Big White Ski Resort facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Big White Ski Resort |
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The Gem Lake Express lift at Big White
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| Location | Kootenay Boundary, British Columbia, Canada |
| Nearest city | Kelowna (56 km) |
| Coordinates | 49°43′19″N 118°55′44″W / 49.72194°N 118.92889°W |
| Top elevation | 2,319 m (7,606 ft) |
| Base elevation | 1,508 m (4,950 ft) |
| Skiable area | 2,765 acres (11.2 km2) |
| Runs | 119 Designated Trails 18% Beginner 54% Intermediate 22% Expert 6% Extreme |
| Longest run | 7.2 km (4.5 miles) |
| Lift system | 16 total (1 gondola, 5 high-speed chairs, 5 chairs, 3 ground/t-bar, 2 tubing) |
| Lift capacity | 28,000 skiers/hr |
| Snowfall | 750 cm (295 inches or 24.5 ft) average |
| Snowmaking | Planned |
| Night skiing | 0.15 km² (38 acres) |
| Website | http://www.bigwhite.com |
Big White Ski Resort, often called Big White, is a popular ski resort in British Columbia, Canada. It's located about 56 kilometers (35 miles) southeast of Kelowna. This resort sits on Big White Mountain, which is the highest point in the Okanagan Highland.
Big White is one of the largest ski resorts in British Columbia. It's known for its amazing snow and many different ski runs. In 2019, it was even named one of the top ski resorts in Canada. The mountain's highest point is 2,319 meters (7,606 feet) up. From there, you can ski down 777 meters (2,549 feet) to the bottom.
The resort gets a lot of snow, about 750 centimeters (295 inches) each year. It has a huge area for skiing, covering 2,765 acres (11.19 square kilometers). Big White also has the largest night skiing area in western Canada, with 38 acres (0.15 square kilometers) lit up for evening fun. At the resort, there's a village with places to stay, eat, and shop. This village is 1,755 meters (5,758 feet) above sea level.
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History of Big White Ski Resort
Big White first opened its doors in 1963. Back then, it only had one T-bar lift. Over the years, the resort grew a lot. More lifts were added to help skiers get up the mountain faster.
In the 1980s and 1990s, many older lifts were replaced with newer, faster ones. For example, the Ridge Rocket Express (a fast four-person chairlift) opened in 1989. The Bullet Express, another fast lift, opened in 1991. In 1997, the Gem Lake Express opened, which made the ski area twice as big! A very fast six-person lift called Snow Ghost was built in 2006. This helped more people get up the mountain from the Ridge base area.
Did you know that parts of the snowboarding movies Shred and Shred 2 were filmed at Big White? These movies starred actors Tom Green and Dave England.
Skiing and Snowboarding Terrain
Big White has 119 official ski trails, plus 27 more unnamed ones. About 18% of the trails are for beginners, 56% are for intermediate skiers, and 26% are for experts. The areas between the trails are also open for skiing. These "tree runs" offer lots of untouched snow and different kinds of terrain.
The resort has a total of 16 lifts. This includes one 8-person high-speed gondola and five high-speed chairlifts. There are also regular chairlifts, T-bars, and magic carpets for beginners. All these lifts can carry 28,000 people up the mountain every hour! The lifts use special RFID gates to scan your pass, making it easy to get on the lift.
East Side Skiing
The eastern side of Big White has most of the ski lifts. The runs here are usually shorter and can be busier. The most challenging runs are found under the Cliff chairlift. This chairlift was closed in 2008 after an avalanche investigation.
On this side, you'll find the Snow Ghost Express (a fast 6-seater lift) and three other fast 4-seater lifts: Ridge Rocket, Bullet, and Black Forest. There's also the Powder Chair, three double chairlifts (Falcon, Cliff, and Telus Park), and the Alpine T-bar. The Ridge Rocket and Bullet chairs are close to the main village area.
Gem Lake Area
Gem Lake is on the western side of Big White. It's served by the Gem Lake high-speed quad chair. This lift offers the biggest single drop on the mountain, at 710 meters (2,329 feet)! It can be windier here than on the east side.
At the base of the Gem Lake lift, there's a lodge called the Westridge Warming Hut. It has restrooms, a coffee shop, and a large parking lot. This area is a bit further from the main village. Many local skiers from Kelowna like to ski at Gem Lake. Recently, new easy and intermediate runs have been added, making it more family-friendly.
Future Plans for East Peak
Big White is planning to expand its ski area. They want to add about 2,000 acres (8.1 square kilometers) of new skiable terrain on the East Peak. This new area will mostly have intermediate and advanced runs. The plans also include a second base area, new homes, and even a golf course!
Telus Park (Terrain Park)
Big White opened the Telus Park in 2004. This park is a fun place for skiers and snowboarders to try tricks. It has a half-pipe, a skier/boarder cross course, and different levels of rails and jumps. The park is split into two parts: one for bigger features and one for smaller ones. Big White also has a snow-cross run, just like the one used in the Olympics.
Nordic Trails
If you enjoy cross-country skiing, Big White has 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) of Nordic trails. These trails are great for exploring the snowy landscape.
Ski and Snowboard School
Big White has over 200 qualified instructors. They offer lessons for all ages and skill levels. So, whether you're a beginner or want to improve your skills, there's a class for you!
Things to Do and Places to Stay
Big White offers many fun activities besides skiing and snowboarding.
Activities
- Mega Snow Coaster: This is a huge tubing park where you can slide down hills on a tube.
- Snowmobile Tours: Explore the snowy trails on a snowmobile.
- Sleigh Riding: Enjoy a peaceful ride through the snow on a horse-drawn sleigh.
- Dog Sleds: Experience a thrilling ride pulled by a team of dogs.
- Snowshoeing: Walk through beautiful trails on snowshoes.
- Ice Skating: Glide on an Olympic-sized outdoor rink with amazing views.
- Ice Climbing Wall: Try climbing a 60-foot ice wall, suitable for all ages.
- Sno-Limo: If you don't ski or snowboard, you can still enjoy the mountain in a comfortable "lazy-boy" chair on skis.
In the summer, Big White also has a hiking trail that opened in 2014. You can also take special ski and snowboard improvement courses offered by Snow Adventure.
Accommodations and Food
Big White has many places to stay right on the mountain. There are four village condo hotels, 25 condo or town house complexes, and 244 vacation homes. There's even a hostel where you can ski right to the door!
The village area has 18 restaurants, cafes, and delis. You'll also find a small grocery store and a liquor store for your needs.
Shopping
The village at Big White has several shops. You can find ski gear at Dizzy's ski shop, The Village Rider, and Ski Dazzle. There's also the New Loose Moose Emporium Candy Shop for treats. The Mountain Mart is a full grocery store and liquor outlet. You can also find a wine and beer store in the Village Centre Mall.
Images for kids
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Looking up from the bottom of the Cliff Chair
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Trappers Crossing, a town house complex
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The Village Centre Mall
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Near top of the Powder Chair
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Jumping off a boulder
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Boarders coming down the Powder Chute
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Skiing a black diamond at Big White
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Panorama from near the top of the Falcon Chair
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