Tag Archive for: BC Ski Resorts

John Nelson

SeniorsSkiing Guide: Big White, Big Senior-Friendly

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Big Choice Of Intermediate Runs, “Master” Lessons, Bring Seniors Back Each Year.

The Alpine T-Bar serves low-angle intermediate terrain near the 7,606-foot summit of Big White. Credit: John Nelson

It’s hard to find a resort better suited to older skiers than the popular British Columbia destination of Big White.

Located in Okanagan region of B.C. near the bustling, fast-growing city of Kelowna, Big White is indeed big, with a sprawling village that boasts the most ski-in, ski-out lodging in Canada.

A skier turns amid the snow ghosts near the top of the Alpine T-Bar at Big White.
Credit: John Nelson

The resort’s rolling terrain of predominantly intermediate runs is especially popular with older skiers. In its lesson programs, Big White offers discounted “Masters Mondays” classes, and two popular “Masters’ Weeks” designed to teach older skiers how to keep shredding.

“Our retention rate is over 60 percent,” says Ollie McEvoy, one of the masters instructors. “If they take a lesson from us, they’ll come back.” The many skiers who take part in the masters’ week programs return every year after making personal connections, McEvoy says.

“They end up making friends for life,” he says.

For U.S. residents, Canadian resorts are particularly attractive this year, with a favorable exchange rate of more than 30 percent. Add to that a discount on senior tickets at more than 16 percent and U.S. skiers make out very well at one of Western Canada’s favorite resorts.

Ski instructor Ollie McEvoy helps run the masters programs at Big White. Credit: Big White Ski Resort

Snow, Terrain and More

  • Location: Big White is about 33 miles southeast of Kelowna, a city of more than 100,000 in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia. Kelowna has an international airport with daily flights from Seattle, as well as major cities in Canada.
  • Snowfall: “It’s the snow” is the marketing slogan for Big White. Located far inland from Canada’s west coast, Big White’s snow is colder and drier than rival Whistler-Blackcomb, and it receives about 300 inches a year.
  • Terrain, lifts: Intermediate skiers love the rolling terrain of Big White, where all 15 lifts have a green run down. About 72 percent of the terrain is rated easy or intermediate; 28 percent is rated expert and extreme. Five of the chairlifts are high-speed on more than 2,700 acres of skiable terrain.
  • Vertical: 2,656 feet from Big White summit (7,606 feet) to the base of the Gem Lake Express lift (4,950 feet).

Lot To Lift Access

  • Parking: Day-trippers can park at the Gem Lake base or at the Happy Valley Lodge. This is one resort where you should consider staying on mountain because of the vibrant and affordable ski-in, ski-out village scene.
  • Public transportation: Big White offers a shuttle service from the airport to the mountain village, so skiers flying into Kelowna do not need to book a rental car if they are staying on the mountain. In addition, an inter-resort shuttle operates between Whistler, Big White and Sun Peaks for skiers who want to try three of Canada’s biggest resorts.
  • Accommodations: Big White is built for skiers who want to stay on the mountain. Thousands of ski-in rooms are available in all price ranges, with many package deals that include lift tickets and meals.

Culture

  • The vibe: Friendly, with a pronounced Aussie accent. The resort, owned by an Australian family, attracts a large number of Aussie workers and vacationers, giving it a “no-worries, mate” feel.
  • Dining: The resort has 18 on-mountain restaurants in various price ranges. Among the very best is the Kettle Valley Steakhouse and Wine Bar at the Happy Valley base area, serving excellent upscale entrees with a long list of tasty, British Columbia wines.
  • Mountain life: Beyond the lift-skiing, Big White offers many other activities, including Nordic skiing, outdoor ice skating, tubing, snowshoeing and sleigh rides.

Bottom line

  • Big White is a major resort that does very well by older skiers, with vast intermediate terrain and popular masters instructional programs.
  • The strong U.S. dollar makes this Canadian resort particularly attractive for deal-hunters.
  • Excellent snow quality keeps the lifts spinning well into April.

Trail Map Click Here

http://www.bigwhite.com/explore-big-white/mountain-info/maps-brochures

Webcam Click Here

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John Nelson is a freelance outdoors writer based in Seattle. Follow his blog at skizer.org.

Big White’s vibrant village has the most ski-in, ski-out lodging in Canada. Credit: Big White Ski Resort

 

seniorsskiing

SeniorsSkiing Guide: SilverStar—BC’s Uncrowded And “Happy” Ski Resort

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Great Skiing And Social Life Makes SilverStar A Lively Scene For Seniors.

