🎉 New Year, New Adventures:
Trailblazing into 2025 with WAS! 🚵♂️
Happy New Year from all of us at Whistler Adventure School! As we kick off 2025, we’re gearing up for an exciting year of growth, learning, and adventure. Whether you’re dreaming of mastering trail building with our legendary instructor Dan Raymond, or balancing your love for biking with hands-on education, there’s never been a better time to join our vibrant community.
What’s Inside This Issue
🌲 Instructor Spotlight: Meet Dan Raymond, WORCA’s lead builder, and discover how his expertise shapes our Sustainable Trail Building course.
🚴♀️ Blog Highlight: “Balance Your Passion for Biking and Your Education” – Explore how WAS lets you learn and ride in Whistler’s mountain biking paradise.
💻 Virtual Info Sessions: Join us next month for online Q&As about studying in Canada, WAS programs, and life in Whistler.
📅 Upcoming Courses: Get ready for an exciting lineup of programs, from bike mechanics to branding and marketing.
2025 is your year to embrace new opportunities, fuel your passions, and immerse yourself in the ultimate adventure lifestyle. Let’s make it unforgettable together!
👉 Your journey begins now. Explore our programs and sign up for a virtual session today! 🚵♂️✨
The WAS Team
Meet Dan Raymond: Master Trail Builder
& WAS Instructor
At Whistler Adventure School, we’re proud to have Dan Raymond leading the Sustainable Trail Building course. With over 30 years of experience as a snow sports instructor and his role as the lead builder for WORCA (Whistler Off Road Cycling Association), Dan has played a pivotal part in shaping Whistler’s world-renowned biking trails.
Your Expertise in Action
- What’s the most exciting thing students will learn in your course?
“How to build a bridge using only materials harvested from nearby forests.” - One skill students leave confident in:
“Trails don’t build themselves! Every meter is crafted with creative problem-solving and sweat.” - How this course prepares students for real-world challenges:
“You’ll definitely come out of this class better prepared to spend time in the woods.”
Adding a Personal Twist
- What inspired you to teach at WAS?
“I loved the concept of cataloguing all the skills I use working in the forest. Like trail building, teaching was a unique challenge to create something impactful.” - Advice to students you wish you’d known earlier in your career:
“Nothing beats rock! Stone masonry is both fun and incredibly satisfying.” - If you could take any WAS course, which one would it be?
“Winter Guide’s Training! I love the backcountry and venturing further every time.”
Fun & Quirky
- Go-to trail snack or après-ski treat:
“Sour Patch Kids mid-ride or foraging trailside… followed by a Hazy IPA at après.” - If you were a piece of outdoor gear:
“A playful snowboard. Springy and floaty for that 3D ride.” - Something surprising about you:
“I was a member of the Canadian National Halfpipe Snowboarding Team from 2003 to 2010 and coached at the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Russia.” - One word students use to describe Dan’s teaching style:
“Enthusiastic!”
Join Dan in his Sustainable Trail Building course at Whistler Adventure School and learn how to create trails and bridges that blend seamlessly into nature—all while discovering the joy of building something lasting and impactful. 🌲🚵♂️
Live, Ride, and Learn in Whistler: Your Dream Education Awaits 🚴♂️✨
Balance Your Passion for Biking and Your Education
Imagine studying at one of the world’s premier mountain biking destinations while shredding legendary trails. At Whistler Adventure School (WAS), you can do exactly that. With flexible programs tailored for bikers and adventurers, WAS lets you balance your studies, career growth, and love for the ride.
From trail building and bike mechanics to branding and content creation, WAS equips you with hands-on skills to turn your passion into a profession—all while living the dream in a global mountain biking mecca.
Don’t just study—immerse yourself in an adventure-packed lifestyle surrounded by breathtaking scenery and like-minded individuals.
Your journey begins here! 🚴♀️✨
Join our Free Student Virtual Information Session
Every month, we host virtual group meetings multiple times a month, offering you a convenient opportunity to join us and inquire about our programs, the application process, and living in Whistler. Here are our upcoming sessions.
- Thursday January 23, 4:00pm Vancouver time – Q & A with a WAS student from Mexico.
- Monday February 3, 18:00 Europe (CET) 9:00 am Vancouver time – Bike Guide Training program
- Thursday February 13, 3:00pm Vancouver time – Focus on Marketing & Media & Job opportunities
- Monday, March 3, 18:00 Europe (CET) 9:00 am Vancouver time – Alpine Climbing course – with a current student – Adventure Tourism Summer
Don’t miss out – be sure to sign up for a session!
Sign up for a Virtual Info Sessions.
Make sure to sign up to our Facebook Group. We’ll be posting any opportunities in Whistler through this private group!
1. Log into Facebook
2. Search for “WAS Student Page”
3. Request to Join.
