Another year, another year of questions and answers!
In the 1980s the Whistler Question began posing a question to three to six people and publishing their responses under “Whistler’s Answers” (not to be confused with the Whistler Answer). Each week, we’ll be sharing one question and the answers given back in 1985. Please note, all names/answers/occupations/neighbourhoods represent information given to the Question at the time of publishing and do not necessarily reflect the person today.
Some context for this week’s question: On February 9, 1985, Whistler Mountain celebrated it’s 20th birthday (though the mountain did not open for skiing until January 1966, there was work being done on the ski hill from 1964) with a whole day of events. Learn more about the events here.
Question: Whistler is 20 years old. How does it feel?
Seppo Makinen – Logger (logged first ski runs) – Nesters
Really good. It’s nice to see. You know, I cut the first runs there. I started in April of 1964 and I had my tent set up just over there beside the timing hut (at the Gondola).
Franz Wilhelmsen – Whistler Mountain Founding President – Vancouver
I think it’s fantastic. It has fulfilled everyone’s wildest dreams I think, and I know the original board of directors is very pleased. No, there was never any apprehension, except perhaps when we couldn’t get the money at the start, but once it got rolling we knew it would work.
Stefan Ples – Retired (co-ordinated first construction) – Garibaldi Highlands
It’s progress – there’s still a lot of potential. We are still at the beginning – 14,000 people is nothing. It’s the same as Europe was 35 years ago – we had so few lifts compared to what there are now. It’s hardly started.
I worked for Garibaldi Lifts in the late 60s and met all three of the pioneers highlighted above. What a dream it was to be involved in the early development of Whistler Mt. Loved it! To see it today is beyond belief that it has progressed(?) this far. It might be an age thing but I think I like my memories from the past better for the tight community we had back then.