OAKLEY WEEK AT WHISTLER BLACKCOMB RECAP

Last week, for the fourth year in a row, Oakley Week went down on the slopes of the consistently ranked #1 ski resort in North America, Whistler Blackcomb in Whistler, B.C.

The festivities kicked off on Wednesday, when members of Team Oakley descended upon Canada’s Neverland for five days worth of events that members of the public could partake in and enjoy.

Throughout the week, the hard working staff at Oakley were posted up front and centre in Skier’s Plaza at the Prizm Lab, where skiers and snowboarders from all walks of life could kick back and relax while learning about the technology behind the one of best lens systems in the world, along with purchasing product on the spot.

High above, at the top of the Whistler and brand new Blackcomb gondolas, more friendly faces from Oakley were waiting to greet people in a duo of demo tents, where patrons could try out the latest and greatest goggles, free of charge.

And throughout it all, Oakley and Whistler Blackcomb teamed up to drop treasure hunt-themed clues on their social media channels about where one could find a coveted Golden Ticket, which could be redeemed for a Santa Claus-style sack of free product from Oakley.

In terms of the day-to-day, things really got going on Thursday under picture-perfect bluebird skies during the Pro Shoot, which went off in Blackcomb’s Highest Level Terrain Park, which has been sculpted to perfection by the artists at Whistler Parks.

On hand were a laundry list of who’s who in the snowboard world, including Olympic and X Games medalists Jamie Anderson, Seb Toots, Sage Kostenburg, Ståle Sandbech and more, who proceeded to lay waste to the park in preparation for this week’s Burton U.S. Open in Vail, Colorado.

Following a healthy does of après and a filling meal at the Brewhouse, the athletes aimed for the Oakley Week Kickoff Party at Maxx Fish, where a stampede of super stoked fans took advantage of the opportunity to rub shoulders with their heroes until the wee hours of the morning. Then on Friday, Team Oakley foggily, both figuratively and literally, awoke to snowy skies, which were welcomed and much-needed after a week-long drought in Whistler, and allowed local legend and ski/snowboard switch-hitter Sean Pettit (who opted to don a single plank for the proceedings) to show his teammates around his home turf for some serious pow surfing.

The overcast skies also provided an ample opportunity for everyone to try out Oakley’s all-new, throwback-style Persimmon Prizm lens, which after sampling ourselves, we can confidently give a resounding two thumbs up to.

Once everyone was warmed up, a brand new offering at Oakley Week, the Snake Run, was the name of the game, as members of the public lined up alongside the athletes at the top of the skiercross course, which had been modified with tabletop jumps, gaps, rails, boxes and a hip at the bottom that seamlessly flowed into the superpipe.

Thanks to the morning’s snowfall, the first few kicks at the can were extra special, as the powder-filled course provided a blank canvas for those who scored first tracks to get their slash on in the litany of berms that lined the run, which plastered many a smiles on people's faces.

In the afternoon, high-fives were slapped even harder, as to everyone’s pleasant surprise, Mother Nature opted to change course by abruptly parting the heavens, which gave way to bluebird skies for all to enjoy, before Team Oakley descended to the Village to Hy’s Steakhouse for dinner, where a friend to all, Mark Warner of the Low Pressure Podcast, served up a storm.

And to cap things off, a portion of the crew got to spend Saturday in a whirlybird, sampling some high-alpine freshness in nearby Pemberton with No Limits Heli Adventure, followed by a succulent supper at Legs Diamond (which is owned and operated by the legendary Greg “Groovemeister” Pettit, Sean and Callum Pettit’s father), much to the delight of those in attendance… although it’s safe to assume that anyone and everyone who had the pleasure of partaking in Oakley Week is already counting the days until next year.

Big thanks to everyone at Oakley, Whistler Blackcomb and the Delta by Marriot Whistler Village Suites for having us and our brothers-in-arms at King Snow (check out their recap by clicking here), and be sure to give the good people at Oakley a follow at @oakley, @oakleyskiing and @oakleysnowboarding.