Eleven years after Whistler and Blackcomb mountains combined as a single resort, the Peak2Peak gondola opened today linking the two mountains for the first time.

The opening includied a televised base jump from infamous freestyle skier and adrenaline junkie, Shane McConkey.

Long awaited snow was falling from early morning but barely managed to dampen the carnival atmosphere. Whistler organised crowd entertainers dressed in bizarre outfits from large furry animals to the mountains themselves with even a few dressed as gondola cabins.

The world’s media lined up in the cold and once the first ribbon was cut, many were seen jostling to get a good seat on the first ‘VIP’ gondolas.

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There was high level support from Kevin Falcon, Minister of Transportation and Honourable Gary Lunn, Minister of State for Sport. Canadian singer Ali Milner led the crowd with in the national anthem but the organisers had also remembered to engage at every level.

The first gondola across from Blackcomb to Whistler was filled with 22 local residents nominated by the community ranging in age from three to 90. The seats on the first gondola from Whistler to Blackcomb were secured via an auction benefiting charities in the Vancouver region, raising $22,000.

The overt media message today was about changing the skiing at Whistler Blackcomb forever. Whilst the new lift has been received with mixed feelings – some feel the money could have been spent in better ways – this new lift makes skiing here very convenient indeed.

For skiers heading out to Whistler this season, it will certainly make a difference. No more being on the ‘wrong’ mountain towards the end of the day or skiing in the shade watching the sun shine on the slopes across the valley.

At a higher level, for Whistler Blackcomb, this has been the start of the pageant that will culminate with the 2010 Winter Olympics. An estimated 10,000 people tuned in to see the live webcast and with the eyes of the world on them, Whistler Blackcomb has shown it is taking the Olympics seriously and that it full intends to make them a national success.

Kate Whittaker is managing director of Maddogski.com which has published a pocket sized guide to Whistler, one of nine guides