Whats New in Whistler for the 2024-2025 Season
As we come closer to finishing another year, we have a lot to look forward to in 2024. Whistler has new restaurants, upgraded ski lifts, new activities, and more.
Some of these you might know about, but at Forged Axe Throwing, we like to think that being Whistler locals, we have a little bit of inside knowledge that we’re happy to share with you.
New for Whistler Blackcomb
Heads up! There are some serious gondola upgrades coming to Whistler this year.
Whistler Blackcomb is a resort known for constantly expanding and pushing the limits of what a ski resort can be. Here are a few things to keep your eye on.
Creekside Gondola Upgrade
The Creekside Gondola is undergoing an upgrade as we speak. The six-person high-speed chair is upgrading to an eight-person (and still-high-speed) chair.
Big Red Express Upgrade
Red Chair on Whistler Mountain is also getting a makeover this season. Skiers will be able to enjoy the new six-person chair very soon.
Fitzsimmons Express Upgrade
In the summer of 2023, the bike park will see the long lines disappear with this upgrade. The Fitz chair will transform from a four-person to an eight-person chair and increase uphill capacity by 73 percent.
Jersey Cream Express Upgrade
Blackcomb Mountain will also see some love with the Jersey Cream upgrade from a four-person chair to a six-person chair over the summer.
Creekside Bike Park Extension
Trail builders have been working hard over the 2022 summer season, and you can expect new trails on Creekside for 2023 as well as upgrades to old trails.
Vail Epic Pass
This is not as new as the above upgrades, but if you last visited Whistler Blackcomb a while ago, you might not know that it is now a part of Vail Resorts and runs on the Epic Pass.
New Whistler Restaurants
Living in Whistler year-round and repeatedly eating at the same places can get old. Luckily, we have had a few new restaurants open to serve our ever-so-delicate palates.
Barn Nork
Attention all foodies, thai food has landed in Whistler this year.
A proper local spot, Barn Nork is for you if you love Thai food. They moved from Pemberton to Whistler RV Park a few months ago, and we couldn’t be happier.
Wild Blue
New kids on the block for fine dining, Wild Blue is nestled across the street from the Aava hotel. Mixing their delicious cocktail offerings with locally sourced dishes has been a hit in Whistler.
Main Street Poke
Rumours of a poke bowl shop have been circulating for some time, and our wishes have come true. Main Street Poke opened its doors in late 2022, and it’s everything we hoped for.
Joe Fortes
Vancouver steak and seafood connoisseur Joe Forte opened up their Whistler location in the summer and has been providing unique dishes ever since.
New Activities in Whistler
Whistler is the heart of adventure in British Columbia — with new experiences constantly popping up, it can be hard to keep up. Here are some unique activities we recommend checking out.
AlpX Heli Assisted Touring
Love to tour but hate making your way through the resort to get access? AlpX’s new Heli Assisted Tours will take you out the gates, bypassing the resort and heading straight into the backcountry.
Out of Control Art Exhibition
Calling all skaters, young and old! You won’t want to miss this exhibition. On display at the Audain Art Museum, Out of Control celebrates the connection between skating and architecture.
UNCEEDED at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre
UNCEDED is a photographic journey set in the Sea to Sky region, telling the story of First Nations ancestors living amongst urban cities, farmlands, and towns.
Intro to Backcountry Tours
The incredible crew at MSAA has teamed up with Premium Mountain Rentals to provide a fully supported backcountry tour for those looking to try out splitboarding or backcountry skiing.
New Whistler Events
We have been waiting a long time for events to come back in full force to Whistler, and we can confidently say that the ski town is back to its never-ending fun.
Whistler Pride Ski Festival
Not a new event but returning after a hiatus, Whistler Pride is a week-long, queer-focused ski festival. It’s celebrating its 30th festival in 2023 with events, parties, and tons of skiing. It will be a party you want to attend.
Santa Ski Day
Yes, you read that right: The Whistler Santa Ski Day is back. Prepare for hundreds of Santa Clauses and Mrs. Clauses skiing and snowboarding all over the mountain. The first 100 people to arrive dressed up as a Claus will receive a free day pass.
Whistler Crankworx 2023 New Dates
Going under the radar slightly, Crankworx Whistler has changed their dates to July 21 – 30 for 2023. Rumours are that there will also be new courses for downhill racing.
New Whistler Transport Options
Whistler is a small town; however, you might need to get around more than you think. Here are some new transportation options for 2023.
Added Busses
Whistler has an excellent bus system, and for the 2022 – 2023 winter season, they have added 10 more routes to help you get around, including the 32, which goes through White Gold.
Kids Ride Free
On top of adding new buses, BC Transit has decided to waive the fee for children under the age of 12. This means you can make your way to places like Meadow Park with the kids for a lot less cost this year.
Creekside Shuttle
Not to be confused with the local transit, Whistler Blackcomb is providing a free round-trip shuttle to those staying in Creekside while the Creekside Gondola is under construction.
Evo Bike Share
In the summer of 2022, the Evo Bike Share program was a pilot to test if rental e-bikes were suitable for the resort. The program seemed successful, and we hope to see it return in 2023.
Whistler, An Always-Changing Resort
Whistler Blackcomb and the Resort Municipality of Whistler are constantly experimenting with ideas to make Whistler easily accessible with new activities and events.
We love living in such a progressive little town and would also love to hear about your new experiences, so make sure to drop by Forged Axe Throwing on your next Whistler vacation.