Whistler has been named one of nine finalist cities for three additional X Games locations beginning in 2013, ESPN announced Thursday morning (Jan. 26).
Of the nine cities, Whistler is the only one bidding for a winter event.
ESPN, which owns and operates the X Games, will now visit and evaluate the potential host locations over the next two months. The winning bids, which will host X Games events from 2013 to 2015, will be announced in April.
The announcement was made on the opening day of the Winter X Games in Aspen, Colo.
National halfpipe ski team member Mike Riddle attended Thursday's announcement in Aspen and told The Question he's "stoked" about the possibility of the X Games coming to Whistler.
"I'm very excited to potentially have an event of this calibre coming to my home mountain and having the opportunity to compete in front of a home crowd and have the big show come to us," said Riddle, a Squamish resident.
According to ESPN, the list was pared down from more than 40 bid cities representing 21 countries.
Whistler is the only Canadian or U.S. city that has been named as one of the nine finalists. Of the remaining eight, three are in Brazil — Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Foz do Iguacu.
Barcelona, Spain; Lisbon, Portugal; Santiago, Chile; Munich, Germany and Quintana Roo, Mexico are the other five in the running.
"It's wonderful news that we've been shortlisted, and is a testament to the impressive resume that Whistler can offer ESPN and the X Games brand," said Dave Brownlie, president and COO of Whistler Blackcomb, in a release from the Whistler bid's local organizing committee (LOC). "A tremendous amount of work went into developing the bid from a wide range of local experts in their field, so we're happy to see that work and level of expertise recognized.
"We will now start preparations for the upcoming site inspection with the goal of solidifying ESPN's interest in establishing a partnership with Whistler."
The three new events will join X Games venues already established in Aspen, Los Angeles and Tignes, France.
Whistler's bid calls for the new event to be combined with the Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival from April 10 to 13, 2013, with an extended, 10-day "X Fest" scheduled around the Games that would take place from April 5 to 14.
The LOC release said the committee has a delegation in Aspen this weekend to observe "the inner workings of the Games from venue operation to athlete management, hospitality services and everything in between."
Should Whistler be successful in its bid, ESPN would provide "extensive live worldwide television coverage annually," said the release.
"This event is an excellent fit for the resort — and would be a tremendous way to showcase Whistler's spectacular mountain scenery, vibrant Village, world-class amenities and warm hospitality," said Tourism Whistler president and CEO Barrett Fisher in the release.
Stay tuned to The Question for any updates on this story.
