Mikey Rencz riding on Rat Fink the day before opening day
Mikey Rencz riding on Rat Fink the day before opening day
Whistler Blackcomb kicked off the 2017/2018 winter season yesterday Friday November 17th having received 198 centimetres (78 inches/6.5 feet) of snow falling in the previous seven days.

A resort spokesperson described the result as, "incredible mid-winter like conditions."

Although Whistler's reported snow accumulation is the biggest so far, other ski areas in Western North America have reported several feet of snow. Mammoth in California has come closest with 1.8m/6 feet of new snow at the top of it slopes.

Ski areas in Colorado have also been reporting fresh snow with resorts including Breckenridge reporting 30cm of snow, the first significant snowfall of the autumn there.

Whistler's current snow base of 176 centimetres (69 inches) but another storm cycle is expected to arrive on Saturday, with another 35 - 50 centimeters (13 - 20) inches of snow forecasted by Monday morning.