walking, wheelchair accessible, car or bike tours of
Whistler Olympic Park/Whistler Paralympic Park are now available
during park hours. The venue is open seven days a week. Tour dates
and times will vary.
Hours of Operation
Daily, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
General Admission
Tour fees vary depending on tour choice.
Self-Guided Tour
Free, self-guided tours are available seven days a week during
park hours, allowing visitors to learn more about Nordic sports by
visiting the biathlon, cross-country and ski jumping stadiums.
Guests will be given a map that will lead them through the venue by
car or bike where they can snap a photo of the towering inukshuk or
enjoy a picnic in the breathtaking Callaghan Valley. No pre-booking
required.
Guided Tour
For groups of 10 or more, guided tours through the venue provide
detailed information about the Nordic sports and the role of the
venue during the 2010 Winter Games. Guided tours must be booked in
advance and are subject to availability. Transportation during the
tour is not provided.
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Groups of 10 to 22 people: $150 plus GST
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Groups of 23 or more: $300 plus GST
Ski Jump Tour
Available on Saturdays and Sundays only, starting July 5, 2008,
the ski jump tour is a glimpse of the venue from the
athlete’s perspective. This tour includes a ride on the
chairlift to the top of the large hill, an opportunity to learn
about ski jumping and a unique view of the beautiful Callaghan
Valley. No pre-booking required.
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General admission: $12 plus GST
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Group rate (10 or more): $10 plus GST
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Free for children 12 years of age and under
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Entry for drivers/tour company guide is complimentary
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Guided venue tours and ski jump tours can be combined at a 25 per cent discount.
For more information, or to book a guided tour, visit
whistlerolympicpark.com
or call 604.964.2455 or 1.877.764.2455.
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