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Olympics...

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C.MickeyD
Posts: 13 - Karma: 10
I know this has probably already been brought up in a thread before but has anyone else realized that all the mountains in the Vancouver - Whistler region might be super busy all year instead of just the 2 weeks? I personally find this a negative thing as I (unfortunately) don't own any of them.

Just wondering what peoples thoughts are on this.

And if you are really stoked for the olympics please don't hate me. :)
Sep 13 2009 10:40PM
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holyDINOSAURS
Posts: 7038 - Karma: 639
shit might be super busy every year. i am in no way for the olympics, in fact, deeply not stoked, but the best thing you can do is not let it stop you from shredding
Sep 13 2009 10:51PM
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Download-My-Apps
Posts: 5069 - Karma: 1,017
I don't see how it will be that much different other than during the Olympics. I read in the province that there expecting it to be less busy this year with the exception of the February. They dropped season pass price to whisler is cheaper this year cause they did so shitty financially last year at Whistler/Blackcomb

And like the other dude said, even if it is you can still ski, embrace it have a good time.
Sep 14 2009 2:47AM
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white-rice
Posts: 181 - Karma: 113
Hating on the Olympics is as trendy as fake glasses, doesn't anybody remember Cool Runnings? Doesn't anyone remember wanting to be in or at the games when they where a kid? Get Stoked on it.... its not like it will be here again for a looooooooooong time, if ever again.... whiney vancouverites
Sep 14 2009 6:43PM
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Turner.
Posts: 1987 - Karma: 11,892
what?

also grouse was harsh pitching the fact that there were no olympic blackouts. is this true, 'cause I thought I read somewhere that they were  gonna close..
Sep 14 2009 10:27PM
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g-man
Posts: 1955 - Karma: 301
Grouse is horing themselves out and will be open 24 hours a day for the entire duration of the games.  Cypress will be closed all of February and the 1st week of March.  Seymour will not be closed, and is offering a cheap pass to cypress passholders for the time when Cypress is closed.  I have no tickets to any events, so I'm not overly excited for the games.  It might be cool to see how busy the city is, but I guess the excitement is geared more towards ticket holders and volunteers.
Sep 15 2009 12:31AM
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Kevski
Posts: 7056 - Karma: 2,785
This is the best year to be moved to the island. I think it's gonna be hectic up there. Grouse probably mostly, since all the overseas tourists will go there I'm sure like always.

But if it is super crowded, then it's time for more BC shredding, or road trips. Just an excuse to go out of your way to do something rad that is more inconvenient. I always tell myself every year that I will do an avy course and get in the BC much more often for booters, lines, and pow jibs. But it never happens. Maybe this season will be the one.
Sep 15 2009 8:33PM
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C.MickeyD
Posts: 13 - Karma: 10
Ya thats what me and my parents were thinking of doing like going for like 4 - 5 days to the interior to ski. Like Silver Star or something.
Sep 15 2009 11:12PM
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pinguman
Posts: 185 - Karma: 302
if you live in vancouver, hit up baker to beat the traffic.
Sep 17 2009 2:13AM
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squibble
Posts: 4569 - Karma: 104
whistler was dead this year, and right now the weather is so warm that flowers are budding, the local mountains lost 2 feet... soo

plan b now in effect: shitloads of hay being trucked to the mountains, and all the people watching the events will be on gravel so the snow doesnt get dirty (localy, not too sure about whistler),
Jan 23 2010 4:00PM
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hucksplat
Posts: 966 - Karma: 1,124
statistically speaking, there is a phenomena called the 'olympic dip' where there is a reduction in visitor traffic during an olympic year, meaning the mountains will actually be less crowded.

the infrastructure improvements which were brought about for the olympics are sweet. the Canada Line and the improved highways are amazing and will benefit us for decades to come. you can deal with one or two months of shitty traffic in exchange for that.
Jan 23 2010 4:19PM
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dave44
Posts: 11052 - Karma: 113
Finally, someone who can acknowledge some of the true benefits the Olympics has brought along.
Jan 23 2010 7:39PM
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freezed
Posts: 12973 - Karma: 500
it's gonna be nuts during the actual games though...i think i'm gonna go shred mammoth instead of sticking around here
Jan 24 2010 1:37PM
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skeedle
Posts: 6156 - Karma: 628
no we have tons of snow!
Jan 24 2010 3:29PM
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ZavierV
Posts: 5077 - Karma: 100
If I don't end up working during the game can I come crash on your couch?
Jan 24 2010 10:41PM
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Abc567def
Posts: 8756 - Karma: 801
you do know that all of those projects were going ahead anyway, all the olympics did was give them a deadline for which to get them done.
Jan 25 2010 8:17PM
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freezed
Posts: 12973 - Karma: 500
yeah that's probably fine...i think i'm gonna fly out of seattle, looks like around 300 roundtrip?
Jan 25 2010 11:43PM
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hucksplat
Posts: 966 - Karma: 1,124
yes, and those deadlines were advanced by over a decade. the canada line was part of the 20 year vision, and there is no way the highway would look even vaguely as good as it does without the olympics, even in 20 years.

