A Local's View of Whistler: Cuz, Ski Rental Shop Owner

In 1986, the temptation of awesome skiing and incredible powder days lured me to Whistler after living in Lake Louise for several years. With an abundance of outdoor sports available right outside your door, Whistler is an awesome place to live and play.
When I arrived in Whistler in the mid 1980s, it was a lot smaller than it is today. The layout of Whistler Village with its many restaurants, bars and stores looks relatively similar. However, neither the Upper Village nor Village North existed back then. At Creekside, there were only a few accommodations and a couple of restaurants: the Southside Diner; RimRock Cafe; and Dusty’s Cantina (which was the first place I worked in Whistler). Today, Creekside Village is fully developed with hotels, condos, shops and restaurants as well as a new six-pack, high-speed gondola, which whisks skiers up Whistler Mountain. The community of Whistler is now home to 10,000+ sports-minded, active people.
 

Life is short… enjoy it while you can

Since 1992, I have been the owner of a successful ski, snowboard and bike rental company in Whistler — Spicy Sports. We have two locations in Whistler: our original shop at the Blackcomb base (next to the Wizard Chair) and our Whistler Village store (located by the bus and taxi loop). At Spicy, we have a large selection of men’s, women’s and kids’ high-performance rental equipment for all types of skiing and boarding.
From powder to groomers, whatever the mountain conditions may be, Spicy has the snowboard or ski for you. Our certified and experienced staff always recommend the best ski or snowboard equipment to enjoy the day’s mountain conditions. If the conditions change, we encourage you to switch up your rental equipment…for no extra charge. All of our ski and snowboard rental equipment is tuned and waxed daily. And our tuning centre offers superb tune-up and repair services at unbeatable prices.
In the winter, you can find me skiing powder in the high alpine or cruising the groomers around the mountains. With the Peak 2 Peak Gondola connecting the two ski hills, it is easy to access terrain on both mountains. At the end of the day, Merlins or Milestones Bar are great aprés spots for beverages and snacks. On the weekends, a local band, The Hair Farmers perform entertaining aprés shows — a must see for all who visit Whistler.
In the summer, I hike and mountain bike as much as possible. Hiking at the ski hill is amazing as the lifts grant you access to a massive network of trails that allow you to explore the spectacular alpine. Hike amidst towering peaks, hanging glaciers, serene lakes and wildflower-painted slopes. Enjoy a day hike or head out for a multi-day trek in the backcountry.
Whistler Mountain Bike Park is beyond compare and guarantees unbelievable memories. It offers a little something for all levels of riders. Whistler’s single-track valley riding is also second to none. Epic trails allow you to access every part of the valley, including the paved trail from Function Junction to Emerald Estates.
It is difficult to imagine living anywhere else. Most people who live in Whistler can’t leave here for any extended period of time. Those who do usually filter back to enjoy the AWESOMENESS that Whistler has to offer!