What's new in Canada's famed British Columbia ski resorts for the 2024-2025 season

The North American ski season is only months away, and this coming winter British Columbia's 13 destination ski resorts are introducing several exciting updates and enhancements, including lift upgrades, new terrain, sustainable initiatives, enhanced amenities, new flight announcements, as well as new events and festivals. Here are some highlights:

WHISTLER BLACKCOMB, Whistler Village, Vancouver Coast & Mountains

Jersey Cream Chairlift Upgraded

The current high-speed quad Jersey Cream Chair on Blackcomb Mountain is being replaced with a new high-speed six-pack. The upgrade is expected to increase uphill capacity by 29 per cent, also reducing lift-line wait times and improving circulation in Blackcomb's high-traffic mid-mountain area.

Luge Canada 2025 World Championships (February 6 – 8, 2025)

Luge Canada will reunite the world in Whistler as the International Luge Federation (FIL) has awarded Whistler with the 53rd FIL Luge World Championships, February 6 – 8, 2025.

Invictus Games Coming to Whistler (February 8 – 16, 2025)

For the first time, Invictus Games will feature winter adaptive sports when it comes to Whistler and Vancouver on February 8 – 16, 2025, which includes Alpine Skiing, Alpine Snowboarding, Biathlon, Nordic Skiing, Skeleton and Wheelchair Curling.

SUN PEAKS RESORT, Kamloops, Thompson Okanagan

New West Bowl Express

This brand-new, high speed detachable quad chairlift will open in the alpine for the 2024-25 winter season. West Bowl is a zone of terrain located in the alpine of Tod Mountain and is one of the highest elevation skiable areas.

Powder Ventures Ski & Snowboard Cross Course

Sun Peaks Resort has built a permanent ski and snowboard cross course on Sundance Mountain opening winter 2024-25. 

Mountain Man Adventures New Sustainable Snowmobile Fleet & Tour

Mountain Man Adventures (MMA), have replaced its entire snowmobile fleet with both new, fuel-efficient gas and electric snowmobiles.  With best-in-class EV technology, Taiga's fully electric snowmobiles are helping preserve the purity of the great outdoors.

BIG WHITE SKI RESORT, Kelowna, Thompson Okanagan

Bullet Chair Upgrade

The Bullet Chair, a major uplift point from the village, underwent a $1.6 million electrical lift modernisation upgrade over summer.

Complete Redesign of the World's Famous Big White Kids' Centre

A place for children to learn, play and relax, Big White's Kids Centre has relocated to a more central location. The complete redesign mixes pastel colours with soft aesthetics to deliver a cozy and calming space for kids to rest, play and learn.

SILVER STAR MOUNTAIN RESORT, Vernon, Thompson Okanagan

New flights into Kelowna by Alaska Air & Westjet

For the upcoming winter, Alaska Air has added direct flights connecting Los Angeles (LAX) and Seattle (SEA) to Kelowna (YLW), supporting Australian and New Zealand travellers entering Canada via the USA.  Kelowna airport serves both Silver Star and Big White Ski resort as entry points.

KICKING HORSE MOUNTAIN RESORT, Golden, Kootenay Rockies

 Freeride World Tour

The Freeride World Tour is one of the most exciting worldwide winter competitions to be formed in recent years. Kicking Horse will once again be the only North American stop on the 2025 tour. Organisers announce the dates of the tour close to the season opener.

 Ski Like A Pro (and with One)

Kicking Horse is debuting new programs and experiences for adult skiers and snowboarders with their Winter Sports School including First tracks, Trees and Skis Eco Tours, Mogul Monday clinics, and Training Thursdays clinics.

REVELSTOKE MOUNTAIN RESORT, Revelstoke, Kootenay Rockies

On-Mountain Guided Tours

The Resort is excited to introduce a dedicated program that will help visitors familiarise themselves with the mountain before heading out on their own. Tours are complimentary and offered daily at 1pm.

Mountain Sports School

In addition to the learning zone, the Resort also added a new Mountain Sports School facility. Both additions are located at the top of the Revelation Gondola creating one centralised location for learning a progression on the mountain.  

New Basecamp Suites downtown Revelstoke

With Revelstoke ski resort only having one hotel on-snow being Sutton Place, many travellers look to stay in the nearby township of Revelstoke and shuttle to the resort. Welcoming winter visitors for the first time this season is the brand-new Base Camp Suites in the heart of downtown, offering modern one and two bedroom suites with kitchenettes. The resort shuttle picks up daily from downtown making it a convenient location to stay.

FERNIE ALPINE RESORT, Fernie, Kootenay Rockies

Polar Peak Upgrades

Serving up all Expert Terrain Polar Peak goes double black every day. A grooming cat has been placed mountain top to help skiers deal with a large amount of snowfall which in the past has made it tough, or not even possible to open Polar Peak chairlift.

PANORAMA MOUNTAIN VILLAGE, Panorama, Kootenay Rockies

Hosting new events

Panorama is expanding its events and après programming. Guests can expect to see more amazing culinary and social soirees this coming winter, along with plenty of outdoor and adventure-based events including the Freeride Frenzy in January, Panorama Pride & Ski Festival in March and Red Bull Slopesoakers in April.

RED MOUNTAIN RESORT, Rossland, Kootenay Rockies

The Crescent: Modern Alpine Flats

The Crescent is RED's newest development situated right at the base of the resort with 102 residences in total. Ranging from super space-efficient studio suites, spacious top-floor lofts that sleep up to six with soaring ceiling heights and an upper-floor sleeping area, and the classic one-bedroom corner suites, all steps from the chairlift.  Guests hae access to personal ski lockers next to each unit, a rooftop bar/lounge, workout room, laundry access, and the swanky Alice Lounge.

WHITEWATER, Nelson, Kootenay Rockies

New Terrain: Goat's Slide Joins Inbound Offerings

Whitewater is thrilled to announce the addition of 60 acres of inbounds terrain, adding four new runs to the resort's trail map as it expands for the first time into the iconic Ymir Bowl, Accessible from the new Raven Chairlift that opened last winter.

MOUNT WASHINGTON ALPINE RESORT, Vancouver Island

Adaptive Experiences

Aligning with The Vancouver Island Society for Adaptive Snowsports (VISAS) a non-profit charitable society focused on providing nationally certified snowsports instruction to people with physical or learning disabilities, Mount Washington is now offering people with adaptive needs an opportunity to participate and enjoy alpine (skiing or snowboarding) or Nordic (cross-country) snowsports in a fun and encouraging environment.

KIMBERLEY ALPINE RESORT, Kimberley, Kootenay Rockies

New Grooming Fleet Additions

A new snowcat will be added to Kimberley's fleet, designed to meet the European “Stage V” emission standards, with the edition of two new fan snow guns.

APEX MOUNTAIN RESORT, Penticton, Thompson Okanagan

T-Bar upgrade to environmentally friendly electric engine

Apex Mountain Resort's iconic T-Bar that services the freestyle mogul area, race training area, two terrain parks and night skiing area has been upgraded to an electric engine.  With the T-Bar's location in the heart of the resort village, the diesel engine sounds and its exhaust emitted into the area will be a welcome absence with a quiet, environmentally friendly electric engine as its replacement. 

Image link: https://www.bccontenthub.com/en/downloads/BC_Ski_Resort_Images_2024

ENDS