lets not forget the economic boon the games have brought. plenty of construction stimulus, tourism stimulus, and any landowner within 150km is stoked.

personally, i think we cheaped out on the games and should have spent an extra billion or two.
Jan 26 2010 12:42PM
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Download-My-Apps
Posts: 5069 - Karma: 1,017
I agree with stimulus things. But it would be hard to justify an extra billion or two when people are already bitching about it.
Jan 26 2010 5:04PM
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Abc567def
Posts: 8756 - Karma: 801
yea the games are going to be good for Vancouver not BC though like some ppl are passing it off as. The province as a whole will not benefit from the alleged economic boom that will apparently be coming in the near future. As for the highway, i drove it 4-5 times a week for two years while it was getting built and the permeable asphalt is pretty overrated (hydroplaned more then once), those stupid trees in the center median of the section although they may look good is such a hazard for trying to be able to see around the corner and anticipate other drivers. They should have widened the road to two lanes between the ferry terminal and furry creek its going to be such a bottle neck. The first view off the bluffs is super sick though. They defs didn't need to spend anymore money on the games, the only thing that would have been worth it would have been the sails at Canada place which they are now planning on doing in the coming years.
Jan 27 2010 11:16AM
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ZavierV
Posts: 5077 - Karma: 100
I personally think that permeable asphalt is the shit. Visibility is so much better when there's water on the ground. With a decent pair of snow tires I don't know how you could hydro-plane. Unless it was that day where the road had 4" of water on it from the ferries to Sqampton...
Jan 27 2010 1:33PM
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skeedle
Posts: 6156 - Karma: 628
the highway is gnar.
there are so many corners which need to be banked more than they are. and people FLY down it. like 140-160 range, which on corners like that are not safe. when i drive it, i probably cruise between 90-110. and people ROAR past me and its terrifying.
i agree with you about the trees. this past summer we were driving down to Vancouver from Whisltler and the right lane had cones down it so everyone was in the left, and we came around the corner and people were working in the median less than 2 feet from the car. it was so scary. we came so close to hitting the dude.  i just dont get their cone placement.
and now with all the cones between whistler and squamish that are drilled....we can only hope it doesn't snow on the highway other wise people driving in the centre lane are screwed.
the nastiest part of the highway right now, is definately porteau cove, where its only two lanes right along the rock walls and right next to the tracks. that is gonna be bad when the olympics happen.
Jan 29 2010 12:41PM
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kenzieann
Posts: 1535 - Karma: 391
whistler the mts are dead on weekdays. yesterday we were pretty much the only people over in symphony and still finding fresh snow from a few days before.

the village is dead as well. at work i literally don't do anything.

so, i don't think they are actually getting busier..
Jan 29 2010 2:05PM
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geteducated
Posts: 6410 - Karma: 86
i did a stint to whistler before i left to the east coast,

and i agree with the corners.  on the way back where the tree median is, those corners are way to tight for a 2 lane road. if you're not a good driver you kind of have to wait for a straight before you pass in the left.

and i saw a greyhound bus hauling ass through the bends.   driver must have thought he was driving a lotus or something.

not sure what you mean about anticipating drivers because of the trees, not like you need to see the cars coming towards you on the other side of the median.

and there was one cool part i think between whistler and squa near the rest stop/look out where you run a narrow guantlet of standing road markers.  shit was intense with the lights reflecting off of them.

that was during a weekday and clear weather.

missing van for sure.  hope cypress pulls it off.
Jan 29 2010 11:55PM
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Abc567def
Posts: 8756 - Karma: 801
the point of the permeable asphalt is to have it seep through it so that there is not a collection of water on the surface reducing the risk of hydroplaning. I did however find that when it would fail and a build up of water were to incur then it would be much more prone to slippage for some reason then standard asphalt. Unless they changed it since i left 3 weeks ago the asphalt at the ferry terminal was horrible and had large cracks and pot holes in it from rock blasting and ice cracking.
Jan 30 2010 12:06PM
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hucksplat
Posts: 966 - Karma: 1,124
quit slowing me down
Jan 30 2010 12:44PM
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skeedle
Posts: 6156 - Karma: 628
i'll come visit you in the hospital
Jan 30 2010 6:15PM
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kenzieann
Posts: 1535 - Karma: 391
the highway is super mellow. yeah some of the corners suck but compared to what it was? theres speed limits in place for a reason. so, if you were actually driving the speed limit the corners would be fine. however, i was commuting from whistler to vancouver to work at seymour in december and would always go quite quickly because i'd never leave myself enough time to get to work on time. even so there was no point on that highway that i felt like i was going to fly off into the trees or off the side of the road.

just think back about how horrible it was years ago, and then it got even worse as they were doing the construction. my first time driving it after getting home from whistler i was amazed! haha
Jan 31 2010 11:57AM
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