GO Green and GO compete in Whistler's Great Outdoors Festival

Whistler’s Great Outdoors Festival has added another component to its jam-packed outdoor recreation extravaganza: environmental citizenship.

Those who venture up to compete in a race or sports tournament, take in a concert or experiment with a new form of recreation—fly-fishing and Standup Paddleboard yoga clinics, to name just two—can also try an environmental adventure and learn about global warming, glaciation, West Coast ecosystems or fresh water habitats.

“We want to bring people into nature to really engage in conversations about environmental issues. It’s easier to connect with a concept when you can actually see how a glacier is receding, stand in the forest we want to protect or see the pools in the river where the salmon spawn. Everyone can do something to make a positive difference for our planet. We hope these environmental adventures will inspire positive action,” says Tina Symko, Environmental Coordinator, Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW).

This GO Green component opens with a talk from Beyond Boarding, a collective of environmental and human rights activists co-founded by David Suzuki’s grandson, Tamo Campos. The collective uses their passion for snowboarding to start protection initiatives for the planet.

“We work as storytellers trying to share those voices that aren’t often heard in the mainstream media,” says Hannah Campbell, Beyond Boarding co-founder.

Partnering with those most affected by climate change, Beyond Boarding has harnessed the power of digital media to demonstrate exactly how climate change impacts our planet on a human level. The presentation will feature Campos as a key speaker and will include a collection of short films the group has assembled of their work with indigenous communities and environments at risk.

Drawing on the components of The Great Snow-Earth-Water Race, the environmental adventure tours focus on three conservation themes: snow, earth and water.

Those interested in snow and climate change issues can sign up for an outdoor adventure with Arthur De Jong, Whistler Blackcomb Mountain Planning and Environmental Resources Manager. The group will ride the gondola to the top of Whistler Mountain and discuss how climate change is impacting mountains—and some of the potential solutions.

Covering off the “earth” component of the events, a thrilling zip-line ride through the old-growth coastal rainforest on Whistler and Blackcomb mountains will spark conversations about the importance of forests, wildlife, wilderness and biodiversity. And for those keen on a water-oriented excursion, a canoe ride down Whistler’s River of Golden Dreams will provide the ideal setting for discoveries about freshwater habitat, wetlands and water quality conservation issues.

GO Green is an initiative of the RMOW, organized as part of GO Fest, and comes out of the long-standing Whistler EnviroFest, a one-day showcase of family-friendly environmental initiatives hosted by local non-profit organizations and eco-friendly businesses.

Registration for all GO Fest events is now underway. Mountain bikers can sign up for the Jump Jam, race on a team in the Great Snow-Earth-Water or secure a spot in the opening round of the North American Enduro Tour (NAET), the GO Enduro.

The GO Enduro brings a new level of competition to GO Fest, running on the same terrain which earned Crankworx Whistler’s SRAM Canadian Open Enduro the 2014 Game Changer of the Year Award from Pinkbike, the number one mountain bike news site. A challenging race with professional riders like Yoann Barelli (Giant Factory Enduro Team), Jesse Melamed (Rocky Mountain Urge Team), Dylan Wolsky (Santa Cruz Team) and Mason Bond (Devinci/Alltricks.com Team) already registered to compete, spots are expected to go quickly.

NAET races are an excellent way for strong Enduro competitors to gain a toehold in top-tier competitive action, while still riding with friends on their favourite Whistler trails.

“It’s a good chance to race against some big North American racers. The Crankworx Enduro World Series race (the SRAM Canadian Open Enduro) is hard to get into. This being more recreational allows people a chance to race against some of the big players and get involved. It’s cool to ride with guys who are at the top of the sport and still just be hanging out with them. Whistler has such great trails, it’s nice to really show some of our trails to them,” says Jesse Melamed, winner of the Pemberton Enduro (April 2015) and 24th place in the 2014 EWS.

For those with multiple sport talents, or just a great crew of friends with skills, the classic Great Snow-Earth-Water Race is back for a second year after its GO Fest revival in 2014. A staple event in Whistler’s ’80s athletic scene, this original dash from mountain top to valley bottom combines a downhill ski or snowboarding leg, a downhill mountain bike component in the Whistler Mountain Bike Park, a run, canoe and cross-country bike. B.C. athletes know the mountain-to-lake or mountain-to-sea races are always a great community event. Try one in Whistler, the place that does mountain and lake recreation the best.

The DiscGo Disc Golf Tournament still has space. A two-day, Tier B event encompassing three 18-hole rounds of disc golf, the tournament has pro and amateur categories, and is sanctioned by the Professional Disc Golf Association. Register now to avoid disappointment.

Presented by Whistler Sailing Association, the GO Sail Regatta is held on Alta Lake, a unique landlocked location known for its mountain vistas and strong winds. Join a clinic in the morning, if you’re a novice, or have never sailed before, or polish your skills as a seasoned racer and race in the afternoon. Boats will be provided by the organizers.

A truly unique whitewater kayaking and rafting competition, The Great Cheakamus River Extreme Kayak Race offers a rare opportunity to watch top kayakers challenging Class 4+ rapids in a location where it’s possible to see all the action. Registration is still underway and spectators are invited to settle in at the start and finish line on the Upper Cheakamus River at House Rock, in the Whistler Interpretive Forest, less than 1 kilometer up Cheakamus Way.

New to GO Fest, the GO Fest Jump Jam is the only event on the Freeride Mountain Bike Association World Tour with a category for women. This FMB Bronze-level event will be a crowd pleaser with top freeride athletes expected to compete. Sign up or watch the action at the Whistler Dirt Jump Park.

An all-levels tournament with an open Men’s and Women’s division, GO Tennis will draw top talent from around B.C. This first-year tournament has an open category, for top players, with a $1000 prize pot. Intended to showcase The Whistler Tennis Academy, the tournament is unusual in that it includes seniors’, open and recreational category play. It is a Tennis BC-sanctioned event, and points from the tournament will be used for the B.C. and national rankings.

And for those looking to start the summer on the beach, GO Volley Fest will offer a co-ed four-on-four round robin tournament for recreational players, with an option for strong players to strut their stuff in a King or Queen of the Beach competition intended to flush out the best player—man or woman. This is a great event to come out and watch. Held at the Rainbow Park Volleyball Courts, it sits alongside Whistler’s multi-modal bike and pedestrian trail, the Valley Trail, and will be well-positioned for simultaneously watching the GO Sail Regatta.

Finally, The Great Slush Cup invites skiers and snowboarders to come surf the slush pit in this dress-to-impress event. The challenge: ski or board the slope and clear the slush pit without falling in a gaping pool of icy H2O. (Registration onsite)

GO Fest is still accepting applications to volunteer. Stay tuned for tomorrow’s GO Fest concert announcement.