Big White to become first B.C. ski resort to open for season

Big White Ski Resort will get the jump on other B.C. resorts by opening for skiing and snowboarding next week.

The Kelowna area resort has received 114 cm of snow this fall, with a 62 cm base in the village, allowing it to open on Thursday, Nov. 17 at 8:45 a.m., seven days ahead of schedule.

It will be the earliest opening since the 2015-16 season and tickets will be 50 per cent off the normal price, but have to be purchased online (see below for details).

“We’ve always had the policy to open as soon as runs permit, and we’re confident that we’ll be able to offer up a good selection of green runs in just over a week,” Michael J. Ballingall, senior vice president, Big White Ski Resort, said. “After a couple of hard years in the tourism world, and having to close early multiple years in a row, we are very excited to give our pass-holders, locals and residents of British Columbia, a chance to hit the slopes as soon as it’s safe to do so.”

Lara’s Gondola, the Plaza Chair and the Ridge Rocket Express Chair will be operating on Nov. 17, servicing runs from 8:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The gondola will close at 5 p.m.

Tickets must be purchased online, with a special promo code available at BigWhite.com, to receive the 50 per cent discount, and will remain discounted until a second detached quad chair starts running.

You can get more details at BigWhite.com.