Summer operations are in full swing at Big White Ski Resort in Kelowna, BC, with folks out their hiking trails and riding their bike park but there is a massive project underway with the aim of opening the resort earlier when winter comes.
Big White is currently in the middle of a $450,000 re-grading project of Ridge Connector and Middle Perfection. These two runs are key routes for the resort providing access back to the Ridge base from the Bullet Chair without having to ski through the Village Centre or down Mogul Track.
The goal of the re-grading is simple: “create a smoother surface that can open earlier in the season and be groomed with less snow.” In winters past Middle Perfection has often required winch-assisted grooming because of its steep terrain. Once the re-grading work is complete, grooming crews will be able to use a conventional groomer more often, making nightly grooming more efficient while providing more reliable conditions for skiers and snowboarders:
“Summer on the mountain doesn’t just mean bikes, patios and sunshine… it also means bulldozers, excavators and a whole lot of dirt. While you’re making the most of summer, our mountain operations team is hard at work preparing for winter. We’re investing $450,000 into smoothing Middle Perfection and re-grading Ridge Connector, making these key routes easier to groom, quicker to open with less snow, and even better to ski. Crews are also improving Lower Serwas and tackling brush clearing across the mountain to enhance snow retention and skiing conditions.” -Big White
The project should take about a month to complete and is expected to improve the guest experience and the mountain’s long-term operations.
Re-grading crews will also be making improvements to Lower Serwas, where they will be flattening a sidehill section near the bottom of the run and smooth out several terrain transitions. These flattening efforts will make what is currently the most challenging section for beginner skiers more approachable while also making the run faster and easier to groom.
Beyond earthworks projects mountain crews are also brush cutting across the resort. Priority areas this season include the Gem Lake runs accessed from Moonlight Run, Lower Kalina’s, Sapphire, and Black Jack. Later in the summer crews will return to clear vegetation throughout the Ridge Chair pod below Summer Road, helping improve snow retention, visibility, and overall skiing conditions.
If you are a Big White skier or snowboarder, you may not see all the hardwork they are putting in this summer but it will be unmistakable once they start spinning chairlifts.
“These behind-the-scenes investments are all part of Big White’s ongoing commitment to delivering the best possible winter experience, one improvement at a time.” -Big White
