Whistler

9 Pages 2274 Words

Skiers’ Lifestyle
A fresh, twelve inches of powder has fallen over night. You are first to make a path in the blanket of snow. You gracefully glide through the powder; a whoosh, the only sound you here as your skis slide through the soft surface. The rising sun from the east penetrates the new fallen snow, causing a glare to glisten off each fresh snow particle. Mother Nature’s silence surrounds you, becoming one with nature. A perfect run, a skier could not ask for anything better, nothing could ruin this. Sliding to a stop, to look at your professional figure-eights, you notice many other perfect cuts. It appears a herd of anxious skiers, much like yourself, had the same idea.
Today, it has become almost impossible to enjoy vacation areas because of the large overpopulation of people who just want to get away, when in all reality they have only become closer to it. Advertisement has exploited every vacation area, taking the focus off the area itself and turning it towards the tourist traps. Some of these tourist traps include: luxurious restaurants and bars, five star hotels, prime tennis, and golf courses. A fantasy land of the rich and famous developed by advertisement for the vacationers. Many places exploited by advertising, such the Whistler Ski Resort, have given locals a good reason for leaving.
Whistler Ski Resort, located in the coast mountain range of British Columbia, started as a rustic haven for ski bums, hippies, and naturalists. Formerly known as, Alta Lake, this summer fishing and hiking resort, used to provide naturalists with a wide variety of activities to enjoy (Beaudry). Franz Wilhelmsen, a business man from Vancouver, turned the mountain into Whistler Ski Resort which opened February of 1966. With the mountain’s diverse terrain, immense snowfall (averaging thirty feet a winter), 4000 foot vertical that run for several miles, big-mountain riding, and a laid back lifestyle, it was obvious why it made a p...