Whistler’s new spring festival – GO Fest, Whistler’s Great Outdoors Festival –has revealed more events including The Whistler Film Festival’s Adventure Film Series; the GoPro GoShow filmmaker competition, presented by Whistler Blackcomb; and The Chairlift Revue, a humorous showcase of live theatre taking on decidedly Whistler themes. Additional outdoor adventure clinics have also been added to the calendar including GO SUP, a recreational stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) event, GO Fish featuring free fly fishing demos and TaG Cycling’s Whistler Long Course Triathlon Training Camp.
Whistler Film Festival’s Adventure Film Series features 19-films from five countries comprised of a selection of the world’s best independent outdoor adventure films that cover topics from extreme sport to activism through adventure. The films will be presented at Millennium Place with eight screenings over three days from Friday, May 16 through Sunday, May 18. Among the films’ themes are Sailing, Surfing, Climbing, Mountain Climbing, Freeskiing, Mountain Biking and Paddling. All films are Whistler premieres and family friendly, and all are rated G (General) or PG (Parental Guidance).
Another event sure to ignite inspiration for outdoor adventure is the GoPro GoShow, presented by Whistler Blackcomb. This inaugural film competition will see six filmmakers compete for one grand prize of $2,500, and the title of becoming Whistler’s first GoPro GoShow Champion. The goal of each three to five minute film is to capture the essence of May in Whistler using the world’s most versatile camera to showcase experiences on snow, trails and water.
The selected filmmakers will each receive a GoPro Hero 3+ Black Edition camera and accessories, and will have three days to shoot and edit their submission. The event will culminate with a showing of each film on Sunday, May 18 at the Garibaldi Lift Co. at 7pm, followed by an afterparty. Interested filmmakers can email Whistler Blackcomb Public Relations at [email protected] to apply.
More outdoor adventure has been added to the GO Fest sport schedule as well including GO SUP, a recreational stand up paddleboarding (SUP) event on Nita Lake with demos and trial sessions from local SUP manufacturer, Beaver Boards, followed by a BBQ at Nita Lake Lodge. GO Fish is another exciting addition featuring two days of free fly fishing demos and an instructional session at the Patagonia Store led by fly casting instructor, Aaron Goodis.
The Whistler Long Course Triathlon Training Camp with TaG Cycling will give participants the opportunity to ride and learn on Whistler’s triathlon course with Olympians and World Champions. The coaches include Olympic cyclists Lesley Tomlinson, Gina Grain, Chrissy deVall, as well as special guest coach World Amateur Triathlon Champion Rachel McBride. Whether cyclists are training for a triathlon, or are just looking for an opportunity to ride faster and more efficiently, this fully supported camp experience will deliver results. Check out this link for the full event line-up at GO Fest: http://www.greatoutdoorsfest.com/gofest-sport.php
It wouldn’t be a Whistler festival without free concerts and GO Fest has it covered on the Village Square Main Stage. Besides the headlining concert by Juno award-winning rock band The Sheepdogs kicking off all the action on Friday, May 16, musical acts The Boom Booms, DJ Foxy Moron, She Stole My Beer, Gordo, Blame It On The Weekend and Coloured Sky will all take their place on-stage over the course of GO Fest May 16-19.
GO Fest is an initiative of the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) and is funded through the Province of British Columbia’s Resort Municipality Initiative. GO Fest is part of the RMOW’s Festivals, Events and Animation program, and is one component of the larger May Long Weekend strategy. May is one of the best months of the year to participate in all the activities that make Whistler an amazing destination, and GO Fest’s four-day schedule of active, family-friendly programming celebrates Whistler’s great outdoors and the convergence of winter and summer recreation activities. More information about GO Fest is available at www.greatoutdoorsfest.com.
