OUT OF BOUNDS KICKS OFF WITH RECORD TURNOUT

Nothing beats dressing up for a party, and Whistlerites showed their colours at the Whistler Arts Council (WAC)’s Cabin Fever Launch Party on Tuesday, September 24, for Out Of Bounds: Tales From The Backcountry. An abundance of checks and tartan permeated Millennium Place, kicking off the 32-day photography and topsheet contest. A record 350 plus people showed up in their finest plaid and old school ski wear to rub shoulders with some of BC’s best artists and winter backcountry photographers, and to vote for their favourite piece of work.

“It was an amazing turnout,” says event organizer Andrea Mueller. “The gallery was full of people getting excited for the upcoming ski/board season. We worked hard to market the event this year and came up with the theme of Cabin Fever thinking it would be something that people in Whistler could relate to and it turns out we were right. Apparently everyone in Whistler owns at least one item of plaid or an ugly ski jacket. I never thought I would see so much plaid all in one place.”

To help party-goers and voters get inspired, Mueller and the staff at WAC transformed the Scotia Creek Gallery into a rustic ski cabin, complete with animal trophies, wooden walls, a singing fish, and old furniture. DJ Praiz kept the vibe running high as attendees donned faux fur hats and stoles and posed in front of a fake wilderness scene, in between voting for their favourite backcountry photo and Prior topsheet design, and chowing down on Creekbread pizza. Prizes and giveaways were handed out, and raffle winners won a Canadian Snowmobile trip, Burton boots, bindings and bag from Showcase, and a Helly Hansen jacket.

With over 350 attendees, a lineup outside Millennium Place was necessary, one of the firsts in the building’s history. Over 650 votes were cast for both the topsheet and photography contest, and that’s just the beginning. The contest runs until October 25, when the winner of the photography contest will receive a Backcountry Snowcats tour, and the topsheet winner will receive a custom snowboard or pair of skis from Prior. Voters also get to cash in on a prize. One lucky public voter will also win a Prior snowboard or a pair of skis.

And that’s just the beginning. Out Of Bounds: Tales From The Backcountry encapsulates more than just contests.

Fall Whistler Outdoor Photography Summit

For any aspiring photographer looking for insider tips on how to shoot anything in the outdoors, from action to landscape, sign up for Blake Jorgenson’s Outdoor Photography Summit workshops, held at Millennium Place from September 26th to 29th. Blake and his esteemed colleagues Jordan Manley, Scott Serfas, and Eric Berger will guide, mentor, and discuss the golden nuggets every outdoor photographer needs to know. For more information, visit whistlerphotosummit.com.

iF3

For the first time, the International Freeski Film Festival hits Whistler, landing at Millennium Place on Saturday, October 12th for one packed day of festivities, featuring premieres of the year’s eleven best ski movies, including Sherpas Cinemas’ Into The Mind. Visit if3.ca for full details.

Ski Films

On Saturday, October 19th, Doglotion presents TGR’s Way Of Life. Rounding out the series is Matchstick Productions’ McConkey on October 30th. Full details can be found at artswhistler.com.

Photo by Joern Rhode