There are so many great activities in Whistler in the summer – biking, hiking, ATV tours, fishing, jet boating, white water rafting to name a few. One of the favorite sports amoung locals and visitors alike is people watching. On any nice day you will find the many patios along the village stroll filled with people talking, laughing and watching the passers by. People watching is fun, relaxing and can be enjoyed by just about anybody.
In the winter the patios aren’t always as comfortable but you can grab your Whistler ski equipment rentals, head up the lift and have a great time watching people from there.
Many people go on ski vacations in South Lake Tahoe and think all they need is their ski rentals. Of course, this is all you truly need to get on the slopes. However, many Heavenly rental shops offer “survival packs” that contain supplies to keep you safe and comfortable through a variety of conditions.
These “survival packs” usually cost around $15-20 and contain items that are invaluable to a South Lake Tahoe ski vacation. First off, sunscreen and medicated lip gloss are esential in the Sierra Nevadas. The sun shines well over 300 days a year and the sun can be ferociously strong. Even on cloudy days, you can quickly get a nasty sunburn on your face. The same applies to medicated lip gloss. Just as you protect your skin, you will want to do the same for your lips.
Also, hand and toe warmers are included in these ski rental “survival packs”. Now Tahoe skiing can often be warm, but many times it is not. The weather can quickly change from sunny to windy and cloudy in just a few moments. Having hand and toe warmers can keep you more comfortable for longer. And thus, keep you on the hill longer.
The final essential in “survival packs” are energy bars and power shots. Lets face it. We won’t be spending $15 ona cheeseburger everyday. Power bars and energy shots are extremely helpful when your energy levels are running low.
Skiers that want to be prepared for a variety of conditions can rest assured that the “survival pack” is the way to go. For the extra $15 or so, you are buying all the extras that will keep you comfortably skiing all day. I wonder if there is anything that ski rental shops can offer to make the “survival pack” even more of a must have for all skiers and riders.
No matter where you go in Whistler this summer you can hear the growl of the machines and see the dust flying. It’s on the highway, it’s in the parks, it’s at the lakes. In preparation for the Olympics, Whistler is tearing down and building, building, building. One wonders if they’ll ever get done. Our ears wait for weekends when the construction workers take a break and the squeaks are temporarily silenced.
All should be complete for the 2010 Olympics in February or even by the start of the ski season in November. Don’t forget to grab your gear at the Whistler Ski Rental Shop.
My laptop computer recently had a major meltdown. Completely terrified of losing my data, I procrastinated for several weeks before I had a technician come to my home. He told me to just call Dell and they would resolve the problem. I was very skeptical at first because of the lengthy phone call to India I was about to make. When I finally got through I was connected with an excellent customer service agent of whom I can’t remember his name. Over the course of our hour-long phone call, I was instructed to unscrew the computer and start inspecting/testing the different computer. We quickly narrowed it down to a malfunctioning microprocessor. I was then notified that the new parts would be sent out immediately and a local technician(probably the same guy at Tahoe Tech) would come to my house and fix the computer free of charge. I do have to say I was pleasantly surprised at the outcome. It reminds me of a local South Tahoe ski rental shop and how they deliver quality ski rental in the comfort of your accommodations. It is amazing that this company has a Net Promoter Score that 30% higher than Dells’. They provide unrivaled tech support for any problem with their ski rentals. I can’t believe that a ski rental delivery company could have an NPS score that much higher than a computer manufacturer like Dell. Especially after the excellent customer support that I had just received!
Every Sunday starting on Fathers Day in June and running until Thanksgiving in October, open from 11-4, shoppers can enjoy the diverse offerings of the Whistler Farmers Market. It’s one of the best places to buy freshly baked pies, bread, cookies and other goodies – but get there early, they sell out fast. There are many talented artists selling gorgeous hand-made jewelry, knitted and crocheted clothing, patio furniture, ceramics, paintings and more. And don’t forget to stock up on the fresh produce – fresh picked berries and other fruits and veggies and don’t pass by the fresh kettle corn.
You can find the Farmers Market in the Upper Village in front of the Fairmont Chateau and the many Whistler Ski Rental shops.
Of all the seasonal events in Lake Tahoe, the American Century Celebrity Golf Tournament at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course draws the largest crowds. People come from all over to watch celebrities like Michael Jordan, John Elway and Charles Barkeley massacre the golf course. These celebrities are treated as kings in South Lake Tahoe for a week and some say they aren’t the best tippers. Who would of thunk it? All that aside, perhaps these celebrities will come to town next winter and rent some quality ski rentals. I know golfing has much less-impact than skiing but why doesn’t our local resort sponsor more winter time events that draw these insane crowds.
The newest addition to the Tahoe fast food market is Jack-in-the-Box. The company has done a great job of hyping up their new location in the center of South Lake Tahoe. The restaurant facility is immaculate and blends in perfectly with the Gondola Village. Last weekend, the restaurant chain had flown in 140 people to stay at Harrah’s Casino and play a round of golf at Edgewood Tahoe. Though it seems that lavish corporate outings are a thing of past, Jack-in-the-Box, perhaps one of the fastest growing fast food retailers, spared no expense in treating their upper level employees to a action packed weekend in Tahoe. I wonder if the company will have another corporate outing in the winter. I thought I might contact the appropriate personnel and offer our ski rental delivery services at the next Jack-in-the-Box Heavenly ski rental outing.
So many small things affect the tourism industry – especially in the smaller ski resort areas that depend solely on the tourists for their livelihood, like Whistler, BC. Some of these factors include the economy, the weather, changing identification requirements at international borders, and so many more. So many businesses are affected by these factors – Whistler ski rental shops, hotels, restaurants, bike rentals, clothing shops, etc. These businesses can do the best job marketing but still have no control over the number of people who visit their resort.
A good friend of mine that works for Tahoe’s largest resort, has gone on an extended trip to South America to recruit employees for next ski season. She will travel to Santiago, Chile, to Buenos Aires, Argentina and Sao Paulo, Brazil. Now this is confusing to me because 99% of the people recruited have now little to no skiing ability and zero on-snow experience. I don’t understand my major U.S. resorts, particularly in California, recruit non-english speaking, inexperienced workers to operate the majority of mountain facilities and services.
On a different note, the recruitment team was also traveling with several hundred sets of ski rentals that would be sold to area ski shops in Chile, Argentina and Brazil. Whats interesting is that they will sell those rentals for more than they paid plus they have 3+ years of usage. Its amazing that new equipment and technology don’t reach the southern hemisphere for years after they are initially developed. It seems quite profitable to start a company that delivers old Ski Rentals from the U.S. to less developed countries.
After a short weekend trip to Napa, I returned home to find my house and cars covered in a thick layer of pollen. After settling in, I decided to hose off the cars and the house. During this lengthy endeavor, I found myself in the midst of an allergy attack. I retreated inside for some relief from my growing congestion and checked the status of some heavenly ski rentals I have posted for sale online. Amazingly, a couple of sets of ski rentals have drawn interest from several different people. It’s amazing that even in the dead heat of Summer amidst a pollen blast, Tahoe locals are already looking for deals on old ski rentals.