SilverStar Village is a mid-mountain, self-contained resort in itself with restaurants, shops and lodging. Credit: SilverStar

SilverStar Village is a mid-mountain, self-contained resort in itself with restaurants, shops and lodging.
Credit: SilverStar

[Editor Note:  This review was written by Melbourne, Australia-based Marg Malkin, a retired ski industry veteran who spends February and March at SilverStar.  She’s also the informal SilverStar liaison with a group of Ozzie skiers who travel to BC every winter. SeniorsSkiing.com welcomes her as our first Australian contributor.  We hope to see more news from her.]

SilverStar Mountain Resort is a hidden gem, tucked up the northern end of the Okanagan Valley, B.C.  I found this wonderful place 12 years ago and keep coming back to enjoy its magical village, breathtaking views, awesome terrain and uncrowded highways of ever reliable snow.

SilverStar is the third largest ski resort in BC with 131 runs, a 2500-foot vertical and, on average, 23 feet annually of champagne powder.  Twelve lifts service over 3500 acres of skiing as well as 60 miles of Nordic trails, heli-skiing opportunities, and night skiing on Friday and Saturday, too.

Themed after an early 1900’s mining town, the mid-mountain village Main Street with its bakeries, restaurants and shops has real old world charm.

First impression on arrival in the Main Street of this mid-mountain village is that everyone is smiling.  And little wonder; the joy and freedom of wide open, uncrowded slopes makes it a dream come true haven for safe, fast top-to-bottom skiing. It’s where you find long-time residents and local characters who give SilverStar its safe, “homey”, community feel.  Just ask and you’ll find these locals willing to share their secrets that have kept them calling SilverStar home for so long. Tour the mountain with them, and you’ll find they are only too willing to share their knowledge of the best stashes and little known areas of the terrain.

That’s what makes SilverStar so special—a big mountain, a small town feel, with all the terrain you’d expect at a larger resort, without the crowds.

It’s why I keep coming back. The fabulous snow, the welcome by locals and to meet like-minded older skiers to socialize and ski with from all over the globe. I’m in my late 60’s, enjoy excellent health and thanks to my many times at Silver Star have a large network of skier friends with whom I spend six to eight weeks with each Feb and March.  Many of these friends I have “gathered” during my times in the resort, where friendships are easily established because of its small and friendly village community. Hence, I have a real “collection” of like-minded skiers who make the most of their good health and freedom away from the everyday family obligations of home. I’d just like people—particularly single travelers and couples—to know there’s fun to be had at a ski resort without spending too much and having a great social circle.

Hawaiian party in BC? Sure. Social activities are frequent and fun at SilverStar. Credit: Marg Malkin

Hawaiian party in BC? Sure. Social activities are frequent and fun at SilverStar.
Credit: Marg Malkin

We have such a great time.  There’s always someone to ski with or have a coffee or drink with. There’s a variety of ski skills, some diehards who hit the slopes at 8:15 and ski until 2:30 every day of their time there! Others ski out at 10-ish through until 2-ish depending.

We’ve developed “progressive drinks night” social life where people take a turn at hosting a drinks night at their unit—everyone comes with a bottle and a plate to share, making for fun and hilarity.  We also get to enjoy the many restaurants; Paradise Camp Dinner Tours in a Snow Cat, Horseman’s Cabin Snowshoe Dinner Tour are only a couple of night experiences. Tubing, ice skating and snow shoeing are wonderful apres activities, all included in the ski lift pass at Silver Star.  And there’s fat tube biking! Also ten pin bowling! The list goes on.

Getting There:  Fly into Kelowna International Airport, serviced by several US and Canadian air carriers.  Then shuttle north about an hour to SilverStar.

For SilverStar trail maps, click here.

Bottom Line:  Most visitors will take advantage of  a variety of lodging and ski pass packages.  To give you an idea of the value, though, a SilverStar M1Pass, good for three days of free skiing at each of 13 alliance partner ski areas, and which includes Nordic, family discounts, discounts at Whistler Blackcomb and lots of other savings opportunities is only $899 plus tax (2015-16) for seniors 65-plus. An Early Bird Senior Pass will be available after June 1 for $459 plus tax.  That’s a season pass!

SilverStar has four mountain faces for skiing. Uncrowded, friendly, big snow. Credit: SilverStar

SilverStar has four mountain faces for skiing. Uncrowded, friendly, big snow. Plus lots of other snow sports!
Credit: SilverStar