February 27th and 28th, 2015 marks the 31st annual Peak to Valley Race on Whistler Mountain. Not for the feint of heart or weak of leg, this race is unique for a variety of reasons.
Racers ski from near the top of the Saddle (almost the peak of Whistler Mountain) all the way to the base of Creekside, in anticipation for their beer at Dusty’s Bar & BBQ in Whistler. This 2-day race has a vertical drop of 1,443 metres, 180 gates and a course that’s over 5km long. Compare this to an average GS race that has 35 gates and a vertical drop of 250 metres. My quads are burning just thinking about it!
The Peak to Valley Race is the brainchild of legendary ski racer Dave Murray. His namesake, the Dave Murray Downhill, makes up a big part of the race. The popular Peak to Valley race has never been cancelled, even in 1991 when the entire mountain was shut down due to weather. While the organizers (including Dave Murray) wanted to cancel, the dedicated (or some might call crazy) racers refused and found a way to get to the top via snow cat or even hiking.
Teams of 4 must be co-ed and participants must be at least 19 years of age. Two team members ski the first day, the other two the second day. Their combined time is the team total. While some of the competitors are professional or retired ski racers, many are just average recreational skiers who want to compete and have some fun.
In this race, skiers are started according to their age, with the oldest – some in their 80s - racing first. Individual times vary from the fastest at 4.57 (Can you imagine!!) to the slowest at 29.03.60. At the celebration party, trophies are awarded to the overall winners of the race and to the winners of the oldest age category.
While winning is always a thrill, it’s more the traditional and cultural aspect of this grueling race that makes it so popular. This year’s Peak to Valley race is full with 79 teams signed up, but Whistler Blackcomb will still accept teams. So give them a call if you and 3 friends want to face the challenge and be able to say you’ve skied the longest GS race course in the world!