Superpipes and free skiing at Whistler Telus festival

The TELUS World Ski and Snowboard Festival is back for its 17th season, April 13-22, with a mind-blowing blend of genres to suit all tastes in sport, music and art. Blackcomb’s Highest Level Terrain Park hosts the World Skiing Invitational/Association of Freeskiing Professionals World Championship slopestyle and superpipe contests. These crown a season of international competitions that stretch back to the Winter X Games. Skier’s Plaza is the site of all the free music entertainment, and is big enough to accommodate 15,000-plus fans. Come sundown, the Big Air and The Shred Show competitions are spotlighted in front of standing-room-only crowds and jam-packed patios. Nearby, nightly displays of photography, fashion and fine arts crown the marquee at the Whistler Conference Centre. (http://www.wssf.com)