Less than 12 hours before my New York departure for Whistler, my Wall St. banker ski buddy called me with a crisis. ‘I’m so sorry Sean but Venezuela is going down the tubes. The bank needs me to stick around. I’m not going to make it to Whistler.’ In other words, go whistle. The itinerary had been a simple one: Fly first thing Thursday morning, be on the slopes for 2pm. Ski all day Friday, Saturday, Sunday and return to New York Monday. By sheer good fortune I had a friend who was prepared to jump in to replace my banker pal; the only problem was she wasn’t such an able skier – the itinerary would have to change. Located in the spectacular Coast Mountains of British Columbia just two hours north of Vancouver, Whistler is Canada’s favorite year-round destination. There are two majestic mountains with a vibrant Village base, epic skiing and snowboarding, four championship golf courses, unbeatable shopping, restaurants and bars, accommodation to suit every budget, hiking trails, spas and arguably the best mountain bike park in the world The Village has 200 shops, boutiques, galleries, jewelers, garment and gear specialists to keep you busy. Expect big names…