No Need to Be Down Under With Several Aussies At This Ski Resort
For those who come from a land down under, their day to plunder is called Australia Day.
And they don’t even have to be in Australia to celebrate.
In fact, for thse many Australians who live and work in the North American ski resort of Whistler, B.C. – host of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games – then it’s time to PARTY!
For those not from Australia, you had better run. You had better take cover.
But hey, they are tempting visitors with their fun frivolity, because they come from the land of plenty.
The several Aussies who work the mountain – those are the people operating the lifts, running the snowcats, renting the ski boots, selling Whistler sweaters and sweatshirts, serving food at the restaurants and pouring drinks at the pubs and clubs – file into the Longhorn Saloon.
They begin to line up as early as 9 in the morning and stay and play until dark. They come draped in Aussie capes, sporting Aussie temporary tattoos on their cheeks, drink VB beer (until it runs out, at which time they switch to their Canadian favorites), sing and dance to Australian songs and in general act as if the world is about to end and they want to go out in grand style.
A few spirited souls start their day on the mountain, some wearing nothing more than Olympic team Speedos. Ian Thorpe they are not, but when they roll into the Longhorn they are the toast of the bar.
The Longhorn accommodates the crazies with a DJ, tables pulled out to create a dance floor and allowing the Aussies to jump on tables and the outside bar so they can party Aussie style.
Anyone in Whistler can participate, of course. Just go to the back door (check the lineup; depending on the year it can start at 9 and go well into the evening; other years it may take until mid-afternoon to have a line), and pay the $12 cover.
The patio is open to people off the slopes, but to get to the main action inside, the bar requires entrance and a wristband from the door in the rear.
After dark, those still standing (or who had to work during the day) hit the clubs in town, tho some are so popular they can get away with as much as a $20 cover.
The scene is similar to an Irish bar on St. Patrick’s Day. With an Australian accent.
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