Battling Seasonal Affective Disorder with Resort Riding.
We love everything about our geographical location in Creekside Village. Beyond the free parking, beyond Bred’s carrot cake, one of the best parts of Creekside is our gondola. It’s a magnet that pulls in locals of all ages. And, when it snows to the valley, nothing compares to those top to the valley laps.
Seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, is a kind of depression that appears at certain times of the year. It usually begins in the fall when the days get shorter and lasts through the winter.
In the Pacific Northwest, we often see storm cycles that last days, even weeks. As the snow accumulates, so does the number of endorphins released as we slide down the mountain, halting our seasonal depressions.
However, when there isn’t powder on the mountain… how do you stay motivated to ride the resort?
Two of Whistler’s most dedicated mountain shredders Phil Nicoll (PN) and Teri Kydd-Wade (TK) can be found waiting in line at the Creekside gondola every morning, often in darkness.
Phil was born and raised in Whistler, he’s a skier and a talented artist. If you’ve noticed our hanging wooden sign, it was made by Phil himself. He averages around 142 ski days a year, and a few years back, he closed out the season with 195 days (every day of the season).
Q – “Phil, what is your secret to racking up so many days?”
PN – “No secret, gotta love being up there.”
Q – “But, how do you stay motivated?”
PN – “Curiosity, every day is different. Every day something new. And, fun. Gotta be having fun.”
Q – “Have you had any injuries?”
PN – “Broke my femur at age 4. Broke my wrist at age 40. Other than that, good to go.”
We love Phil’s passion for skiing, his loyalty to Whistler mountain and his affinity for signage.
Teri was born in Alberta and moved to Whistler twenty years ago (which is now half of her life). She averages about 85 days a year, and in 2021 she logged 124 days successively. When asked what her secret is, she said…
TK – “I don’t have a day job. And I love it. I’m a creature of habit and love routine. I love being outside and with friends- so really, the resort brings all that together.”
Q – “Do you stretch? Yoga? Lift The Weights?”
TK – “Yes, to stretching- and yoga. A daily cat/ cow can go a long way. Also, because snowboarding has so much crouched, forward movement- superman stretching on your stomach to reverse is also a good one.”
Q – “What’s your secret to staying healthy? And being able to ride so many days in a year?”
TK – “I try to maintain a good diet- incorporating more warm, cooked veggies into my vegetarian diet (as a nod to Dr. Dom) But find it to be more mental health than anything. Some days- it may feel like a chore to get out and get moving. But once I do- I never regret it. You always see someone- that being a friend or a stranger on the chair or gondola and have a nice conversation- and come home fired up to get things done and want to go up more.”
Q – “Do you see any practitioners at Creekside Health? And if so, who?”
TK – “Dr. Dom Vallee for all-over body/mind care, cupping and acupuncture. She is an amazing person, and we are fortunate to have her. And Dr. Landon for naturopathy.”
PN – ”Warren helped with my tennis/tuna elbow. After commercial tuna fishing, my arm was pretty messed up. Warren helped me out with a diagnosis, advice and exercises.”
Q – “What is your favourite part of Creekside?”
PN – “The people. The ability to always find a pal to ski with.”
TK – “All-encompassing. Close to my house, I love Bred for treats and coffee, Creekside Health, underground heated parking, top-of-the-mountain to valley powder runs, Creekside gondola, best long-term locals (70 yrs +) and Dustys or The Diner for après. It is its only little community within our Whistler community. “
We hope you found this as inspiring as we do to get up that mountain with friends. We look forward to seeing you all in Creekside soon, and how many of you want a piece of carrot cake now?