BIG WHITE SKI RESORT
Since 1985, three generations of the same family have overseen Big White, a 7,000-acre resort in the Okanagan Highland outside Kelowna, B.C.
"Corporations normally chase a share price, whereas families tend to have a much longer-term view of the development of the resort," Big White Marketing Director Michael Ballingall says.
Ballingall says that multigenerational mindset is also reflected in the staff and clientele he sees returning year after year. What keeps them coming back is the 295 inches of annual snowfall and one of the largest night skiing areas in Western Canada.
WHAT'S NEW? Big White is unveiling a $20 million investment in its facilities this season. In the main village, you'll find a bunch of new shops and restaurants. One of the most popular of the customer-facing additions might be the state-of-the-art Kids Centre, designed to provide 3- to 12-year-olds with a welcoming, kid-sized environment for daylong ski instruction.
WHITEWATER SKI RESORT
For those with a passion for the kind of epic winters British Columbia's Kootenay region is known for, there's a one-of-a-kind experience just a 20-minute drive from the lively city of Nelson, B.C. Whitewater has food that's rated among the best at any ski resort in North America, the new slopeside Hummingbird Lodge and of course that "WH20" recipe for amazing powder. Powder magazine calls Whitewater "one of the best powder mountains on the continent," while Ski Canada has rated it as having the Best Deeps, Best Bowls and Best Glades.WHAT'S NEW? Whitewater is expanding its iconic playground with an additional 60 acres of inbounds terrain. Skiers and snowboarders can now explore Whitewater's first south-facing open alpine terrain in the iconic Ymir Bowl, delivering challenging steeps and breathtaking views of Ymir Peak — all accessible via the Raven Chair.
RED MOUNTAIN RESORT
RED started out as a recreation spot for gold-rush miners back in the 1890s, making it Canada's second-oldest ski resort. Its expansions to 3,850 skiable acres now put it among the 10 largest in North America. And sitting just outside Rossland, B.C., it's also the closest from Spokane.WHAT'S NEW? The pay-per-run cat skiing that RED reintroduced last season is back in full swing. From the top of Grey Mountain, the snowcat will bring you and just a handful of other passengers close to the 6,772-foot peak of Mount Kirkup, where you'll have roughly 250 acres of untracked snow below you. The three black-diamond runs lead back to the Grey Mountain chairlift, making it easy to return to the heart of the resort or hop on the cat again. "It gives you that backcountry experience without being too far away from civilization," says Andrew Lunt, RED Mountain Resort's general manager.
KIMBERLEY ALPINE RESORT
You want that mix of sun and fluffy Purcell powder in Canada? Kimberley has you covered. Yes, there's an average snowfall of 13 feet each season and more than 1,800 acres of terrain, including North America's largest glades. But there's so much more — Nordic skiing, fat tire biking, the Winter Sports School, night skiing — that helps you make the most of your winter getaway.WHAT'S NEW? Check out a s'mores fat bike or snowshoe tour, where your guide will lead you through a two-hour adventure into the winter wonderland forests around the Trickle Creek Golf Course, including a pit stop at a view point where you warm up by the fire, enjoy a hot drink and cook up a s'more or two. There's also a mountaintop s'mores snowshoe tour that starts at the top of North Star Mountain and leads to the Kootenay House log cabin.
FERNIE ALPINE RESORT
Fernie is where legendary skiing and snowboarding fuse with real stories from locals, pioneers, ski bums and freeskiers in one of the most classic Rocky Mountain ski towns in North America. Featuring the most snow, the most runs and the biggest vertical in the Canadian Rockies, along with five alpine bowls, a powder day at Fernie is not to be missed.WHAT'S NEW? Want to learn the local geography? The ski and snowboard pros at the Winter Sports School offer an amazing, guided program — the Fernie Guided Experience — that allows you to get the most out of your time on the mountain. Top-notch guides will show you around to all the secret nooks and crannies, the best grooming and the deepest powder. And when it's time for a nice selfie, keep your eye out for the new "Legendary Fernie" arch for your photo op. ♦
