Luxury ski holidays: Enjoy off-piste skiing in Whistler

Britons on luxury ski holidays in Canada can enjoy off-piste skiing in the Whistler resort, it has been claimed.

Travel writer Leslie Woit revealed that many experienced skiers are now looking for more challenges and are heading beyond the ropes and fences of the resort's boundaries and are increasingly skiing off-piste.

She wrote on the Independent website: "Start with Whistler-Blackcomb, the daddy of powder.

"You can't go wrong in Flute Bowl, which is actually in-bounds. You'll also need to be a high intermediate or advanced skier to tackle it. Nearby Symphony is a gateway to the massive backcountry surrounding Whistler-Blackcomb as part of Garibaldi Provincial Park."

Canadians refer to the off-piste areas as 'slackcountry', an abbreviation for 'easy to reach backcountry', and are often prepared to hike up to an hour to reach their chosen spot.

Whistler, located around 120km from Vancouver, has been voted the best ski resort in North America for eight years in a row.