Jun 26, 2008

The Whistler Sliding Centre — home to bobsleigh, luge and skeleton — and Whistler Olympic Park/Whistler Paralympic Park — the venue for all 2010 Winter Games Nordic sports — are hosting public tours this summer.

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.

It’s also an engineering marvel. This May, the BC Ready-Mixed Concrete Association presented the Century Award to VANOC and the project team for The Whistler Sliding Centre’s technically demanding and ultra-fast sliding track.

Fast facts: The Whistler Sliding Centre

• 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)
• Track G-force is expected to reach 5.02 Gs (men’s luge)
• In 2007-08, the track’s inaugural season, the highest speed reached was 147.9 kilometres per hour (four-man bobsleigh)
• The track measures 1,450 metres from start to finish, with an elevation change of over 150 metres
• 350 tons of concrete were used to construct the track
• A thin ice surface measuring between two and five centimetres is produced and maintained by hand
• The track has 36 on-track cameras and 42 “timing eyes”
• 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

• 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
• A shuttle service will run from the base of Blackcomb Mountain to the venue and return
• 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

• $5 per person
• Free for children 12 years old and under
• $20 for a family of more than four

Admission includes:

• Wheelchair accessible, self-guided walking tour of the track lower loop and finish stadium (some pathways are steep)
• A brochure map (available in English and French) marking points of interest, including venue history, sport facts, events timeline and sustainability attributes
• Access to the Track Lodge showcase of sport equipment, sport history, photos, venue history and more
• Admission fees go towards pre-Games operations of The Whistler Sliding Centre tour program

For more information, visit whistlerslidingcentre.com or call 604.964.2401.

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
• Over 13 days of Olympic competition, athletes will compete for a total 24 Olympic medals at The Whistler Sliding Centre
• The venue will host 30 per cent of the Olympic medal events and 50 per cent of the Paralympic medal events
• 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
• 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).
• 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.

• Groups of 10 to 22 people: $150 plus GST
• 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.

• General admission: $12 plus GST
• Group rate (10 or more): $10 plus GST
• Free for children 12 years of age and under
• Entry for drivers/tour company guide is complimentary
• 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.