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Journey to Big White

Tue, 23 Mar 2010 12:43:59 GMT

We were up bright eyes and bushy tailed (well beady eyes and bushed tails!) at 4.30am this morning for our transfer from Banff to Calgary. All our drivers have been really friendly and chatty but I was quietly relieved when this driver discretely turned off the bus lights 10 minutes after the journey began to let us continue sleeping.
A coffee at Calgary airport helped to make the time more civilized and we boarded our plane. There was a snow storm brewing so after de-icing the plane we jetted off to Kelowna on a brand new Air Canada plane.
We arrived to snow which got thicker and thicker as we made our way up to Big White. We arrived to a truly winter wonderland and snow so dry and powdery that we struggled to compact it to make snow balls. The brave ones in the group (mostly the males) fitted up for skis and snowboards and they were off up the mountain…

while the rest of us made the most of our time and went exploring through the shops and sightseeing at the clock tower.

Early evening, in -11 degrees with a -10 degree wind chill, we decided it would be a ‘good idea’ to try out the hot tub on our deck. It was freeezzzinng and two ladies ponytails froze. Te he he. What an experience! It’s the first time I have worn a beanie in a hot tub!!!!!
By then we were amped so made our way down to dinner, followed by drinks and a very late night. This place has awesome Apres ski options…..

Skiing Big White

Tue, 23 Mar 2010 12:41:56 GMT

I woke early to the sound of the snow plows heading up the mountain - what a perfect alarm clock at a ski resort. After a hearty breakfast and purchasing a bright pink crash helmet we headed up the mountain for a full day skiing. We paid for ski lessons in the morning and then used the expertise of the mountain hosts in the afternoon. All these guys (and girls) are awesome and so knowledgeable.

We skied all over the mountain on green to black runs, in and out of the trees, on runs with hardly anyone else in sight - bliss, just bliss. In the afternoon it started snowing again but that just made the skiing even more of an adventure.

At the end of the day, is was a novelty, to ski to the door of our resort, unclip our skis and head inside. I love the convenience of ski-in/ski-out and being able to watch my friends ski straight past our accommodation – and stop to allow us to take goofy reindeer photos.

This place is perfect for everyone – there are singles, families, couples, older couples, locals…a real mix.

In the evening we decided to try ‘tubing’ – what a hoot! Flying down a mountain attached to three friends in an inner tub screaming my head off was so much funnnn!!!

But in -17 degrees with a -11 degree wind chill…it was cold! There was also ice hockey and ice skating on offer as well. This place is AWESOME!

Skiing Silver Star

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 12:38:37 GMT

We skied the whole day today at Silver Star in British Columbia, Canada and we had perfect blue skies, no wind and only one or two people on any run we went on - unmatched skiing conditions. This day has officially gone down as my skiing day highlight. WOW. It was hard to get my head around skiing beside, behind and in front of accommodation and private houses but that’s what we did. For the first half a day, we only saw 12 people in total on the runs I was skiing - unbelievable. I have been ruined for life for skiing anywhere else in the world. This place really is the best!

Silver Star Resort is located on a plateau of the Okanagan Highland and you can buy a dual liftpass which alllows you to ski both Silver Star and Big White. Want a break from skiing then choose another winter activity like ice skating, snow shoeing, tubing, or snowmobiling.