Silver Star and Big White Resorts Opening Fri/Sat, British Columbia

Transworld Snowboarding - 11/15/2005

The wait is over! With weekend storms adding significantly to the already impressive early season snowpack, both Silver Star and Big White Ski Resorts will OPEN for the 05/06 ski season this weekend. Silver Star will start the lifts at 8:30 on Friday, November 18, and Big White will follow suit at 8:45 on Saturday, November 19.

"Okanagan Valley skiers are rarin' to go, and we're thrilled to announce that Silver Star and Big White are off to a great start again this season on 100% natural snow," commented Michael J. Ballingall, Senior Vice President for Big White and Silver Star. "We are offering plenty of packages on our websites including our famous Ski Free promotion."

As of 6:00 a.m. on Monday November 12, Silver Star is reporting a snow base of 75 centimeters (30 inches) and at Big White, the base is currently 79 centimeters (31 inches). Temperatures at both mountains have been well below freezing.

The Environment Canada forecast calls for below-freezing temperatures and snow flurries for the next five days. Guests are reminded that these are early-season conditions – hidden and unmarked obstacles may be present. Ski safely, and please do not wander off ungroomed runs.

Kelowna, B.C. (Ski Press)- American tourists have arrived in record numbers at both Big White and Silver Star Ski Resorts near Kelowna, B.C., Canada. Silver Star Ski Resort Ltd. has reported a 15% increase in skier visits and Big White Ski Resort Ltd. a 22% increase over the same time period last year.

“This is great news for winter tourism here in the Okanagan,” said Peter Schumann, President of Big White Ski Resort Ltd. and Silver Star Ski Resort Ltd. “Everybody wins when we provide a quality product for our guests to enjoy.”

“With the expansion and building of new accommodation and our mandate to focus on families, our resorts have become a haven for family winter holidays from residents of Washington state,” said Michael J. Ballingall, Senior Vice President, Schumann Resorts Ltd.

The resort attributes the increase a Northwest-based marketing stance focusing on affordability and families, as well as package deals that include lift tickets, accommodations and après ski events.

Follow this link to the original Silver Star article.

There’s snow place like the Rockies

Dawn Armstrong reporting from Evening Chronicle, Newcastle U.K. - May 29, 2004

If you’re after the perfect setting for a ski holiday, Canada fits the bill.

Following a scenic drive into British Columbia , we headed for Silver Star.

By 7pm we had arrived at the resort and checked into the fun and quirky Putnam Station Hotel which has an old fashioned British telephone box in the lobby and a miniature toy train in the dining area.

Silver Star is a colourful Victorian-inspired village situated mid mountain, so all accommodation offers ski-in ski-out access to the slopes.

There are 2,725 acres of ski-able terrain spread out over two mountain faces and due to the Okanagan Valley ’s unique microclimate, Silver Star is known for its “champagne powder”, or exceedingly light, dry snow.

The Vance Creek mountain has more green beginner and blue intermediate runs, making it ideal for families and the Putnam Creek mountain has more black advanced and double black extreme runs attempted by the brave.

The resort is also a great place for snowboarders as well as skiers, with two half pipes.

Having checked out of the hotel, we all went for a short horse-drawn sleigh ride around to the Tube Town Adventure Park , an exciting place for thrill seekers of all ages, which we took full advantage of by speeding downhill on an inner tube bringing out the child in all of us.

Our last destination was reached via a 20 minute once in a lifetime helicopter transfer, encountering fantastic aerial views of the landscape and scenes of mountain tops and frozen lakes which could not truly be experienced on the ground

Finally we arrived at Silver Star’s sister resort, Big White and the rustic Inn at Big White.  

Okanagan’s most popular resort, Big White is known for providing Canada’s largest ski-in ski-out village, with a massive 2,650 acres of skiable mountain area offering abundant snowfall, mild temperatures and plenty of sun. Known for being an affordable choice it

offers accommodation for all budgets. Weekly activities include torchlight parade, fireworks, and even a carnival night.

There are also plenty of things to do if you fancy a break from skiing or boarding, such as outdoor ice skating, ice hockey and for the adventurous among us, there was the Mega Snow Coaster tube ride.

Having slowly progressed from beginner I had now achieved the almost unreachable goal of an intermediate snowboarder allowing me to show off my newly acquired skills on the slopes zig-zagging down the mountain like a true boarder.

As once again the day hurried past and the evening came upon us, we all gathered for one last meal at the Copper Kettle Grill, in the centre of the village, where we chatted about our weeks experiences, the highs and lows of our trip, and the day ahead when we would finally and reluctantly return home.

Follow this link to the original Silver Star article.