Whistler (BC), Canada – Friday the 13th is a lucky day in Whistler, for the B.C. ski resort’s massive annual TELUS World Ski and Snowboard Festival gets underway today with Monster Energy’s The Shred Show, a 5-star TTR World Snowboard Tour event, welcoming a vast array of talented athletes to the slopes to start training for the TTR ranked Big Hip set for Skier’s Plaza on Saturday, TTR ranked Slopestyle, Boarderstyle and Mogul Duel competitions.

The Dudes, an indie rock band from Calgary, will warm up the main stage for the rest of the bands over the following 10 days, and amp up the crowd in Skier’s Plaza.

The State of the ART (SOTA) gallery opening is the first night-time event of TWSSF 2012, and is a free entry party held from 8 p.m. in the Grand Foyer of the Whistler Conference Centre. The SOTA opening party features live music, showcased art and the who’s who of the art and fashion world.

The Mountain Culture Variety Show is a new event for 2012 and showcases heartwarming and inspiring stories from those who have helped mold the past, present and future of our awe-inspiring mountain culture, including award-winning photographer Robin O’Neill, media gurus Mike Berard and Leslie Anthony, comedian Kelly Dyer and the famously hard-core Jonny “Foon” Chilton. Proceeds from the $20 per ticket event go to the Spearhead Huts Foundation.

Sunday’s gala event is the Mountain Culture Variety Show at 8 p.m. Entry costs $20 per ticket.

Through their hard work this season mountain resort employees from around the globe  have earned a 50 percent discount on Whistler Blackcomb lift tickets during the festival from April 13-22. Employees must present a current (April 2012, or most recent) paystub or staff pass from their respective mountain employer in order to receive the discount at the Whistler Blackcomb ticket booths.