6 replies to this topic

[Aussierob]

Announced at 6pm tonight.

http://renaissance.whistlerblackcomb.com/

[2milehi]

[julestheshiba]

I think peter has talked about the new lifts on his website

[trj820]

Looking at the image they gave, this is what it looks like they're adding:

• a chondola replacement for Olympic, to allow easier beginner use.
  
• Franz's will be upgraded to a detachable quad, with the same lower terminal and the top terminal moved to just above where the t-bars end. Vertical is ~420m (1,380ft), and length is ~1,850m (6,070 ft).
  
• New detachable quad on the west side of Whistler, Bagel Bowl. It serves intermediate to advanced terrain, and ends just below the top of West Bowl. Vertical is ~590m (1,940 ft), and length is ~1,900m (6,230 ft).
  
• Another detachable quad parallel to Bagel Bowl, called Kyber. It will serve advanced terrain and ends at the tree line. Vertical is ~630m (2,070 ft), and length is ~1,780m (5,840 ft).
  
• New eight person gondola from Creekside Base to the top of the Chic Pea. Vertical is ~1,010m (3,310 ft), and length is ~3,320m (10,900 ft).
  
• Upgrade of Magic to a chondola to make it easier to move between Blackcomb base I and II.
  
• Upgrade of Catskinner to a detachable quad, and realignment of the base ~250m (820 ft) to the southwest.
  
• Upgrade of Wizard and Solar Coaster to higher capacity lifts. I don't know anything else about these, because they're not on the master plan.

[NHskier13]

[Cypress]

This seems nice. What's interesting though is that most of today's announcements don't seem to align with Whistler and Blackcomb's Master Plans released in 2013.

Blackcomb's Master Plan has two phases (Phase 8 and 9). Phase 8 includes an expansion of the Excalibur gondola and a new Showcase gondola up on the Glacier. No mention of that in the new Renaissance plan. It seems like they have jumped straight ahead to Phase 9, which includes the new Catskinner Express and Magic chondola. Also, Wizard and Solar aren't mentioned at all in the master plan, but it makes sense to replace them with higher capacity lifts. On the Whistler side, the 2013 Master plan has 3 phases (Phase 15, 16, and 17). Olympic chondola is Phase 15, however the two chairlifts in Bagel Bowl are Phase 16 & 17.

There also seems to be lots planned off-mountain. Most of the development is centered around Base II on Blackcomb:

• Watershed Indoor Adventure centre (includes daylodge, restaurant, bowling alley, pools, and a huge waterpark)
  
• Blackcomb Adventure Park (includes addition of Night Skiing)
  
• Annex Action Sports Complex
  
• New parking lots at Base II
  
• Renewal of Blackcomb Daylodge
  
• 55-65 new townhomes at Base II, to be built on top of Parking Lot 6
  
• 6-star boutique hotel at Blackcomb base

Non-skiing expansions include:

• Mountain Bike park expansion to Creekside
  
• Suspension bridge at Whistler Peak and 'Blackcomb Grind' hiking trail

[Lift Dinosaur]

Summer. It's where the New Revenue is at Ski Areas.
Dino