4 Reasons to Ski on Christmas Day

The holidays can be a crazy time of year, so why not ski on Christmas? Whistler Village is flooded with last-minute gift shoppers and holiday-makers frantically working through their family dinner shopping lists, all seemingly trying to compete for the same parking space. Christmas in Whistler is not for the introvert, not unless you were smart enough to stock up on presents, food and alcohol weeks ago.
But it’s also a great time to go skiing or snowboarding. So if you’ve finished your To-Do lists or just stopped giving a crap about material exchanges, head up the lifts of Whistler Blackcomb and escape the Christmas madness in the valley. Better yet, hit the backcountry for some holiday zen.

Here’s your 4 reasons to ski on Christmas Day.

1. No Crowds

The really big crowds don’t start to take over the resort until Boxing Day, so take advantage of the (relatively) vacant lift lines to score some hot laps. Christmas morning usually involves everyone else opening presents at home or otherwise starting to imbibe some holiday cheer, so get out early if you prefer to gorge on all the powder yourself. Having the Whistler hotels at 99 per cent occupancy and no crowds? Enjoy it while it lasts; by lunchtime most families are ready to get their money’s worth out of their lift tickets.

Santa ski on Christmas
Even Santa loves a good powder slash turn on Christmas Day | Photo by James Cattanach/ Coast Mountain Photography

2. The snow is (almost) always good

Christmas powder days are more often than not a sure thing, of course the last two winters are in a category of their own. This December has been the month of surprise powder days; when the snow report on the morning of has been two or even three times the amount of snow in the forecast. Christmas Eve (December 24th) received 13cm of new snow, so there’s plenty of good reasons to ski on Christmas Day. We’re having one of the best Decembers in recent memory in Whistler, so go get it!

powder ski on Christmas
When your friends are busy eating food and opening presents you be like… | Photo Vince Shuley

3. The absent family consolation

Some Whistlerites are lucky enough to be driving or flying home to their families this Christmas. Some families even fly out to spend Christmas with their Whistler-based sons and daughters. But every year, many Whistler locals and seasonal workers spend Christmas away from their loved ones. After all, someone has to keep the wheels of the service industry over the holidays.
What’s the best remedy for missing one’s friends and family this time of year? You guessed it – skiing and riding. Send a couple selfie-texts home with that big grin on your face after the best run of the day. That will make you feel better.

tree ski ski on Christmas
What better Christmas Tree than this? | Photo Vince Shuley

4. Surround yourself with Christmas Trees

Nothing says Christmas like a Holiday Tree. Forgo the lights, decorations and presents under that dying rod of cellulose in the living room and spend Christmas amongst the snow-ladened dendrites in the mountains. With a snow base depth approaching two metres, most tree runs are good to go. Just remember to partner up with a buddy when skiing the trees and keep an eye out for one another. Tree wells are one of the biggest killers in ski resorts, so stay safe and give those trees a wide enough berth.

Here’s hoping you get all the cheer  when you ski on Christmas. Happy Holidays from all of us at Mountain Skills Academy & Adventures.

Share this post