Whitewater Thrives at Thirty Five

Legendary little British Columba Resort now a big, bold mountain with well-earned renownNelson BC—Putting the wow in pow since 1976, one of the world’s most famously off-the-radar ski resorts celebrates a mountain culture milestone this winter.Located along Canada’s famous Powder Highway, high above the incomparably authentic mountain city of Nelson, British Columbia, Whitewater Ski Resort offers a world-class skiing and snowboarding experience—embraced by a rare but legendary combination of irresistible small-town hospitality and stunning metropolitan culture. Serviced by four lifts including the new 2,044 vertical foot Glory Ridge Triple, Whitewater’s terrain has nearly doubled in size over the last year to well over 500 hectares (more than 1,300 acres) offering family-friendly slopes, remarkable steeps and tree-skiing, and endless backcountry for every level of off-piste adventurer.Whitewater’s history is one of lore and more, stoked by famously deep, light snow—1,200 centimetres, or 40 feet, over an almost six-month season that stretches from late November well through April—plus award-winning fare, true Canadiana culture, blue-collar-meets-tie-died character and crowds that, well, aren’t even crowds. With the resort’s new expansion, lift lines are remarkably light, runs often empty, and fresh lines ample. Plus, there’re 15-kilometres of stunning Nordic trail.The resort is located in the heart of southeastern B.C.’s rugged Kootenay region, with more cat-, heli- and backcountry lodge skiing operations than any other part of the planet.Whitewater’s ideal location—a massive forested and alpine bowl punctuated by Ymir Peak’s 7,867-foot summit—was discovered on a backcountry dirt biking excursion from nearby Nelson in the ‘70s. Its first lift and lodge were built entirely by volunteers who chipped in a whopping 9,000 hours of their time, all in their pursuit of a homegrown hill. Opening in 1976, the mountain is more revered now by local yokels and powder purists ‘round the world than ever, 35 winters later.The original lodge still stands today, spruced up thanks to a sweeping renovation in 2010. The overhaul added a new twist to Whitewater’s national award-winning Fresh Tracks Café, voted the 2nd Best Ski Resort Café in North America by Ski Magazine. (Make sure to pick up the best-selling Whitewater Cooks recipe book for home, lauded by the New York Times). There’s a bigger, brighter après venue—Coal Oil Johnny’s bar always hops at lunch and after the lifts close—Freshies’ Coffee Bar (serving locally roasted Oso Negro coffee, one of Nelson’s numerous delicious culinary exports) as well as a new rental area, The Whitewater Store and The Adventure Centre.From rookie to rock star, Whitewater’s Adventure Centre program offers courses for skiers, ’boarder or backcountry enthusiasts of all stripe—private lessons, powder classes, avalanche safety, ladies only, just the boys, and up-and-coming freeriders aiming to hone their big mountain prowess under the eyes of some of Whitewater’s most famous freeski stars.Over the past decade, Whitewater’s legend has landed on the pages and covers of some of world’s greatest publications, outdoor and otherwise—including Powder, The Globe and Mail, Trans World Snowboarder, Snowboard Canada and The Guardian. The hill has borne film-making and photographer attention for years—check out Absinthe Films’ new release, Twelve, Bill Heath’s seminal Sinners, Whitewater’s on-line mini-doc by Nelson-based adventure sport aces Freeride Entertainment, or the work of veteran shooters Doug LePage, Dave Gluns and Steve Ogle.On the heels an epic season, Whitewater Ski Resort is bracing for a second legendary La Nina winter, in 2011/2012—a 35th winter of pure, simple skiing and real deep days.

Media ContactsAnne Pigeon, Managing Director of Indoor Operations1-250-354-4944 / cell 1-250-509-1402 / Rebeckah Hornung,   Sales & Marketing Director1-250-354-3944 / cell 1-250-509-1403 /