World Ski and Snowboard Festival Goes Extreme
Tacked to my wall is a poster from what I thought was a bygone era—the now infamous 1990 edition of the Saudan Couloir Ski Race Extreme. The poster features a yellow-helmeted ski racer with an oxygen mask, goggles reflecting a panorama of mountains and neon-clad spectators. Below is an illustration of the madness: race gates planted down on one of the steepest inbounds couloirs in North America. This poster was my inspiration to go big and go hard. I have it to this day.
Some twenty-five years later, and after more than a fifteen-year hiatus, one of the most insane and extreeeeme inbounds races returns to the World Ski and Snowboard Festival, held at Whistler from April 10–15. The Saudan Couloir is named after the greatest French ski mountaineer of all time, Sylvain Saudan. Now, one of the most nutbar races out there is back in the running as the spectator sport of the year. Cheer on from the sunny patio at Blackcomb’s Rendezvous restaurant as the sacrificial lemmings put their skis and snowboards to the test in the steep and deep.
The WSSF isn’t all extreme though. Five days of non-stop action on and off the slopes make for an exciting way to welcome spring. All throughout the week the Art and Soul exhibition features the Sea-to-Sky’s most talented artists while concerts keep the Village base rocking. Evening events include the 72 Hour Filmmaker Showdown.
Another classic of snow sports media is the Pro Photographer Showdown, while the Multiplicity event celebrates all things mountain culture. Big air ski and snowboard competitions give more chance to ooh and aah as top international talent compete with the biggest tricks. Of course, that’s not the half of it: the Twisted Tea Slush Cup is back, where everyone gets a chance to surf the pond at their peril. See you in the snow and sun!
For more on the WSSF, check out: www.whistler.com/ wssf