Big White

Big White Trail Map

Big White is located in Kelowna, British Columbia. With 118 marked runs and a vertical drop of 2,550 ft there is enough exciting terrain for skiers of all levels to explore. Approximately 74% of the terrain is rated intermediate level and above, but there are still plenty of runs for beginners. Big White is known for its deep powder, and the mountain receives an average of over 25 ft of snow per year.

As I have recommended in nearly every blog, I will once again suggest you stay on the hill. Big White has a large village at its base, with hotels, condos and cabins available for rent. By staying in the village you will have easy access to the mountain and also the beautiful village.

Big White Terrain

Two areas that I highly recommend you ski are Sun Rype Bowl and Parachute Bowl. These are both feature challenging high alpine skiing, but are usually filled with boot high powder which makes them extremely fun to ski. For beginners I recommend trying out Kalina’s Rainbow. This run will allow you to get a taste of high alpine, without the steapness.

The village at Big White is smaller than other ski villages in B.C., but still has a lot to offer. With over 18 restaurants, bars and cafes there is something for everyone. Two of my personal favourites are Cecil’s Perogies and Globe Café and Tapas Bar. Both of these restaurants offer affordable and delicious food. For après and night life you MUST try Snowshoe Sam’s. Voted Canada’s #1 Ski Bar by Ski Canada Magazine this is where all the action happens after the ski day is over.

For more information visit www.bigwhite.com.

Happy skiing!

Whistler Blackcomb (Part II)

The village at Whistler Blackcomb is one of a kind. Featuring dozens of restaurants, cafes and stores there is something for everyone. The resort actually has two villages. The main village is at the base of Whistler Blackcomb and a smaller village, called Creekside, is located at the bottom of Whistler Mountain.

Accommodation at Whistler Blackcomb is easy to find, as there are over 40 hotels and condos available to rent. I recommend staying in the main village, because there is access to more amenities, such as restaurants, grocery stores and shopping. The main village is very large and exciting to explore. By staying in the main village you can use the free shuttle service that buses you from your hotel/condo to the base of the mountain. This saves you from having to walk long distances with your ski boots on.

Eating is one of my favourite ways to spend my time in Whistler Blackcomb village. With over 90 restaurants in Whistler, there is every type of food one can imagine. I recommend trying the Whistler Brewhouse, which makes their own beer on site and fresh pizzas and rotisserie chicken in a stone oven. Another great restaurant is Sushi Village, where you can eat fresh sushi in small, private Japanese style rooms.  

To get involved in the happening après scene try the Garibaldi Lift Co. Bar and Grill located at the base of Whistler Mountain, or Merlins at the base of Blackcomb.

I highly recommend making the trip to Whistler Blackcomb. With world-renowned ski terrain and a beautiful village, it is impossible not to fall in love with this resort.

Whistler Blackcomb (Part I)

Whistler Blackcomb is one of the World’s premier ski resorts and a personal favourite of mine. It has over 8,100 acres of terrain to explore and 200 marked trails. My Dad, brother and I ski it every year over the Christmas break and never seem to tire of the terrain or the atmosphere in the village.

Blackcomb Glacier

I have chosen to break this ski resort into two blogs (Part I and II) because it so large I would not be able to tell you everything you need to know in one blog. Part I will focus on the terrain of the two mountains.

Whistler Blackcomb is unique in the fact that it actually features two mountains: Whistler Mountain and Blackcomb Mountain. Blackcomb mountain offers high alpine skiing. Some of my favourite areas are 7^th Heaven, a large bowl that faces into the sun. It features tons of powder and something for all skiing abilities. My absolute favourite run is the Blackcomb Glacier. To get there you take the Glacier Express Chair to the Horsemen T-Bar and hike up 60 ft to the top of the glacier. Skiing the glacier is something every skier should experience (but is best for strong intermediate and advanced skiers).

Whistler Mountain offers a wide variety of high alpine bowls, all of which offer fantastic skiing. A must-ski is Harmony Ridge. With both high alpine bowls and glade skiing the mixed terrain keeps you on your toes. On cloudy days head over to the runs off of Garbanzo express. There you can ski the Men’s Olympic downhill course, Dave Murray Downhill, and other long cruisers. Also, while on the mountain you must ride the world-record breaking Peak 2 Peak  Gondola which spans 4.4 km across the two         mountains.

Check in next week to learn about the Whistler Blackcomb village.

Happy skiing!