Whistler Greets Vancouver Olympic Torch Relay

(ATR) The Olympic Torch relay reaches Whistler with six days left to opening ceremony of the Vancouver Olympic WinterGames.

A crowd of more than 3,000, according to police,gathered in the Skiers Plaza in Whistler Village Friday evening for the arrival of the relay.

Tyler Allison, a 17-year-old Whistler mountain biker, took the torch from legendary 'Crazy Canuck' Steve Podborski and lit the Olympic cauldron on center stage.

The crowd was entertained by a welcome dance by the four host First Nations, a live eight-minute, spinning-canvas painting and an acrobatic dance and drum performance.

One of the largest crowds in Whistler's history showed their support for the 2010 Games in Whistler, dressedin a sea of red and white, waving flags and neon glow sticks.

“That was spectacular,” said Whistler resident Amanda Pearson, moments after the presentation. “I never expected it to be such an incredible event. Look at all these people.”

Julia Murray, a member of the Canadian ski cross team and the progeny of Crazy Canuck Dave Murray rode with the torch a few hundred feet up Whistler Mountain on an electric snowmobile and lit the torch of Podborski, who then skied the flame down amongst throngs of cheering fans lining the slope.

Waiting with anticipation was Allison, who hopes to compete in the 2012 Games in London.

“To be handed the torch from Steve Podborski is an amazing feeling. For everyone here in Whistler, this is a dream come true. This is huge,” he said.

On Saturday, Day 100 of the relay, the flame travels south from Whistler through Host Four Nations communitiesas it begins to approach the outskirts of the Vancouver metropolis.

With reporting in Whistler from Todd Lawson.