Whistler usually looks like this during the winter, but Mayor Ken Melamed says the resort town's slopes are nearly empty because of the Olympics. (CBC)

An Olympic chill has descended on Whistler, the mayor of the resort north of Vancouver says, and it's emptied the slopes.

"People seem to have in their minds, 'Oh, it's the Olympics, we better not go anywhere near [Whistler],' even though the Olympics is only 17 days in February and the winter is obviously one of the longest in North America," Ken Melamed told CBC News.

"The mountain is not terribly busy and in fact … the [occupancy rate] forecast for January is below normal, and we've actually been trying to get the message out that Whistler is 100 per cent open for business and it's a great time to come to the resort.

"We've had a record snowfall in November," the mayor said. "I was just up the mountain and it's so well covered — great skiing everywhere."

Melamed said he expected business to be a bit slower this year, but he had encouraging words for would-be visitors: "Come visit Whistler! The skiing is great, and there's not a lot of people."

As for concerns over snow levels during the Games, which begin Feb. 12, Melamed said the snowpack is already so deep that it should not be a concern.

Other ski slopes on the North Shore seem to be doing much better.

Mount Seymour is not seeing anything like the difficulties Whistler has been facing, Jonathon Mosley said.

"If you look at our season's pass sales this year and the registration for our lessons programs, I would say no," he said.

And Grouse Mountain's William Mbaho said turnout there has been terrific.

"The snow school numbers have been fantastic," he said. "We're looking to have another successful year and it's on course to be that."

Mbaho said he expects to see even more visitors during the Games, when Grouse will be open 24 hours a day.

With sunshine in the forecast for Christmas and Boxing Day, all the resorts are hoping for increased traffic.