 It was pretty unprecedented and the locals were overjoyed. On Blackcomb's Excalibur gondola lift the next day excitement levels were high as we watched the joy of the skiers below seeming to float over the fresh snow. There were also many helpful shouts of 'just up the slope on your left, mate' to those whose glide down had been ended by a freshly formed mogul and were hunting a lost ski or pole. I have skied in fresh powder before, but this was on another level. The nerves kicked in and at first I didn't know how to handle it. I actually felt like a beginner again. Thankfully, I had ski guide Peter from Extremely Canadian to, metaphorically, hold my hand. With patient explanation, he helped me adapt my style to the conditions and reminded me that I actually do know how to ski. We made our way down Jersey Cream Road, a green run and by the end my confidence had return){kind=link}
At more than 6,562ft high, the Whistler and Blackcomb mountains that form this British Columbia ski destination have some of the best and most exciting sky runs in the world
There are a few things that really make a great skiing holiday.
One is hired ski boots that are close to comfortable. Another is a perfectly positioned slopeside hotel, avoiding that exhausting trek back, lugging gear designed for gliding down a mountain.
But best of all is fresh powder. The first two can be easily sorted with good planning, but the last is in the hands of Mother Nature.
And she was clearly in a good mood the day we arrived in Canadian ski resort Whistler because she had laid on a welcome present of an overnight fall of nearly 2ft of new snow.