You’re first on the chair. Where do you go?

It’s the ideal scenario. Snowed 20cm overnight and somehow, you’ve ended up being first on the chairlift at 9am. For the first few moments of your ride, you’re exhilarated and jubilant. You call out to your buddies to make them jealous as you fly over their heads, up to the top of the resort. Then, when the adrenaline has worn off, panic sets in. Where the heck am I going to ride?

Setting the first set of fresh tracks on a powder day can be a stressful experience: especially if you haven’t planned where to go. We spoke to a few people who’ve been around Whitewater for a few years to get the inside scoop.

Hanna, Whitewater Retail Supervisor: “No doubt in my mind. I’d head up Summit chair and hit Terra Ratta. It’s one of those runs which is amazing at any time, but picking the first line and setting fresh tracks in deep powder is just the best feeling.”

Kayla, Guest Services Supervisor: “Everyone always heads to Summit chair, but fresh powder laps on the Silver King are so awesome! You can fit a lot more in as there is almost never a line up. I’d traverse across the top and ride through the Canadian Belle powder field.”

Rob, owner of the Alpine Inn & Suites: “It’s got to be the Blast. Such an iconic run at Whitewater, which is even better in deep snow. Plus, everyone riding up the Summit chair for their first lap gets jealous that you’re already shredding the pow!”

Emma, Dispatch and Liftie: “Quick laps through the Quicksilver trees are where it’s at when there’s a ton of snow.”

And the person who really knows… Kirk, General Manager: “I’d hit the steeper side of Sleeper. You get the cliffs right at the top, and then it completely opens up into the bowl. A great place to lay some fresh tracks.”

Photo by Ryan Flett

But how do you get to be the first on the chair? Well, preparing the night before is a good idea. Check the forecast and get your gear ready. Next step is to sign up for the Whitewater Powder alert – you’ll get an email notification around 6am if there’s been more than 10cm or 20cm of freshies. And finally, commit. Get out of bed, grab some food and get going asap.

If you’re from out of town, there’s 2 other good steps to take:

Step 1 is to buy and print your lift tickets the day before. Having a lift ticket means you can go straight to the chair, rather than waiting in line when you arrive. Get them from the Whitewater Downtown office – open 8:30am-5pm every day of the season. Find it at 602 Lake Street.

Step 2 is to stay somewhere near the mountain. The Alpine Inn & Suites is the accommodation in Nelson which is closest to the hill. Check out their room options and their ski&stay rates here.

Written by Bex Dawkes Cover photo by Dave Heath