In typical Whistler fashion, any reason to celebrate is, well, a reason to celebrate. And that goes without saying, that the end of the ski season is a time to revel in all the powder days, the close calls, and the domination of lines that occurred over the course of the winter. The celebration goes hand in hand with costumes, and general tomfoolery… otherwise known as Gaper Day!
According to the Whistler Museum, Gaper Day has been around almost as long as McCoo’s, since 1996 in fact. It started out as “Ski In Jeans Day” and was an opportunity to unleash your on-hill style that has been confined to functional clothing since the snow began to fall. Over the years, jeans turned into more unique style choices like retro snow gear, bikinis, and more recently, animal onesies.
The chance to let loose on the hill and partake in fancy dress fast became a tradition. Since its incarnation in the 90’s, Gaper Day, celebrated on closing day, has evolved to be a local event of sorts. It might not be official, but everyone knows about it and plans ahead. This means booking the day off work and preparing a worthy outfit. So you maximize the season, right until the very last day, here’s a quick list of McCoo’s must-haves for Gaper Day:
- Herschel Fanny Pack
- Sunbum sunscreen
- RipCurl Bikini
- Oakley Prizm Goggles
- Smith Chromapop Sunglasses
- Oakley T-shirt for après
- S’well Water Bottle to stay hydrated
- GoPro Hero 7
- Outdoor Tech portable stereo
Another part of Gaper Day is the celebration that follows skiing. After spending the day in the sunshine on your snow blades, head out for one last après with all your closest ski buddies. Visiting your local watering hole and dancing into the evening is just as much a part of the season send off as the retro ski suits.
Gaper Day is a chance to go out with a bang. Grab your best friends and shred the spring snow, dragging out the season as long as possible. If you find yourself stuck for Gaper Day apparel ideas, come stop by McCoo’s. We’ve been around since before Gaper Day, so we’ve seen it all!
