体坛英语新闻：Feature: Whistler named North America's top overall ski resort

VANCOUVER, Dec. 5 (Xinhua) -- Canada is known around the world for its cold, snowy winter and its friendly people. When you put those two things together at the top of one of British Columbia's most beautiful mountains, the combination makes for one of the world's best winter ski resorts.

Whistler is actually a pair of mountains located side-by-side about two hours' drive north of Vancouver. Whistler Blackcomb has been gaining in reputation since hosting the Winter Olympic Games in 2010.

SKI Magazine's annual readers'poll has named Whistler Blackcomb as the best overall ski resort in North America for 2015. With more than 200 runs, an average annual snowfall of nearly 12 meters, and extremely varied terrain, the mountain is suitable for everyone, from off-piste experts to first-timers.

Ian Jenkins, general manager of sales at Whistler Blackcomb company, told Xinhua that they have got the largest skiable terrain in North America. People can experience both mountains of Whistler and Blackcomb. Everyone here always has his or her own favorite.

"I prefer Whistler, you know, but I'll go over and ski Blackcomb as well. I've been skiing here for 20 years and people still show me spots, that I didn't quite know that line," Jenkins said.

He also mentioned that Whistler has a unique blend of great snow conditions and mild temperatures due to its relatively low altitude.

"We have a lot of tree skiing, which is pretty unique, well, pretty unique to North American skiing. Amazing to ski in the trees, and so that means when we get the big storms, you can be down in the trees, you can feel it's not as windy, and then when we get the clear days, you get the high alpine terrain," he added.

While Whistler mountain and Blackcomb mountain together offer some of the best and most varied ski terrain in all of North America, the ski resort is also known for something that might even be more important than skiing itself, and that's the world class apre ski in Whistler village."

The SKI Magazine poll also gave Whistler the title for 2015's best after-ski experience. Whistler village has more than 90 bars and restaurants, 200 shops, and is popular for its live music, nightclubs and luxury hotels.

Shawna Lang, director of market development for Tourism Whistler, said apres ski is a very important part of a ski holiday or a winter holiday. "You work hard all day, whether you're skiing or snowmobiling, or dog-sledding, and the most important part of the day is to get together with your friends and family, talk about what you did, probably over beer, wine."

Lang said the Winter Games in 2010 put a spotlight on Whistler, and also left it with new sporting infrastructure for visitors such as a bobsled track and a Nordic-skiing center.

"Whistler is very easy to get to from many places in the world, but particularly Asia. We have amazing air access into the city of Vancouver. We're only two hours' north of Vancouver," Lang said.

Whistler attract around 2 million tourists here each year and is open to visitors all year around.