Industry News
Winter 2024-25 was a milestone season at Big White Ski Resort.
From Mother Nature delivering a perfect base to set up an early opening to completing major infrastructure projects ahead of schedule, the season delivered on all fronts. New retail spaces in the village, a renovated Kids’ Centre, and exceptional guest experiences all contributed to a winter defined by momentum, community spirit, and unforgettable moments on the mountain.
A Special Thank You
To show appreciation for the incredible support this season, CEO and owner Peter Plimmer has announced an early launch of 2025/26 Season Passes—available until April 30, 2025. The Price Freeze offer locks in the 2024/25 Early Bird rate for another season.
“With so many uncertainties in the world today, we want to ensure our passholders get the best deal possible. This is our way of saying thank you and giving our community something to count on,” says Peter Plimmer, CEO & Owner.
Record-Breaking Momentum
This season was the strongest since the pandemic. From fresh snow to fuller flights, every piece came together to create a season that exceeded expectations and set new benchmarks across the board.
“The early snowfall really set the tone this year. Conditions held strong through the season and made for some of the best days we’ve seen in years,” added Michael J. Ballingall is the Senior Vice President.
The holiday season delivered exceptional results, setting the pace for one of the most successful winters in recent history. Skier visits surged 50.4% year-to-date, with attendance during the core holiday window—from December 21 to January 5—rising 31% compared to last year.
Getting to Big White became even easier for U.S. visitors, thanks to new year-round direct flights from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), Los Angeles (LAX), to Kelowna International Airport (YLW) now offered by Alaska Airlines and WestJet. A favorable exchange rate and increased accessibility helped drive a 52% spike in American guests.
Closer to home, local enthusiasm remained strong, with 62.4% of visitors coming from the Central Okanagan. International interest also continued to grow, with travelers from Australia and New Zealand up 5.2%—a sign of Big White’s rising global appeal.
The momentum didn’t stop after the holidays. Big White experienced its second busiest day in resort history during the Family Day long weekend in February. More than 9,600 skiers and snowboarders hit the slopes on Sunday, just 31 shy of the record set on December 30, 2016.
Season Snapshot Across the Resort
Whether it was young skiers taking their first lesson, families sharing meals in the village, or powder days that kept the lifts buzzing, every corner of the resort made this season extraordinary.
“I would like to thank all 747 of our seasonal staff who could have chosen any number of winter destinations but showed up on shift every day to fulfill the promise that we made to 600,000 visitors to provide them with a safe, memorable alpine experience. Along with our team, there is an army of volunteers who work in the periphery to provide free mountain tours and opportunities for adaptive athletes and families, as well as those first responders who are always standing by.
Thank you, and a big shout out to the family of managers, supervisors, and senior leaders who bring the resort to life each day with their energy, guidance, and wisdom,” said Trevor Hanna, VP of Hospitality.
Experiences by the Numbers
Lift Operations & Mountain Access: Big White’s passholders accounted for 63% of all skier visits this winter, highlighting the strong connection between the resort and its core community. The Rocket Chairlift saw the most traffic, with 1,048,581 scans logged over the season.
Retail: On the slopes and in the village, guests geared up in full force. More than 9,100 hand and toe warmers were sold, alongside 15,413 pieces of logo wear—proof that Big White pride is alive and well.
Rentals: The Rentals Department fitted over 25,200 pairs of ski and snowboard boots and adjusted more than 22,700 sets of rental skis. These numbers reflect a continued appetite for mountain adventure, especially among new and returning riders.
Learning & Central Reservations: The Kids’ Learning Centre hosted 18,172 young learners, while 8,383 adults participated in lessons designed to build confidence on the slopes. Central Reservations handled 5,778 accommodation bookings and facilitated 16,927 airport shuttle rides—ensuring guests arrived and stayed comfortably.
Food & Beverage: Appetites were big this season: 47,000 pounds of French fries and over 5,000 kilograms of chicken fingers were served. The team poured 18,207 liters of milk and brewed 97,000 hot beverages to keep everyone fuelled and warm.
Mountain Operations: Behind the scenes, Big White’s Operations crew kept things safe and seamless. Avalanche control teams used 400 kilograms of explosives to manage risk and move more than one million cubic feet of snow, ensuring safe terrain access all season.
Looking Ahead: Summer 2025 & Beyond
Winter may be winding down, but Big White is gearing up for a high-impact summer focused on infrastructure, innovation, and long-term growth.
“Every shovel in the ground is part of a bigger plan to grow Big White into a true year-round destination. We’re focused on improving the experience—season after season,” said Darcy Arnold, Chief Operations Officer.
What’s Planned for Summer 2025
Lift Upgrades: A $2 million investment will enhance Black Forest’s reliability with a new auxiliary drive. Falcon will get a new haul rope, Ridge will begin electrical modernization, and the lift tower will be repainted.
Village Enhancements: The Village Centre Mall expansion continues. A new daycare joins the Kids’ Centre. Whitefoot Lodge will welcome the redesigned “The Rider” retail shop. Happy Valley’s Kettle Valley Steakhouse will reopen with a larger kitchen, lounge, and upgraded restrooms.
Trails & Terrain: Four new bike trails are being built, while summer grooming teams will prepare key winter runs—like Upper Perfection and Blue Ribbon—for peak condition next season.
Infrastructure Boosts: New power lines on Rocket and Ghost will support tech upgrades, and 200 new parking spaces are being added in Black Forest by repurposing fill from the upper lot.
Equipment Investments: Big White is investing $700,000 in a winch cat for enhanced grooming and $600,000 in a WINTERSTEIGER tuning machine to deliver faster, more precise equipment maintenance.
Leadership Updates:
Alongside these capital improvements, Big White is announcing key leadership changes and additions to its VP executive team:
- Trevor Hanna, Vice President of Hospitality, and his team will now oversee Ski School operations. All guest-facing services—including Tickets, Activities, and Ski School—will be unified under one umbrella to improve coordination and streamline the guest experience.
- Jay Hayashi, Vice President of Administration & Finance, will continue to lead the Administration, Insurance, Human Resources, and Employee Experience divisions. He will also oversee Occupational Health and Safety and Risk Management.
- Nicki Binnendyk, Director of Central Reservations – Sales, joins the VP group as Vice President of Resort Sales. Nicki will oversee all resort sales, including season passes, and continue her work in integrating the Ski School and Central Reservations call centres.
- Lori Garrett, Director of Central Reservations – Operations, also joins the VP group as Vice President of Big White Central Reservations. Lori will focus on expanding Central Reservations’ inventory and managing rental operations.
- Ron Sawatzky, Property Operations Manager, will retire on April 10, 2025, after 29 years with the resort. He played a key role in developing Big White’s infrastructure, including the construction of the Admin building. Dave Britton, who has been preparing for the transition over the past year, will step into the role.
See You Soon
Big White’s winter season wraps up on April 6, 2025—but we’re already looking ahead. Summer operations run from June 26 to September 1, with even more to explore, ride, and experience. Stay connected at bigwhite.com/summer.
From all of us at Big White Ski Resort, thank you for being part of an unforgettable season. We can’t wait to welcome you back!
