Can’t wait to go back to ski trails at Silver Star
It was an up-and-down cross-country ski day at Silver Star Mountain Resort. Heartpounding ups and exhilarating downs.
The Ski Sheriff and Constant Companion Carmen checked out some of the Star’s lower cross-country trails several years ago, but last Sunday's outing with members of the Central Okanagan Outdoors Club was completely different.
The club sometimes classifies its outings as “exploratory,” which can mean the leader hasn’t been there lately or at all.
Or the leader plans to explore other nearby trails or go off-trail. That’s become a standing joke at club meetings: “Oh, it’s exploratory!”
The Sheriff prefers to go with a leader who knows where he/she is going, and will take everyone to new territory, new viewpoints, new points of interest and unusual geographic features. The Okanagan is full of them just waiting to be discovered.
Last Sunday, unbeknowst to us, leader Marshall had checked out his proposed routes the week before, solo.
When we arrived at the meeting place behind the daylodge, we gathered in a circle, introduced ourselves and Marshall explained we would be skiing three loops of the lower trails.
If anyone became tired, he or she could return to the daylodge after the first or second loop.
We first set off on green Meadow Trail. It can be confusing since the trail map shows Meadow, multi-use trail Bridal Path and blue Bella Vista all coming from Brewer’s Pond. Our second loop was around Sidewinder and the third, the coaster Tin Tin.
The first order of business when you arrive at Silver Star is to grab that trail map, folding it so it just shows the lower trails, putting it in your pocket and referring to it often until you become more familiar with this great trail system.
Last Sunday, all of them were groomed to a T.
There is such a variety of trails that you never get bored. Since we had a few newbies with us, we didn’t try the black-rated trails which are listed as one-way (probably because of their difficulty). But some of the blues were more like blue-black. No one fell but the climbs were certainly a workout.
Both the Sheriff and CCC thought: “Wow, we can’t wait to come back.”
Nordic and bike programs manager Shane Landreville has done a bang-up job of providing a top-notch product for crosscountry skiers.
Skiing past the Wild Horseman’s Cabin also took the two of us back many years to our fond memories of a Fondu Snowshoe Hike with North Okanagan naturalist Roseanne Van Ee when we treked to the cabin for delicious fondu and treats. Then we headed back to the village on a horsedrawn sleigh. How Canadian.
***** After such a successful outing, we joined Marshall and wife Karen for their regular Tuesday downhill day at Silver Star Mountain Resort. Marshall likes to start with a warm-up green, so we took the Comet Express six-pack up to green Far Out on the Vance Creek side of the resort.
At the Sheriff's suggestion, we skied every run across the face: Far Out, Sundance, Whiskey Jack, Little Dipper, Middle Dipper and Big Dipper back to the daylodge for lunch. There was no new snow for a couple of days, but the groomed runs were smooth and fast.
Several members went into the trees to try to find untracked powder as snow began softly falling.
The snow continued to fall even heavier during our lunchhour so there was a thickand-growing layer of the softest powder on the groomers, like floating across the top of soft water. It would have been perfect if not for a chilly wind blowing uphill.
Tip: the sky was overcast and the resulting flat lighting was obscured even more by the falling snow. As you head up the lift, look at the difference between the lighting of the snow next to the trees and in the middle of the wide-open runs. If you can’t see the texture and ripples of the snow in the middle (but on the edges), the flat lighting in the middle will be even worse when you are in it. There will be sudden ups and downs that will take you by surprise, as it did all of us.
For those who love skiing and boarding down the glorious twin bumps at the top of Whiskey Jack, there are “Slow” signs along the left side now. The downside of the second bump was filled in a few years ago so it’s less exciting (and treacherous) as when the Sheriff got a bloody nose-faceplant from an errant landing. He goes a lot slower there now.
***** We also checked out Silver Star’s packed Weekly Events schedule. From Ladies Day and Toonie Tuesday at Tube Town to the annual Australia Day Celebration Run on Friday, there were many fun activities.
The all-day Women’s (ski) Academy and Slopes for Hopes fundraiser for the Canadian Cancer Society are today and the Men’s Academy is on Sunday. The Wild Horseman’s hot chocolate and dinner tours are today and Sunday.
***** Shirley Regan of West Kelowna will receive the Sport Hero Award for her outstanding volunteer support to the sport community — in particular the Kelowna Canoe and Kayak Club — at the 2018 Community Sport Hero Awards Reception 6-8 p.m. on Feb. 7 at the Mary Irwin Theatre in the Rotary Centre for the Arts, Kelowna.
She gets to request the “Oscar moment” music, her top two or three songs, so organizers can play her favourite music as she makes her way to the stage to receive the award.
It will be interesting to see what she chooses — a kayaking song like “Kelp, I need somebody; Kelp, not just anybody; Keeeeellllppp!”
***** Lots of news out of Big White Ski Resort this week.
The second annual Big White Ski Club Intercontinental Cup had a record number of international participants from New Zealand and Australia as well as racers from the Big White Ski Club.
A total of 198 racers hit the dual giant slalom course on the Lower Paradise run from the under-eight category all the way through to under-18. This fun-filled event is designed for local racers to build relationships with visiting Australian and New Zealand race clubs on-and-off the course with a barbecue lunch at the Big White Ski Club cabin and awards ceremony in the Happy Valley Day Lodge.
“We’re really pleased with how the event has grown in such a short amount of time. This year was bigger and better than ever, and the racing conditions were great,” said Josh Foster, Big White's director of snow sports.
***** Seven buses from Big White carried 378 fans to help cheer the Kelowna Rockets to a recent 4-3 overtime victory over the Lethbridge Hurricanes.
International guests at Big White have signed in droves up to attend the games for the authentic Canadian experience of watching hockey.
“They’re great fans and bring life to our game,” said Bruce Hamilton, president of the Kelowna Rockets Hockey Club.
“With a large portion of the guests in January travelling from Australia and New Zealand, this is an experience they won’t find close to home. Even though they might not follow the game as closely as Canadians, they will undoubtedly be cheering the loudest,” said Rob Crichton, Big White sales manager.
To date this winter, 1,320 Big White guests have attended Rockets games with buses booked for four more games throughout February and March.
***** A record-breaking holiday season at Big White was boosted by international visitors.
For the second consecutive year, Big White is coming off of its busiest Christmas season in history. This year, the success is due to visitors from Australia who took advantage of new service from Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne to Vancouver, then Kelowna.
“Skier visits were up 4.1 per cent while food and beverage numbers were up 12.8 per cent over this traditional busy period,” said Trevor Hanna, Big White’s vice-president of hospitality.
The resort welcomed 495 more Australian guests this year compared to last year’s holiday period.
During the winter, the company employs more than 1,090 full-time people during the two-week holiday period.
Central Reservations’ airport shuttle handled 4,385 airport transfers breaking last year’s record by more than 800.
Big White Ski & Board School taught more than 7,000 children at the Kids Centre with 1,104 first-time skiers and snowboarders.
Contributing to Big White’s successful holiday period were two massive events: the largest Cruz the Blues in event history with 1,567 participants and the Canadian Olympic team send-off, the largest event in Big White history with more than 6,000 people in the village.
J.P. Squire, aka the Ski Sheriff, is a retired Okanagan Weekend reporter and an avid outdoors enthusiast. Contact him at jp.squire@telus.net.