Big White primed for holiday season
There’s only one thing to say to Okanagan skiers who stayed in the valley bottom on Wednesday: “Heaven’s above.”
The Ski Sheriff and Constant Companion Carmen saw sunny skies, fresh snow and headed to Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre in the North Okanagan. Officially, there were seven centimetres of light fluffy powder, but it seemed like more as we headed up our favourite trail, Carl Wylie. Every time, the Sheriff hits that wonderful six-kilometre loop, he thanks Carl and his son, Don, for establishing many of the trails there.
There was so much beautiful snow that a short section of Carl Wylie wasn’t groomed yet, so it was a reminder of what backcountry skiing is like. The ankles were a little sore since there wasn’t machine track-setting to keep your boots flat.
We also love to add Black Prince, also a blue or more challenging trail with its two sharp switchbacks. It too wasn’t groomed yet but took us to Black Prince Cabin where we helped light the woodstove and had lunch.
Silver Queen, a black or most challenging trail, wasn’t groomed yet, so we decided to wait until our next outing for our second favourite trail, although it’s hard to beat green Woodland Bell at night on Sovereign’s annual Lantern Ski — especially when it coincides with a magical light snowfall.
Both Carl Wylie and Siver Queen have these exhilarating roller-coaster downhills on the way back to the daylodge. The faster you ski the downhills, the less climbing you have to do on the uphill. They aren’t like 12.5-kilometre black Aberdeen-Lars Taylor where you climb up, up, up almost to the summit of Silver Star Mountain, then race down, down, down to Black Prince Cabin.
CCC’s 2018-19 resolution is to really work at climbing by staying in the parallel track as long as possible to get a cardio workout.
Sovereign Lake was busy last weekend with the 2018 Haywood NorAm/US Super Tour, the second stop on the US SuperTour Points Series in 2018.
“We were very excited to host this highlevel competition at our high altitude venue,” said general manager Troy Hudson, who was also chief of course. “This was a huge opportunity for us to showcase our amazing venue and we welcomed citizens from across the U.S. in joining us for an exceptional weekend of racing.”
Aberdeen, Passmore and World Cup trails were closed with 800 people and Hudson out on the race course.
Today, Sovereign hosts the 2018 Regional Biathlon Fun Race with the Modified Super Sprint this morning and Fun Mixed Team Relay (new unsanctioned format) on Sunday.
This is also the first weekend to ride the new Powder Chair at Big White Ski Resort — a fixed-grip quad chair capable of 2,400 passengers per hour. The new path of the lift has also created a new run, The General.
Although the official opening and ribboncutting ceremony occurred on Friday, the festivities continue this morning at a Powder Chair Party with free hot chocolate, giveaways, DJ Bag-o-Beatz and an opportunity to receive a limited-edition Powder Chair pin between 8:45-10:30 a.m.
There is also good and bad news for two cross-country ski areas in the Okanagan.
Kelowna Nordic Ski and Snowshoe Club’s ski area opened for classic and skate skiing on Friday with a mild temperatuere of -3C and cloudy skies.
According to kelownanordic.com, these trails have been groomed: Log Cabin, Meadow, Upper Meadow, Lower Meadow, Backcountry (from Riverside to Thunder Mountain), Riverside (from Backcountry to Upper Meadow), Lower Olympic, Kallis (from Roller Coaster to Upper Meadow), Diamond Dave’s, Thunder Mountain and Old Cedar.
“Watch out for early-season hazards such as sticks and rocks. Snowshoe conditions are good. Stay tuned for more updates. Please note the Ski Tracker page has not been updated yet for this season even though the above trails have been groomed.”
As of Thursday, the Telemark Nordic Club ski area in West Kelowna is still closed.
“Unfortunately, we don’t have enough snow to open,” said general manager Mike Edwards. “We received about 12 centimetres this week on top of a thin frozen base. It is enough that we have started light grooming, but it is not enough to open for skiing.
“With warm temps and not much precipitation forecast over the next couple of days, we will have to delay our opening until next week,” Edwards added. “Updated opening day is now Friday, Dec. 21 (snow dependent).”
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Christmas is big at Big White Ski Resort. So big that it now stretches for almost the entire month of December.
While Santa’s elves are busy making millions of presents for millions of good little boys and girls this month, the staff at the resort were also busy wrapping hundreds of presents, checking thousands of lights, decorating dozens of trees and preparing for a 25-day kaleidoscope of red, white and green fun.
“Like our snow, Christmas is big here at the resort. We spend upwards of $30,000 on pre-Christmas events, Christmas itself, and setting up that general twinkly feeling required at this time of the year,” says senior vice-president Michael J. Ballingall.
“Growing up in Canada, there’s always a debate whether July 1 or Dec. 25 is your favourite day of the year. When you can expand Dec. 25 to last the whole month of December by building Canada’s highest ‘Santa’s Workshop,’ I think the answer is easy. Families come from all over the world to visit our winter wonderland and the joy that gives us as members of the community is reinforced with the investment we make every year in more lights, more trees and more Christmas spirit.”
