Stories About BC Canada
Terrain-ing Days - BC Resorts Open Up New Territory, Improve Existing Runs for 05/06
By Steven Threndyle
Skiers and snowboarders are an optimistic lot. That's the major conclusion to be drawn from talking to Jimmie Spencer, President of the Canada West Ski Areas Association, based out of Vernon, BC. Despite having experienced some of the most challenging and unpredictable winter weather in his memory (and Mr. Spencer is well into his seventies), he says that virtually all ski areas in western Canada are reporting strong early season pass sales and vacation bookings for the upcoming season.
Indeed, if last winter's freaky weather had seriously dented the bottom line of BC resorts, you wouldn't see the enormous amount of on-slope improvements, real estate investments, summer slope maintenance, and numerous other upgrades at the province’s ski resorts. Spencer enthuses, "the overall mood amongst the operators is very positive right now. We're in a position where we're able to survive a poor snow year and not have it affect things too much.”
The one major question that skiers and snowboarders want to know at the beginning of each ski season is 'what's new for this year?' Inevitably, the biggest buzz is generated by resorts that are installing new chairlifts and opening new terrain. The leader for this winter is Silver Star Mountain Resort, which will be opening its new Silver Woods area, increasing the Vance Creek (village) side of the mountain by 54 per cent. Skiers and riders will enjoy over 360 acres of new territory, serviced by a $4.5 M Leitner-Poma high-speed detachable quad. Boasting a 341 metre (1,120 feet) vertical drop, this lift will provide access to nine new trails and gladed 'tree islands' that will offer fabulous champagne powder skiing on north-east facing slopes. The terrain mix will be 80 per cent intermediate and 20 per cent advanced, with a beginner slope as well. Silver Star skiers who enjoy Gypsy Queen and Sunny Ridge will love the new runs at Silver Woods.
If there’s one thing that BC ski areas learned from last winter, it was the importance of off-season slope maintenance and snowmaking. At Whistler-Blackcomb, between $13 and $15 million has been spent on maintenance and new infrastructure, much of which will improve both early and late-season skiing and riding. Extensive summer grooming and investment in snowmaking across both mountains will enable ski runs to open with less snow coverage; a boon for value-conscious early and late-season skiers. Whistler Blackcomb is still celebrating the 2004-2005 addition of 1,100 acres of skiable terrain that opened in two zones: Peak to Creek and Flute Bowl, both on Whistler Mountain. At Cypress Mountain in West Vancouver, summer grooming was performed on Bowen Face and Windjammer, with a few adjustments made to the bottom of Top Gun. At Big White, over 30,000 truckloads of fill were dumped onto a total of 14 runs on Gem Lake.
Summer grooming programs were also conducted at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, Fernie Alpine Resort, Panorama Resort, and Rossland’s Red Resort. Many resorts have boosted their snowmaking capacity and purchased high-power winch cats, which can turn even the wildest slopes to buttery smooth corduroy. Improving early-season conditions in terrain parks and half pipes is a priority at Big White and several other resorts as well.
It's one thing to open new terrain, quite another to install a new terrain park. At Cypress Mountain, New School freestyle skiers and snowboarders will love the Bell Power Park - quadruple the size of the old one. The nearby Midway chairlift will make for quick turnaround time.
With over fifty per cent of Mount Seymour’s clientele embracing either snowboarding or New School freestyle skiing, it’s no surprise that the North Shore resort has become a favorite for local and traveling freestyle riders. The resort operates three terrain parks and the region’s only dedicated urban jib park. The Jaguar/Land Rover Terrain Park contains features designed by the pros on the Seymour Team (including pro riders Roberta Rodger, Sean Genovese, and JP Auclair).
At Silver Star, the new TELUS Park offers something for all levels of riders and skiers. Beginners will appreciate the fat boxes to learn to slide on and mini-hits for catching your first air. Advanced riders will grind the long boxes and killer s-rails, and launch off the large hits. TELUS Park also houses a halfpipe, aerial training site, race centre, and a dual mogul race course.
Apex Resort has a new 17-foot high in-ground super-pipe, Parkzilla (a new Terrain Park located on Maverick), and has upgraded the Orage terrain park run that features big hits and huge landings. Apex is hosting the 2006 FIS World Cup Freestyle Finals, including Aerials, Moguls, Skier Cross, and Half Pipe from March 16-19, 2006.
Last year, Whistler-Blackcomb introduced night pipe riding in a brand new Superpipe constructed for the World Snowboarding Championships. The pipe remains open this season for Night Moves on Thursday through Saturday nights.
On the accommodation front, vacationers will have many splendid new choices about where to lay their weary bones after a hard day of skiing or riding. Silver Star Mountain Resort’s luxurious new Snowbird Lodge will open this season, providing the ultimate ski-in ski-out convenience. Boasting some of the most stunning views on Silver Star Mountain, a stay at Snowbird Lodge will leave a lasting impression on its guests. At Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, $21 million is being invested in real estate projects which will greatly increase on-slope accommodation – notable new developments include Selkirk Resort Homes and Palliser Lodge. At Mount Washington, the fabulous new Bear Lodge comes with all of the first-class touches discerning resort travellers come to expect, and joins a full-service alpine village with over 3,500 beds. This summer, Red Resort started construction on the new, 67-unit Slalom Creek luxury condominium slated for completion in winter 2006.
Even the ‘learning experience’ is undergoing major changes at several resorts. Big White’s award-winning Kids Centre will offer new day-care services to ensure your time out on the slopes is not spent worrying about your children. At Sun Peaks, the new Children’s Learning Centre located at the top of the Village Platter provides a convenient gathering place for lessons. The new Sun Kids conveyor lift boosts to five the total number of learning lifts at Sun Peaks. At Whitewater, the Mountain Learning Centre teams up instructors from the Snow School with Whitewater’s snow safety instructors to offer a full range of Backcountry Touring courses (from beginner to advanced).
Everyone loves apres-ski, and there’s lots to report on that front as well. Fernie Alpine Resort has partnered to create the freshest place to relax after a day on the hill: The Kokanee Deck at the Griz Bar. Almost doubling the bar's capacity, the deck will play host to the Kokanee Snow Dreams Party on February 3, 2006. At Panorama, additions to the legendary Elkhorn Cabin have almost doubled its size. Big timber and lots of glass highlight dramatic views over Panorama Mountain Village far below. Guests will enjoy an expanded gourmet BBQ menu, live music and surprise performances. Big White’s village ambience has been enhanced by new lighted walking paths connecting the main village to Snow Pines Estates and Happy Valley.
On Vancouver Island, Mount Washington possesses one of the finest cross-country facilities in British Columbia...the 10,000 square foot Raven Lodge. This state of the art Nordic centre combines modern amenities with traditional post and beam construction. The view from Raven Lodge is absolutely breathtaking, facing Mt Albert Edward and Vancouver Island's beautiful Beaufort Range.
Getting to BC’s resorts has never been easier. Access from US points has also significantly improved. For skiers bound for Kimberley and Fernie, the new Canadian Rockies International Airport (formerly the Cranbrook Airport) is expanding and will become the gateway to the Kootenay Rockies. With the addition of two daily shuttles, Sun Peaks guests have the choice of flying into Kelowna or Kamloops airport. Air Canada recently announced that they will be flying larger planes on their daily non-stops from Toronto, and boutique Harmony Airways will be servicing Kelowna directly from Honolulu – great news for skiers travelling to any of the four resorts in the Thompson Okanagan region.
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