They fixed the main Saddle sign so it's marked black now but the maps still have it marked blue.. I'm an early intermediate (at best) and got done lapping Harmony a few times and headed over to the Saddle, the other blue on the map. Saw that it was a black but figured, what the hell I'll give it a go. Made two turns, ate it and slid the rest of the way down on my face, straight through the edge markings and into the powder. Thanks Rob Katz
I skiied it when it was ice rink consistency the other week and ended up bailing after a couple Turns and sliding for what felt like an eternity on my side 😂
thanks for the video review. My favorites on Whistler! The Saddle freshly groomed, in good light, on GS skis is a special treat. I love lapping Symphony to come thru JOJ. Love P2P when groomed top to bottom. In awe of the 70+ year olds lapping it multiple times per day, 2 or 3 top to bottoms and my legs are jelly... Hoping for more snow in the coming weeks. Stay safe!
Love the saddle! No need to carve that one, I went from top to bottom dead straight. Epic! Those lines are longer than at Christmas time! Great video again dude! Love it :)
Enjoying this classic video again while basking in the glory of a perfect Whistler Blackcomb groomer bluebird day yesterday, absolutely legendary day for me as a lover of sun and corduroy
Wow awesome !!! thanks for sharing and doing it ... we are going to Whistler in 5 days and were wondering which runs we should try since there is so many, and your video truly help us make up our mind. thank you. Keep shredding !!!!!!
So happy that it was helpful. Whistler is massive and it's way more fun if you have a little bit of a plan. I've got some written posts and maps on riseandalpine.com/. Have an amazing 5 days!!
You and Lucas Catania need to start collaborating, you guys are doing amazing things for our community. Check him out and see what you think... maybe a US trip is in the making ?
James, your vids are a refreshing change. Entertaining and gets me stoked for my next trip there. Whistler Blackcomb is by far my fav resort. Where's the hot sauce shot?
my first run ever on whistler mt was the saddle. it was freshly groomed, and my dad and i were practically the first two on it. nobody else was around and we totally ripped down it. definitely one of the most memorable runs I've skied, and it's what i think of when i think of whistler blackcomb :)
Awesome vid. I'd always thought of making vids of the different runs in the different resorts I visit but I don't ride as well as you to make it interesting, hahahah.
Hey Mark! You don't have to be a great rider to make awesome videos. It's all about having fun. Personally, I'd love to see some guides for other resorts!!!
Friends don’t let friends ski The Saddle. Ever. It’s only purpose is the entry to a high (steep AF) traverse back to Roundhouse from peak if you’re late for your lunch slot. Pro-Tip Roundhouse has courtesy mayonnaise if you want to up your Fresh Street cheese sandwich game.
Loving your videos getting ready for my trip to Canada and 2 days in Whistler. Guessing the answer is noooo way but is the Saddle the same / similar steepness as the black to get to the ice cave… can't wait for my adventure. Only skied Fernie so far in Canada have skied lots in Europe
Great video. Going to give some of those runs a go. Camera whilst you were skiing was super bouncy. You should get an Insta360 one x2 camera. That’ll give you buttery smooth footage.
Dude, are you getting sponsor by Whistler Blackcomb? We get it is an amazing place converted to Disneyland during ski season! But blessed that Canada is soo big and soo many ski resorts around BC.........Many skiers like me we decided to find differents ski resorts due to the insane crowed WB!
Hey Fernando, I'm not sponsored by Whistler... I'm sure the marketing department appreciates my efforts 😂 😂 😂 I agree that we are super lucky to have so many amazing resorts in Canada. I grew up skiing in Manning Park BC and didn't even know what a line was. I've become a more patient person thanks to whistler LOL. The terrain and proximity to Vancouver keep me coming back regardless of how frustrating the weekend crowds can be!
oh. I took my friends down saddle last weekend because "it's a blue guys! Just a steep blue but no biggie" and I think they hated it 🤣 now I know it's classified as a black but I'll continue tricking my friends into going down with me 😈😈
Ha! Had that happen to me somewhere else I followed a blue and I came up on what is essentially a wall going down. It was icy too so I bailed and hiked back, hahahah! If it had softer snow I would have went in. But I did see a skier 3/4 the way down really struggling so I said, "today is not the day!"
“Oh, it’s hardpack” - Hahaha…ahhh….not out here in the North East bro. That would be called “Soft carvable groomed granular”….*lol* When it’s a sea of chicken heads and boiler-plate, then it MAY…..qualify. Nice vid Homie.
Hahaha Soft Carvable Groomed Granular!!!! I absolutely love it. You guys out east have so many wicked names for icy stuff LOL Thanks for tuning in bro!
theres a hill in ontario called searchmont and its got this run called "moose difficult" and its like a back trail run and on a snowy day its beautiful. if there are any runs like that, those would be nice to see. moose difficult is a black diamond but its still a pretty chill run. wouldnt mind seeing runs like that if there are any. i get the season is almost over lol not expecting anything lol moose difficult is probably close this time of year anyway cause its so out of the way, its too far for the snow makers.
All great runs, but for Ego Bowl, you only showed heading towards and down Green Acres (which is also a great run when groomed). You could have popped a clip of actual Ego Bowl!!
@@riseandalpine I was talking to a few of the staff last year and they said its crazy how desperate places are for people but wont pay well so they cant even live up there
Harmony Piste is better than Harmony Ridge, Harmony Ridge is practically a cat track till the end then over Krakatoa is better when they groom it. The whole Peak To Creek when it’s groomed. Lower Franz’s. On Blackcomb Gear Jammer, Ross’s Gold, Cat Skinner, Groomers on 7th Heaven, Back Stag Pass to Rock & Roll on Chrystal.
You know the goods! Harmony piste is great for shredding but I'm a sucker for the views and the gun barrels combo! I love everything on your list minus Lower Franz... 99% of the time that runs is HELL hahaha!!
@@riseandalpine I only hit lower Franz’s when groomed, and it just so happened yesterday Lower Peak to creek was groomed and I hit it twice my level 6 class. The air you get off the rollers are second to none.
Gear jammer when groomed = funnest rollers (though I see your comment about p2c rollers when groomed - somehow I never managed to luck into that!). Love that feeling of getting massive air, and halfway through starting to panic thinking "when the hell am I going to land???" My fave groomers on Whis were probabaly all off garbo . Dave Murray into (groomed) Bear Paw. That off camber right hand turn is wild. Ptarmigan if you are lucky. I can honestly say that Lower Franz was horrid ice 99% of the time I skied it - interesting its one of your faves!
@@riseandalpine its good conent! plus that lucas catalina has 50k subs and the dude cant even ski. i figure gotta help the local boy out with the algo a bit!