Whistler Expert Terrain: Chutes, Bowls and Steep Lines Explained

If you ski black diamonds for breakfast, Whistler Blackcomb has a lot more to offer. Here is a safe way to approach the resort's expert terrain.

Bowls and open faces

• Whistler's Peak bowls and the Glacier Bowl are great in both powder and corn snow.
• Flute and Oboe offer sidecountry-style skiing accessible from lifts, depending on avalanche conditions and resort status.
• Blackcomb's Showcase and Blackcomb Glacier faces are huge, open and exposed.

Steeps and chutes

• The Chutes off the Peak are tight, steep and best approached with local knowledge.
• Spanky's Ladder and Couloir Extreme are classic expert zones. They demand solid technique and good conditions.

Safety first

Expert terrain means expert consequences. Check the daily avalanche bulletin, carry a beacon, shovel and probe if you go beyond patrolled boundaries, and never ski alone. Respect closures and signage.

Technique for steep skiing

• Stay forward and commit to your turns.
• Use jump turns on narrow chutes.
• Stop above cliffs rather than below them.

Gear for the steeps

A stiffer, slightly wider ski with sharp edges makes steep terrain much easier. You can rent high-performance skis and avalanche gear locally instead of buying or flying with it.

Need gear for your Whistler trip?

Browse ski and snowboard rentals in Whistler from local owners, see everything on our Whistler gear rental page, or request the gear you need and let locals come to you.