Millions of dollars spent to enhance Big White Ski Resort this year

Big White Ski Resort is set to welcome skiers and snowboarders on Nov. 28, if there is enough natural snow.

Big White Ski Resort senior vice president Michael Ballingall says the resort has spent millions on upgrades for this year and is eager to welcome guests for opening weekend celebrations.

“There are 17,000 beds in Big White, the majority of them are owned by people in the Central Okanagan, especially Kelowna. It’s a traditional weekend where they bring their friends and families up. They open up their condos, they have parties, they go get their skis waxed and the kids try on their boots for the first time since April,” Ballingall says.

He says there have been significant upgrades done to the hills, including an expanded beginner area with a third magic carpet, increased guest services and more gondolas.

“Our new magic carpet beginner area has increased by 50 percent, so that's a $350,000 moving sidewalk,” Ballingall says. “We’re concentrating on teaching a lot more people… how to ski and snowboard this year.”

Wait times at Lara’s Gondola will go down as eight new cabins have been added, which will increase capacity by 50 per cent.

There will also be more terrain as the resort has worked on creating a new return run to Gem Lake, known as the Village Way Return. Skiers and snowboarders can now access the area that usually wasn’t available until Christmas time, as the new run can accommodate thrill-seekers with 30 to 40 centimetres less snow than previously needed.

The resort has upgraded things at the base of the mountain as well, like the $1.2 million first phase of the central reservations building. The building will have more parking spaces and offer a guest lounge, complete with showers for those who wish to hit the slopes after they’ve checked out. The full project is expected to cost $5.5 million.

The resort is also selling 27 new townhomes between $500,000 and $600,000 which are located close to Lara’s Gondola.

For more information on Big White Ski Resort, click here.

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