Debunking 2010 Myths

 
by Margo Pfeiff

Cocooned in a warm, fragrant spa suite, massage therapist Natalie Fremont stretches and kneads the tight calves and taut shoulders of an avid skier. "Because Whistler attracts so many serious athletes as well as Weekend Warriors, 70 per cent of our massages are therapeutic deep tissue," says the Four Seasons Resort Whistler therapist. "That is very high for a hotel spa where people are typically looking for relaxation treatments."

For that reason, and to give visitors a taste of the restorative remedies routinely lavished upon Olympic-calibre athletes, the Four Seasons Resort Whistler created an On the Podium Aprés Alpine package endorsed by a member of the Canadian Alpine Women's Ski Team. This 110-minute muscle-melting massage includes hot stones and steaming towel wraps - all to help you roar back onto the trails the next day.

Afterwards, you can head off – rubber-legged, likely – to sample the hotel's flaming "2010 Torch Cocktail," a quasi-athletic melange of pear purée, Monavie energy drink and lemongrass-infused vodka in a copper torch-inspired glass relayed to your table by a team of servers.

Although the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games don't officially start until February, Olympic Fever is already spreading across British Columbia with hotels, resorts, restaurants and shops offering Olympic-flavoured experiences.

Yet just as the excitement is building, so are misconceptions. Rumours and misinformation are fuelling the notion that visitors can't afford to visit BC before or during the 2010 Olympic Winter Games and that it will be too crowded. Not true. People also falsely believe they won't be able to experience the Games without a ticket to any of the events when, in fact, there is plenty going on to fuel the Olympic spirit. And much of it is free.

No tickets? Not to worry. There are numerous opportunities across Vancouver to catch the action - often without spending a dime. During the 2010 Winter Games, two downtown Vancouver LiveCity sites will feature live entertainment and concerts, gratis. These sites will also have giant screens to follow the Olympic action as will Country Houses like Atlantic Canada House and the city of Richmond's Holland Heineken House. Also in Richmond, the O Zone promises to be Party Central with skating, multicultural acts and interactive public art including an ice art installation. Looking for a 2010 Winter Games experience with a French twist? Granville Island will host Vancouver's "French Quarter," Place de la Francophonie - a celebration site for Francophone culture.

Have walking shoes at the ready, as some downtown streets are slated to become pedestrian thoroughfares. You can even bring your skates, since Robson Square's outdoor ice rink will re-open or nibble bannock and smoked salmon as BC's First Nations share their arts, crafts and stories at the 2010 Aboriginal Pavilion.

That's not to say you have to wait until the big party hits town. On the contrary – some pre-Games hotel deals already feature Olympic twists. In Vancouver's hip waterfront Yaletown neighbourhood, guests can check into the Opus Hotel for the 2010 Games Preview Package, a luxurious stay available until January 31st, 2010, which includes two nights in Opus' dramatic Penthouse Suite, a soaring floatplane flight over the city's Olympic venues and a Grouse Mountain zipline tour.

And speaking of overnights, accommodation is also still available at many hotels during the Games, which run February 12 - 28. Pan Pacific Whistler suites come complete with two pairs of the iconic 2010 Red Mittens; net proceeds from the knitted hand warmers worn by 12,000 torchbearers carrying the flame go towards Canadian athletes' equipment and training.

At the Four Seasons Resort Whistler, which also still has rooms during the Games, kids can attend their very own Gold Medal Camp for Little Champs with counsellors running Olympic-inspired games and activities including a special Wii Olympics Game Room.

Some of the Olympic overnighting options are intriguingly innovative like bedding down in a stateroom aboard the Norwegian Star – a cruise ship which will be moored in North Vancouver across from Stanley Park. Or make like a local and rent a house, condo, apartment or stay at a B&B. You can even reserve a spot to park your RV at Jericho or Spanish Bank beaches with a prime view over the city and North Shore mountains.

