Whistler Blackcomb extends ski season after above average snowfall

A skier plows though the snow during a powder on Whistler mountain in Whistler, B.C. (Jonathan Hayward / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

Good news for skiers and snowboarders alike: Whistler Blackcomb has decided to extend its ski season for an extra week given the above average snowfall in 2016.

“We couldn’t be happier with how the season has unfolded,” said Doug MacFarlane, director of mountain operations, in a statement.

“We are thrilled the conditions have allowed us to offer our guests an additional seven days of great spring skiing and snowboarding.”

The closing date of Blackcomb is now May 30, while Whistler Mountain’s last day of winter operations will remain April 17.

After a 2015 ski season that could best be described as lackluster, 2016 has been the opposite.

Whistler Blackcomb has received 1,177 centimetres of snowfall this season, already surpassing the 10-year annual average by almost 15 centimetres.

“So far in March alone we have seen 292 centimetres of snow, which is well above the March average of 241,” McFarlane said. “We couldn’t be happier with how the season has unfolded.”