New Superpipe Opens For Night Riding at Whistler Blackcomb

In it's short lifetime it has hosted the world's best and survived Mother Nature's worst, and now Whistler Blackcomb's second Superpipe is in the spotlight again as it officially opens to the public for night riding. Originally constructed for the 2005 Snowboard World Championships that took place last month, the Super Night Pipe has been closed for the past three weeks following heavy rains that resulted from January's bizarre Pineapple Express storm. With winter conditions returning to normal, the Super Night Pipe has opened to the public. "The only thing better than a Superpipe is a second Superpipe, fully lit for night riding," says Peter "YP" Young, Events Manager at Whistler Blackcomb. "With the extraordinary weather we had in January, we weren't able to open the Super Night Pipe since it is near the base of the mountain and we lost a lot of snow at the lower elevations. But now that winter is back, we are lighting up the night skies." The new Superpipe's will also be popular with professional athletes, photographers and filmmakers for the unique shooting opportunities nighttime shoots will afford. Whistler Blackcomb's two Superpipes are on Blackcomb Mountain. The Nintendo Superpipe is near the Highest Level Terrain Park, and the new Super Night Pipe is at Base II, just above the Magic Chair. The Super Night Pipe is open during Whistler Blackcomb's Night Moves on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights from 5-9pm. Access is from Blackcomb's Base II parking lot, or via the Magic Chair. One lift pass gives skiers and riders access to the Super Night Pipe, the Magic chair lift, and rails and jibs set up around the chair lift. To build the Super Night Pipe, Whistler Blackcomb's snowmaking team installed new snowmaking pipe lines last summer, including six hydrants, three super wizard and one wizard snow guns. Wiring for 10 light towers mounted with a total of twenty-six 1000 watt lights was also installed.