What's New for 2012/2013
Resort Developments
It is the start of another fantastic season at Big White Ski Resort and we are excited to share all of the new amenities, activities and programs we are rolling out for the 2012/2013 season!
New Webcams
Big White has added 2 new webcams to the line up! One at the top of the Bullet Chair and one at the top of the Gem Lake Express Chair. Now you can see what the conditions are like at the top of the mountain.
Extended Season
Big White had excellent skiing conditions right to the end of last season and due to customer feedback, we are thrilled to have extended our 2013/2014 closing date of the season to April 13th, 2014 to give you an extra week to hit the slopes!
FREE Online Payment Plan
Can you get more convenient than free? Simply purchase your pass online and you can take advantage of our payment plan absolutely free. The sooner you buy, the longer you can spread your payments out, from now all the way to November 15th. The deadline for payment plan sign up is midnight of October 20th, 2013.
Club 65 for Pass Holders Aged 65+
All of our 65 plus members will be in the new Club 65 and receive their very own benefits. Members of our Club 65 will receive FREE coffee daily, extra discounts on food, FREE 50+ Lesson, FREE Tune Up, FREE High Performance Rental, and many more exclusive discounts.
Hotel Room Upgrades
New 39” LED HDTV televisions in all Chateau Big White hotel rooms with new TV and internet service; TELUS Optik TV, high definition television & complimentary 15Mbps private wireless internet, enhancing the guest experience.
New induction cookers in all Inn at Big White hotel rooms adding to the galley kitchen for more cooking options.
WiFi in TELUS Park
You can now upload all of your park sessions and rock star videos from the comfort of the chairlift in TELUS Park without taking a huge bite out of your data plan!
Activities
We have fantastic new activities options for everyone from adventure seekers to cabin loungers.
Après Fun Has Never Been Cooler
Challenge yourself on Big White’s thrilling Ice Climbing Tower. The Ice tower has become the main après attraction with a height of 60 feet! Built with 4 telephone poles cross-braced together then flooded with water that freezes into 3 feet of thick blue ice, there is a beginner side and three other sides for more advanced climbers or anyone who is looking for a challenge. New this year - ICE CLIMBING SERIES, three clinics done by Canadian ice climbing experts, and one competition designed for novice to experienced climbers. This is the first time for these unique and impressive initiatives to be offered in the B.C. Interior.
The three clinics are offered different weekends in January and February: Beginners (Jan. 19th & 20th), Women (Jan. 26th & 27th), and Advanced Climbers (Feb. 9th & 10th). The instructors are all world renowned for their abilities and experience.
Snowshoe Fitness Treks and Expansion
Guests are invited to watch the sunrise whilst enjoying an invigorating snowshoe trek up the mountain before the lifts even open. Snowshoeing is a great light impact activity, which anyone can do, even children as young as five. Big White will be offering early morning, sunset, and family tours as part of their expanding snowshoe program. This year they will be mapping out approximately 15kms of dedicated snowshoe terrain for guests to enjoy.
Family Snowshoe Scavenger Hunts
When the sun goes behind the mountains and the moon spreads its glow across the snow it’s time to get back out into wilderness for a scavenger hunt on snowshoes. Using the Flaik GPS system Big White will be hosting weekly evening snowshoe jaunts, which will be a mix off orienteering, geo-caching, and scavenger hunting. A unique and low cost après ski family activity.
Cross Country Snow Host Tours
Complimentary Snow Host Cross Country Tours at 10:30 am on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sundays, starting after Christmas.
Family Après Ski at Happy Valley
Spend some time with your family after a day on the slopes in the relaxing atmosphere of the Moose Lounge in the Happy Valley Day Lodge for our Après Ski. Free popcorn and coloring books, bottomless pop, mock-tails, specials and prizes are all on offer for this fun family evening. Explore our wide selection of spirits, beers and wines from around the world and the Okanagan Valley. Live music and the stunning views of the Monashee Mountains await!
Every Monday will now be Magical Mondays Family Après Ski at Happy Valley - This one is for the kids! Join our family entertainment of clowns, magicians and singers for some fun in the Happy Valley day lodge.
Minute to Win It
Every Wednesday, our events crew will present you with unique challenges to be completed in one minute, complete the task and move onto the next round! These games are for the whole family to get involved with, cheer each other on as these seemingly simple tasks are attempted. There will be tons of prize giveaways, so come down to Happy Valley for your chance to participate.
For a complete list of weekly events, click here!
Elevation Village Spa & Hair Salon
Registered massage therapists and shiatsu specialists now available. Therapeutic treatments are always available.
Ski School
Our ski school has put together exciting new programs to take your skiing to the next level.
