When we plan ski adventures, we dream of the best snow, the greatest runs, no line ups, and great weather. But it’s often the unexpected or unplanned moments that take our breath away. Sometimes those moments are on the slopes and sometimes those transcendental re-sets happen off-piste: catching a beautiful sunset from the hot tub, enjoying fireworks in the village, or enjoying a precious moment with a child that is growing up way too fast.
One of my favourite memories from a ski vacation involves playing hockey — and, not to fear, this was off the slopes. On this particular ski trip, a year ago this January, three generations of my family enjoyed the winter wonderland of Big White Ski Resort in the Okanagan Valley.
It was a special trip. We hadn’t all been on a family vacation — my brothers and I with my parents — for a very long time. (The last time was probably when we were in university, and the idea of having our own kids was, well, decades away.)
It was also special because it was the first time I had visited Big White with my dad, the founder of Skican, since I took over the company in 2015. Skican has always had a close relationship with Big White, so it felt like a homecoming, and I was looking forward to experiencing “Canada’s favourite family resort” with my own kids.
On our week, my parents, Robin and Sheila, my younger brother, Shane, and his girlfriend, Kelly, as well as my kids, Jake and Maggie, and I, all stayed at Bullet Creek Cabin #3. With four bedrooms and a den spread out over three floors, each family had ample room and the ability to retreat to a quieter space when needed. My older brother, Trevor, his wife, Gina, and kids, Sierra and Bryce, stayed at Sundance Resort, a five-minute walk up the hill. (Despite their ski-in/ski-out location on the slopes, however, I beat my older brother to the lifts each morning. Just sayin’!)
We took advantage of the Market in the Village Centre and stocked up on local Okanagan wine and groceries for simple meals and après ski goodies. We also ventured out to several of the restaurants in the village, including The Woods, Snowshoe Sam’s, and The Bullwheel — all great for families. And one evening we ordered pizza from The Market and enjoyed a lazy cozy night in the cabin.
The hockey game I mentioned, happened at the end of a week filled with wonderful family ski days, lots of fresh snow, and many smiles. Earlier, I had challenged the Big White marketing and sales team to a match but, with a few ex-Junior players on staff, and the fitness level that comes with living year-round on the mountain, they just smiled at me and kindly left us to ourselves.
The skating rink at Big White is a short gondola ride down to Happy Valley from the main village area. We rented skates at the lodge, claimed a section of the huge outdoor rink, and piled jackets and mitts to create makeshift nets.
Under a beautiful, starry sky, we played for well over an hour. Despite having skied a full day, we still found the energy to fling ourselves up and down the ice, chasing a Big White logo-emblazoned puck. At times, we ended up head first in the snowbanks, exhilarated by the atmosphere and good ol’ sibling rivalry. Stopping, now and then, for water breaks and camera ops, our panting breath created a halo of fog, only adding to the wintry beauty of the evening.
When we had finally exhausted ourselves, we handed in our skates and grabbed a gondola ride back to the chalet — all rosy cheeked with our spirits lit up by a truly Canadian winter experience.
Almost a year later, I asked the kids what their favourite memory of our week at Big White was and here’s what they said:
“The pool at Sundance!” Sierra, age 9;
“The Ogopogo ski trails!” Maggie, age 7;
”The tube park!” Jake, age 9; and
“The hockey game!” Bryce, age 7. (This is not surprising since Bryce dominated the ice that evening.)
Before last January’s trip, it had been almost 30 years since I last visited Big White. And like our kids today, it was never just about the skiing. I remember snow banks towering over the sides of the road, long games of Trivial Pursuit, bowls of Cheezies, and, of course, the snow ghosts. (Big White is famous for its trees covered by rime ice, a natural-occurring phenomenon resulting from winds, cloud and fog.) Interestingly, with the exception of Travellers of Catan replacing Trivial Pursuit, all of these things were present on this most recent trip.
For my family, Big White continues to live up to its name of being “Canada’s Favourite Family Ski Resort,” with its unchanging quality over the decades and good times for everyone, regardless of age or ability.
So yes, it’s true: the skiing at Big White is outstanding. But, what you may not know is, so are all the other moments in between — especially the hockey.
A few extra tips on Big White:
- Direct, non-stop flights are available from Toronto, Kelowna and Calgary.
- Book ice climbing a day or so in advance — we left it to the last night at which point it was all booked.
- Travelling with kids? Check out the Ogopogo Adventure Trail, which features a large entranceway allowing kids to ski through the mouth of Ogopogo and then travel down the trail through arches that mimic the shape of Ogopogo's body. (Ogopogo is a mythical sea creature that First Nations people believe inhabits nearby Lake Okanagan.)
- Book a First Track Ski Experience, which includes 90 minutes of top-quality coaching from a ski or snowboard pro and includes 30 minutes of exclusive access starting at 8 am on the mountain.
- For a special group experience, consider the Gourmet Ski Week: March 4-7th, or one of the three Master’s Ski Weeks: Jan 28-Feb 1, Feb 25-Mar 1 and Apr 1-5.
- Skican Spring Ski Week: Ski Free at Big White: March 31st -April 7th. Starting at $785 per person CAD for 7 nights accommodation, 6 days of skiing, return airport transfers and taxes.
Ask us for more information about this fantastic ski destination.