The first blast of funds went to the annual Light Up Big White on Dec. 1, which featured a laser show, lighting trees lining the Village from The Bullwheel to Snowshoe Sam’s, and fireworks.
It was followed by the annual Christmas Craft Market in the Village Centre Mall on Dec. 2 when vendors from across the Okanagan showcased their wares.
This Sunday, Santa Claus trades in his sleigh for a tube at the Tube Park in Happy Valley. Throughout the week, you will see his red suit and frosted beard whizzing by on the slopes before he settles into the serious role of listening to Christmas wishes on Dec. 20. Santa’s Workshop will be set up in the Village until Christmas Eve.
“We spend a lot to ensure the space is a suitable home-away-from-home for the big guy, and more importantly, a place of wonderment for the hundreds of little skiers and boarders who climb onto his lap. That doesn’t take into account all the milk and cookies we go through to keep Santa’s suit nice and tight,” joked Ballingall.
“The festivities on Christmas Eve include bills for entertainment and food vendors, PA system rentals, decor, bringing Santa’s reindeer down from the North Pole, and finally, for an incredible fireworks display. Once you add it up, you can see just how magical we want this month to be for children and adults alike.”
“The Christmas holidays at Big White are a big deal,” added Bethan Wetheral, Guest Services manager. “From the time the staff starts in mid-November until the fireworks go off on Christmas Eve, it is a huge effort from every member of the Guest Services team to bring the magic to our guests. But we wouldn’t have it any other way, from Santa’s Workshop to the new Christmas Eve Festival and Tubing with Santa, we ensure the Christmas spirit is alive and well at Big White.”
Here is a detailed schedule for the holidays: * Dec. 16: 3:30-5 p.m., Tube with Santa; meet Santa at the top of the Magic Carpet from 3:30 p.m. on in the Happy Valley Adventure Park where you can invite Santa to ride with your group or challenge him to a race, get a photo with him and receive a candy cane; after tubing, warm up with a free hot chocolate around the Tube Park bonfire.
* Dec. 20-24: 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 1:30-4 p.m., Santa’s Workshop in the Telus Igloo located in the center of the village; while shredding the resort slopes for two weeks, Santa is available for a free family Christmas photo; don’t forget your Christmas wish list; Santa’s elves will also be looking for little helpers to make Christmas decorations they can take home to adorn your tree.
* Dec. 24-25: Christmas Dinner To Go; chefs at Kettle Valley Steakhouse will cook your homestyle Christmas dinner; a traditional holiday feast with all of the fixings available for pick-up or delivered to your door.
* Dec. 24: 8-11 a.m., Breakfast with Santa in Happy Valley Day Lodge; buffet breakfast including everything from pasties and maple bacon to a kids’ pancake bar in the Moose Lounge; $16.95, kids 10-and-under $7.95.
* Dec. 24: 4.30-7 p.m., inaugural Big White Christmas Eve Festival; a magical night full of festive wonder, replacing the Christmas Eve Parade, will see the Village come alive with elves, internationally-inspired activities and, of course, Christmas lights. Festivities begin with the annual Christmas Eve Service in the Village Centre Mall led by Pastor Jack and accompanied by the Ski School Rookie Choir; Christmas booths including ‘Merry Christmas From Around The World’ Photo Booth, Mistletoe Photo Booth, Bell Music Station to create your own Christmas jingle, Decoration Station to create your own Christmas ornament, Letters to Home station to fill in a postcard to send off to loved ones; carol singers and jugglers will roam around the Village; Santa will read favourite classic Christmas stories in the Village Centre Mall; watch out for that pesky Grinch who tends to turn up at Big White on Christmas Eve and spoil all our fun; clothing and food drive for donations to those less fortunate; hot chocolate and Christmas treats available from Clocktower Coffee Co.; ending with the resort’s famous Christmas Eve Fireworks, best viewed from the Village between The Woods and Stonebridge.
* Dec. 25: 10-11 a.m., Ski with Santa; meet Santa in front of the Village Centre Mall; candy canes for kids, photos with Santa; participants encouraged to dress like Santa, wear your most stylish Christmas sweater or rock out as reindeer when coming down the slopes.
* Dec. 31: 7 p.m.-late, The Woods New Year’s 2018 in the Absolut Martini Chill Lounge in front of The Woods; oysters shucked to order; a complete second bar for New Year’s bubbles; DJ Bag-O-Beetz; exclusive dinner and dance for adults only; advanced tickets $80 per person, which includes a three-course, chef-inspired menu and a midnight glass of bubbles.
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In other outdoors news, the Gellatly Nut Farm Regional Park orchard will again be illuminated to celebrate Winter Magic.
After dark (4-7 p.m.) today and Sunday, the grove will be lit up for everyone to walk through with the family to view decorations, enjoy hot chocolate and listen to seasonal entertainment under the warming tent.
This is a ‘bring-your-own-mug’ event in an attempt to reduce waste for the free hot chocolate.
Gellatly Nut Farm Society volunteers will provide tours of the farmhouse both nights. They will also have nuts and wooden bowls available for cash sales only.
This event is free and registration is not required.