Whistler and Sun Peaks Accommodations - Nancy Greene and the Dawn of BC Ski Resorts

From Olympic ski champion to winter resort entrepreneur, Nancy Greene Raine is truly Canada's alpine jewel. Greene achieved global recognition as one of the top ranked skiers with her performance in the 1967 World Cup and gold medal victory in the 1968 Olympic Games.
Aside from athletic competition and international glory, Nancy has played a powerful role in the development of Whistler Blackcomb and Sun Peaks accomodations, two of British Columbia's most prominent winter resort destinations. This article examines Greene's influential role in the growth and development of Whistler and Sun Peaks accomodations and her contribution to the success of both resorts.
Nancy's amazing achievement at the 1968 Olympics as well as victories in the succeeding World Cup allowed her to retire from racing at the age of 24 and begin a successful promotional career. Nancy and her husband, Al, have made skiing an endless profession, purchasing both Whistler and Sun Peaks accomodations and helping to promote and expand the status of both resorts.
The couple started by building a ski cabin in Whistler in 1970 and used their summers to coach on the glaciers. Both Nancy and Al saw that British Columbia had some of the finest mountains and snow in the world, and made it their goal to make Whistler a top ski attraction. While Al was greatly involved in the development of Whistler Village and the expansion of both Whistler and Blackcomb mountains, Nancy used her prestigious status and cunning business etiquette to draw investors and visitors to the resort. Greene soon became the unofficial spokeswoman for Whistler and helped make it a key tourist destination.
In 1985, Nancy and Al built Nancy Greene's Olympic Lodge, the first accomodations in Whistler to be built and financed as a hotel. The success attained by the lodge marked a defining moment in improving Whistler's investment situation. The couple later sold the hotel in 1988, but stayed engaged in the amateur ski racing, volunteering as race officials or serving on committees for the International Ski Federation.
In 1994, Nancy and Al relayed their focus to Sun Peaks Resort in the interior of British Columbia as a new ski destination area. Sun Peaks accomodations at the time were extremely limited; infact, the Greene's built the first condominium hotel in Sun Peaks Village - Nancy Greene's Cahilty Lodge. Nancy not only promotes and does public relations for Sun Peaks accomodations, but she is also the Director of Skiing at Sun Peaks resort and skis with guests whenever she can.
As you can see, both Nancy and Al's involvement with Whistler Blackcomb and Sun Peaks resorts have contributed greatly to the success and prestige both resorts boast today.
Devon O'Malley is a staff writer for Allura Direct, an accomodation website offering powerful search and instant booking features for vacation rentals Ski with Nancy Greene and book your Sun Peaks accomodations today!