For real budget seekers, SameSun Backpacker Lodge in downtown Vancouver still has dorm-style accommodation available, while Hostelling International boasts dorm-style and even private rooms at its three Vancouver hostels. For a complete listing of accommodation options during the Games, check out www.2010destinationplanner.com. And remember, book sooner than later!

And just because these are Winter Olympics doesn't mean that access to BC's ski mountains will be limited. Even the host mountain resort of Whistler will be open to the public for skiing throughout the Games. Indeed, only a small percentage of Whistler Blackcomb's 200-plus runs will be used for training and competition during the Games period, leaving more than 90 per cent of the terrain open to the public. Skiers and boarders at Whistler Blackcomb can catch shows and updates at Skiers' Plaza, which is one of the Whistler Live! sites.

Just 15 minutes from downtown Vancouver, Grouse Mountain, Games-time home of NBC's Today show, will offer skiing, boarding, ziplining, theatre and even dining 24 hours a day throughout the Games. On Vancouver Island, Mount Washington Alpine Resort – the training site for 30 different Olympic and Paralympic teams from 13 countries – is teaming up with the seaside Tigh-Na-Mara Resort (near Parksville) to offer special 2010 packages.

Further afield, in champagne powder-endowed central BC, guests can taste the 2010 Winter Games with Big White Ski Resort's unique 2010 Cruise to Ski Package that starts with a cruise ship voyage from Los Angeles, stopping in at Victoria and Vancouver and finishing up with four days on their slopes.

Sun Peaks Resort in the Thompson Okanagan region has a solidly Olympic pedigree; not only has the Austrian Ski Team trained there since 2004, but Canadian Olympic Gold and Silver Medalist Nancy Greene is the Director of Skiing at Sun Peaks where she leads free mountain tours most weekends for anyone who wants to join in.

In all, there are a million reasons to come to BC. But come. You don't want to miss this party of a lifetime.

Getting Around:

Getting to Vancouver is already easier since Amtrak added a second daily train from Seattle. And with the opening of the brand new Canada Line, a rapid transit service that whisks you from Vancouver International Airport to downtown in 26 minutes, it's faster than ever to get around the Host City. As well, the Canada Line runs to the suburb of Richmond where a high-tech jewel, the Richmond Olympic Oval (the official speed skating venue for the 2010 Winter Games), is breaking records.

Take a road trip up the scenic, newly-upgraded Sea to Sky Highway and stroll the meandering lanes of Whistler Village. See the plaza where Olympic medals will be presented and hop a ride on the world record-holding PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola between Whistler and Blackcomb. Be aware that during the Games, from February 11 - 28, ALL vehicles traveling north of Squamish to Whistler between the hours of 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. will require a permit. See www.whistler2010.com for details. A better option for visiting Whistler during the Games? Private motorcoach. Visit www.ridebooker.com for details.

For more information on how to catch the Olympic spirit, or for more on British Columbia's destinations and travel information, call 1-800 HELLO BC® (North America) or visit www.HelloBC.com.

Contacts:

Amtrak: 800-872-7245, www.amtrak.com

Big White Ski Resort: 250-765-3101, 800-663-2772, www.bigwhite.com

Four Host First Nations: 778-327-5775, www.fourhostfirstnations.com

Four Seasons Whistler: 604-935-3400, www.fourseasons.com/whistler

Granville Island: 604-666-6477, www.granvilleisland.com

Grouse Mountain: 604-980-9311, www.grousemountain.com

Hostelling International, Vancouver: 888-203-4302, 604-684-4565, www.hihostels.ca

Mount Washington Alpine Resort: 250-338-1386, 888-231-1499, www.mountwashington.ca

Newwest Travel & Cruises (Norwegian Star): 800-661-7281, www.newwesttravel.com

Opus Hotel: 866-642-6787, www.opushotel.com

Pan Pacific Whistler: 604-905-2999, www.panpacific.com

SameSun Backpacker Lodge, Vancouver: 604-682-8226, www.samesun.com

Sun Peaks Resort: 250-578-7232, 800-807-3257, www.sunpeaksresort.
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