Monster Energy in cooperation with Grenade gloves brings the most unique event in snowboarding, The Grenade Games, to Whistler, BC during the Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival, April 20-26 2009.

February 3. Whistler, BC. – Monster Energy is proud to announce that it has joined forces with Grenade Gloves to bring the infamous Grenade Games to Whistler, BC during the Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival this April. Now in their fifth year, the Grenade Games have set themselves apart as the snowboard industries best end-of-season contest and party. Bringing them to Whistler during the WSSF was a natural step to combine two of the biggest spring events into one giant happening.

In the irreverent tradition of the Grenade Games, events will combine the typical snowboard event with an unexpected twist. The Superpipe has evolved into something bigger in better, snowboarders will be challenged to hurl themselves down a mogul field for the first-of-its-kind dual slalom mogul event, and all of it will be capped off in front of thousands of screaming fans Saturday night, with a showcase like nothing the WSSF has ever seen before.

Challenged with revitalizing the snowboarding events of the TWSSF, Nelson Phillips from Monster Energy has called on Olympic snowboard medalist Danny Kass and his crew from Grenade Gloves to bring their already successful event north of the border, and they have jumped on the opportunity.

“We are proud to announce we are bringing “The Grenade Games 5” to Whistler. With the biggest and baddest lineups ever this April, it is sure to be the best. The Grenade Games is a celebration of Snowboarding, music and everything else holy! VIVA la Games! Get ready to Ride…EH!”

-Danny Kass

In addition, Danny’s Fuel TV show, “The Adventures of Danny and the Dingo”, with his longtime sidekick Luke “The Dingo” Trembath, will wrap up filming for the season during the event.

Web: www.monsterenergy.ca, www.grenadegloves.com, www.wssf.com
What: Grenade Games 5
Where: Whistler, BC, Canada.
When: April 20-26, 2009
Media Contact: Dano

I have a sneaking suspicion this wasn’t exactly what Whistler-Blackcomb had in mind for the opening week of their new, state of the art Peak-2-Peak gondola. Realizing one of the greatest fears of any human being who has ever hopped onto a ski lift or gondola of any kind, a tower of the Excalibur Gondola (not the new peak-2-peak), near the base of Blackcomb Mountain, snapped in half Tuesday afternoon in the middle of operation hours.

For reasons that have yet to be determined, a tower near the bottom of the Excalibur, which carries skiers and snowboarders to the top of Blackcomb Mountain from Whistler Village, simply snapped in half and left 50 passengers in need of rescue. Ten people have been injured, though according to Whistler RCMP Sgt. Steve Wright, none of the injuries were life threatening.

These types of things rarely happen. But when they do, they kind of make you scratch your head a bit and realize that shit like this can actually take place. The new Peak-2-Peak gondola that was just opened hang as high as 1427 ft. in the air at some points. That doesn’t leave a whole lot of room for error. I should as hell wouldn’t want to fall 1427 ft. in a gondola.

So while it’s a very positive thing that no one was seriously injured in this mishap, hopefully this will go down as just an isolated, unfortunate accident. With Winter Olympics heading for Whistler in 2010, this isn’t exactly the type of story they want in the headlines.

One of North America’s premier mountains is stepping up their game. In preparation for the upcoming 2010 Winter Olympics, the legendary Whistler Blackcomb in B.C., Canada is opening it’s new Peak 2 Peak Gondola, said to be the first lift of its kind in North America.

The Gondola will connect the Whistler and Blackcomb peaks; taking riders on a scenic 11 minute ride, hanging as high as 1427 ft. in the air. The resort plans to celebrate with an official ribbon cutting ceremony Friday, Dec. 12, at 11 a.m., then send start shipping skiers and snowboarders across the nearly 3 mile span between the mountains.

If you’ve ever ridden Whistler, you know what a massive difference this will make in time spent traversing the two peaks. If you haven’t, this is what I’m talking about. It’s an absolutely amazing mountain that just went that much bigger.

Launch ceremonies will be taking place at both Peak 2 Peak Gondola terminal buildings atop Whistler and Blackcomb with DJs and emcees communicating between them. Video screens will connect the action in two terminals with a giant LED screen on Whistler and four plasma screens in the Blackcomb terminal. If you’re in the area, be sure to suss it out.

Whistler Blackcomb’s PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola will officially open to the public December 12, 2008. This engineering marvel is set to become a new Canadian tourism icon, and will forever revolutionize the way visitors experience this four-season resort.

“This spring we had to move massive amounts of snow so it was a slow start but we have been able to stay on track with each construction phase,” says Rick Temple, PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola Construction Manager. “To be at this point in construction at this time is unheard of. Typically for a lift installation you are fighting the weather in November to get things done. However due to the incredible work by everyone involved we are ahead of schedule. We are very excited to have our official opening day announced and are looking forward to the day when our guests can experience this gondola.”

The arrival of 28 Sky Cabins, including two with glass floors, and the completion of the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola ropework has set the stage for what will be the biggest construction milestone of the lift installation – the first Sky Cabin to cross the record-breaking 3 kilometre/1.88 mile, unsupported span between Whistler and Blackcomb mountains.

Through October and November load testing will take place as well as evacuation training and simulations, and operator training. The PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola will also be examined by the British Columbia Safety Authority through their Passenger Ropeways Safety Program which regulates the safety of lifts.

“There is always a ton of anticipation for the winter season and being able to announce the official opening for the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola gives our guests something else to look forward to this winter, a definitive date to mark on their calendars,” says Dave Brownlie President and Chief Operating Officer of Whistler Blackcomb. “We know that on December 12, the way our guests use Whistler Blackcomb will be changed forever and we are extremely excited for that day to come.”

Construction progress of the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola is captured daily via webcams, and weekly via photography and construction blogs on the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola microsite at whistlerblackcomb.com. The PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola will open in December.

About Whistler
Consistently ranked as North America’s top ski and snowboard resort, Whistler Blackcomb continues to raise the level of mountain excitement for its guests. With the landmark PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola project underway, the return of the popular Symphony Amphitheatre, and a host of other on-mountain improvements, this winter promises to be one of the most exciting yet. Located a scenic two-hour drive north of Vancouver up the spectacular ‘Sea to Sky’ Highway, this resort is home to the continent’s two greatest vertical-rise ski mountains – Whistler and Blackcomb. With over 17 alpine bowls, four glaciers, 200 trails, 8,171 acres of skiable terrain and a one mile vertical rise, the choices of where and what to ski/ride at Whistler Blackcomb from beginner to advanced terrain are staggering. Joined at the base by a vibrant pedestrian village filled with restaurants, patios, cafes, shops, galleries and spas, and surrounded by breathtaking scenery, this four season resort is spectacular. Check it all out at whistlerblackcomb.com.

About Intrawest ULC
Intrawest is a world leader in experiential destination resorts. The company has interests in ten resorts at North America’s most popular mountain destinations including Whistler Blackcomb, a host venue for the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Intrawest network also includes Canadian Mountain Holidays, the largest heli-skiing operation in the world, Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort in Florida and Club Intrawest—a private resort club with locations throughout North America. In addition, Intrawest develops real estate at its resorts and at other locations across North America and in Europe. Intrawest is headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia. For more information, visit intrawest.com