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The ski and snowboard season has gotten off to a great start this year with most mountains in British Columbia able to open limited terrain in early November. With early season conditions, some terrain and lifts are unable to open, often resulting in longer lift lines. 

Here at Big White Ski Resort, we’re one step ahead with our state of the art lifting system anchored by the Ridge Rocket Express Quad and the Snowghost Express 6 Pack. Together these lifts can move 5000 people per hour, or 10 people every 7 seconds,  from the base of the mountain, and this same area is the first pod to open here at Big White. This tandem system makes lift lines in that pod very efficient.

Big White has some great specials for the 2009/2010 season

* Buy 12 nights & get your 13th & 14th FREE
* Buy 6 nights & get your 7th night FREE
* Buy 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 day lift pass and get 1 more day FREE
* Buy 10 or more days and get 2 more days FREE

Email Sarah or Lianne: info@skitraveller.co.nz
Toll Free 0800 11 22 99

Once in a while, the stars align and the heavens open up and you are in the right place at the right time. Right now are those days at Marmot Basin. We have received a stunning 60 centimeters, two feet, of powder over the past 48 hours and 85 centimeters in the last seven days and it is still snowing. Yesterday morning, November 17,  the grooming team had to clear the parking lots with snow cats rather than with a plow because there was 25 centimeters of snow that fell overnight. Lifties were shoveling out the load and unload ramps of the chairlifts along with their buried mazes.

To say Marmot Basin is having an excellent start is an understatement. This is the first time we have had 100 centimeters of settled snow at mid mountain in the month of November and it is only November 18th. Today Marmot Basin opened even more terrain and we now have 53 runs open. The avalanche team is working hard to open the Knob Chair. They will have to do considerable avalanche work to re-establish the safety of this area before we can open it to skiers and boarders, however, we expect the Knob area to open soon.

Skiers and riders are hooting and hollering as they ride the New Canadian Rockies Express high speed quad chair.  2000 vertical feet of perfect powder skiing and riding from top to bottom on our new quad chair. This is a perfect time to head to Marmot Basin as there is another storm headed our way and we are going to need snorkels to ski and breathe if this keeps up.

Brian Rode  - Marmot Basin

Hello,

We have received more than 30cm in the past 3 days and it is still snowing!!

See you on the slopes!!

Thanks,

Jennifer at Panorama Mountain Village

whistler blackcomb on track for record breaking november snowfallAfter an early opening with plenty of fresh snow, Whistler Blackcomb prepares to open Creekside and Garbanzo Express on Whistler Mountain this weekend   WHISTLER, BC, Wednesday, November 18, 2009 – The current storm system has blanketed the mountains with over 204 cm (80 inches) of fresh snow in the past week. Operations crews are hard at work preparing more lifts and terrain to open this weekend as conditions allow.   It may still be early in the season but don’t tell that to Mother Nature. With over 362cm’s (142.5 inches) of snow so far this month Whistler Blackcomb has more than doubled its average November snowfall of 148cm (58 inches). With almost two weeks left in the month, as well as over 100cm (40 inches) in the forecast for the next five days, Whistler Blackcomb is well on its way to the possibility of breaking the record of snow in the month of November, 416cm (164 inches). 

“I’ve skied here for over 15 years and I’ve never seen this much snow so early in a season, it seems like every day’s snowfall is topping the last,” say’s Stephen Butt, Communications Coordinator and voice of the Snow Phone for Whistler Blackcomb.  “We have already received one third of our average annual snowfall for the entire season and it’s only four days into the season, it’s unbelievable!”

Ski Holidays to Whistler….contact Sarah & Lianne at Ski Traveller
Toll Free NZ 0800 11 22 99
info@skitraveller.co.nz

Greetings from Aspen/Snowmass! 

We received over two feet (60 cm) of snow this past weekend! It looks like February in town with so much snow covering everything.  We are only 9 days away from opening the lifts and everyone in Aspen/Snowmass can’t wait! Opening weekend we have the return of the FIS Alpine Women’s World Cup race on Aspen Mountain and it’s a great way to kick off the season.  

Check out these pictures taken in Aspen / Snowmass this week.

Book any date for winter 2010….
* Stay 10 nights, pay 7 nights
* Stay 14 nights, pay 10 nights

Minimum of 10 nights / lowest season rate will be the free nights / valid for all room types
Book before 15 NOV 2009.
info@skitraveller.co.nz
0800 11 22 99

The new Whistler “Snow Pack” gives you two great experiences ….Fresh Tracks Ticket & One Hour in the Tube Park.

Snow Pack = CA$ 29.40 per adults (includes gst)
Snow Pack = CA$ 18.90 per child (includes gst)

Ski Traveller can add this to your Whistler Ski Holiday….just ask for the Whistler Snow Pack.
Toll Free 0800 11 22 99
info@skitraveller.co.nz

The words ‘opening day’ and ‘early,’ always go together so well, which is why Whistler Blackcomb is very pleased to announce that Whistler Mountain is opening its doors early, this Saturday, November 14, with Blackcomb Mountain following in its footsteps on Thursday, November 26.

Mother Nature has certainly been kind to us with an estimated 70-100 cm (28-39 inches) of snow accumulated over the past seven days. And, with the cold front moving across the south Coastal Mountains, forecasts indicate another 65cm of snow could fall by opening day. Combine that with the power of an arsenal of over 160 snow guns, and this early season is off to a very white start.

Thanks Josh for visiting our office today.  It was great to chat about Big White & Silver Star ….two of the best ski in, ski out resorts in North America.

Remember: Kids 15 & under ski for free at Big White & Silver
Ring Sarah or Lianne for more details.
NZ Toll Free: 0800 11 22 99

Lianne & Sarah from Ski Traveller with Josh (Director of Snow Sports at Big White) in front of Ski Traveller’s Big White Poster.

Hello,  Panorama Mountain Village started the Mile One quad to load skiers for the first time in the 2009-2010 season.  The Canadian men’s national team will be training slalom on Hay Fever for the next couple of days.  Panorama Mountain Village opens to the public on December 11, 2009. See you on the slopes!!  Jennifer MossDestination SalesPanorama Mountain Village