High Performance Series
This season, the Big White Ski & Board School will introduce guests to a series of High Performance sessions with some of Canada’s top-level 4 instructors. Each session will focus on a specific aspect of skiing to maximize performance, with group sessions like “Slash the Steeps”, “Bash the Bumps” and “Tackle the Trees”. Guests spend an entire day with a pro who will show them how to tame the most challenging terrain Big White has to offer. Small group sizes (no more than four) and the use of video analysis are guaranteed to give the feedback they need to improve their skiing knowledge and skill. Each session includes full day of skiing and lunch at the Happy Valley Day Lodge.
Kids Shuttle Service
Relax and let us pick up your kids. We know mornings can be hectic and that everyone would love that extra 15 minutes in bed. Our ski instructors will pick your kids up from your lodging (select hotels only) and take them out for a fun filled lesson on the slopes. So take the opportunity to snuggle up with that extra cup of coffee and enjoy the peace and quiet.
Flaik System
Flaik (www.flaik.com) is a GPS tracking system that will let parents “re-live” their child’s day on the mountain, view the location of their child at any time via a smart phone app and share the experience via social networks with their friends and family.
Kids Centre
Kids After Dark Program
The Kids' Centre evening programs are intended to provide a fun time for children and also allow parents to enjoy a restaurant outing or sample some of Big White’s night life. Supervised programming at the Kids' Centre includes: Dinner and Tubing at the Mega Snow Coaster; Hot Chocolate and Skating; and, Dinner and Activities Night with board games and movies. NEW this year Big White has added in snowshoeing as an evening activity for kids 5 years old and up.
Restaurants
Looking to fuel up after a great day on the slopes? The mountain restaurants have great new specials to satisfy even the most discerning taste buds.
Poutine, Eh? at Santé Bar & Grille
Santé has introduced a "gourmet poutine" menu. It is entitled "Poutine, Eh?" and features six different types of poutine including the Pollo Loco, the Bob Marley and the Lobster-Yama, which is a base of Yam fries topped with cheese curds, chopped bacon, lobster, hollandaise and gravy.
Update in the Globe Kitchen
Facelift in the Globe kitchen! New enhanced kitchen means an even wider menu of great Tapas tastes for the season, plus quick breakfast snacks and hearty lunches to keep you fueled up all day long... all served in our same cozy space by great people!
Globe’s Retro Cocktail Menu
Globe’s Retro Cocktail Menu celebrates 50 years of Big White and features the best of our local Okanagan craft distilleries. Try arguably the best Gin & Tonic in the world right now, distilled right here in Kelowna! Retro Friday’s from 3:30pm – 6:30pm enjoy $3 off each cocktail accompanied by the best iconic music of the past 50 years.
Designated Drivers at Globe
Designated Drivers enjoy great drinks for FREE! Identify yourself as the DD when dining at Globe and enjoy creative non-alcoholic mocktails on us!
Moonlight Bistro
Now operated by Happy Valley Day Lodge! The newly renovated Moonlight Bistro features a variety of freshly made sandwiches, home-style soup and hearty chili, fresh baked goods, hot dogs and smokies, cappuccinos and lattes, coffee, tea, hot chocolate and cold refreshments.
Facelift for the Ridge Day Lodge
One of the mountains favorite places to grab a quick bite between runs underwent an extensive renovation over the summer! Stop in for hearty breakfasts, daily homemade soups, fresh salads & baked goods as well as burgers and fries.
Lotus Lounge
If you are looking for something other than the regular burgers and fries on the mountain Lotus Lounge is adding to the culinary scene bringing traditional Thai food to hungry skiers and boarders. Located in the Snow Ghost Inn.
Mountain Developments
We have undertaken many projects this summer, all to enhance your guest experience!
TELUS Terrain Park
Rated as the ‘Best Place to session a precision terrain park’ by the 2009 SBC Ski and Snowboard Resort Guide, Flynn Seddon, Big White’s Director of Terrain Parks promises that the 2012/13 rails and urban inspired features will definitely live up to this kudos. The TELUS Park is also open till late throughout the season for night park sessions. The progression system is based around Small, Medium, Large and Extra Large park features. The features are marked with signs at the entrance of the feature according to its size. This concept allows the skier or snowboarder to understand the size and shape of features found in terrain parks. The progression system allows the user to make choices on which features to use depending on their individual ability. The Small, Medium, Large and Extra Large features are designed in progression so a person can essentially start small and work their way up at their own pace.
For a complete list of park events, click here!
Local Developments
Kelowna Internal Airport Runway Extension
The Kelowna runway extension is now complete and has increased the runway length from 7,300 feet to 9,000 feet. International flights no longer have to connect through Calgary or Vancouver to reach Kelowna. This places Kelowna as the third international gateway in BC.
