Featured Article
The spring ski season can be one of the most magical times of the year. Lift lines are shorter, the days are long, the sun is shining, and sometimes you’ll even get lucky and score great snow, too. One resort that is famous for its Stoked Spring is Revelstoke Mountain Resort in British Columbia, Canada. If you’re unconvinced that spring skiing is all that, swing down to Revy and experience the magic. Revelstoke is open until April 14 this year, so there are still a few more days to score big savings and enjoy its closing day party, the best après event of the year.
One of the best parts of spring in Revelstoke is how jam-packed its schedule of events is. In addition to the closing day party (which is being DJd this year by the legendary duo SkiiTour), the resort also hosts a King and Queen of the Park competition and Revy Beer Fest, both of which are fantastic ways to make your trip even more memorable. Spring savings are also in full swing, with discounts of up to 40% off lift tickets purchased online and deals of up to 35% off lodging.
Current Conditions – Overnight Snowfalls and Bluebird Days
Located on Mount Mackenzie, Revelstoke has over 3,000 acres of terrain and boasts the most vertical in North America at over 1,700m (5,600 ft). On average, Revy gets more than 34 feet (10.5m) of snowfall over the entire season, with 20% of that snow falling in March and April alone. These impressive snow stats are why Revelstoke can maintain a strong base in the warm spring weather, and the late-season snowfalls keep pockets of powder alive across the resort, particularly in the back bowls.
One of the best parts of Revy’s Stoked Spring is the long bluebird days that the area is famous for. Revelstoke’s location in the Selkirk Mountains means that in the spring, it is common for the resort to be blessed with overnight snowfall followed by a beautiful bluebird day. At this time of year, the sun doesn’t set in Revelstoke until 7:30 p.m. The lifts are kept open for an extra half hour so you can enjoy even more of the day.
As is always the case with spring skiing, the warm temperatures are very pleasant but tend to cause melting and refreezing cycles, particularly on slopes that get a lot of sunshine during the day. On the front of the hill, expect a hard base perfect for carving at the beginning of the day and softened slopes by the afternoon. In the back bowls, the sneaky overnight snowfalls have helped to maintain powder conditions, particularly in the glades.
King and Queen of the Park 2024
A sacred spring tradition at Revelstoke is its King and Queen of the Mountain competition. This year’s edition of the competition was just last weekend, and skiers and snowboarders from the local community and across North America took on Revy’s fantastic terrain park to battle it out for the crowns of King and Queen of the Park. The park is in great condition for the event, so it’s a perfect time to check it out and practice your skills in anticipation of next spring’s competition.
The whole park was shut down for the event, giving skiers and riders full reign to showcase their skills on any of the features. With small, medium, and large jumps, rails, and boxes, Revy’s Park is perfect for beginner and advanced riders to hone their abilities and enjoy the sunshine.
Revy Beer Fest – April 5-6, 2024
You can always find great local beer in any of the restaurants and bars in Revelstoke, including while on the slopes (Mackenzie Outpost at the top of Revelation Gondola is great for a midday pitstop), so it’s no surprise that the resort hosts an entire festival to celebrate their local breweries and distilleries. This year’s edition of Revy Beer Fest takes place April 5-6 in Revelation Lodge. Since the lodge is mid-mountain, you can enjoy beautiful views of the surrounding peaks while enjoying tasters and food from over 20 vendors.
Revy Beer Fest is an unforgettable après experience you won’t want to miss. The festival runs three tasting sessions over two days, so you can choose the ideal time for you or buy a weekend pass and enjoy all three.
Session times:
- April 5, Friday evening: 6-10 p.m.
- April 6, Saturday afternoon: 12-4 p.m.
- April 6, Saturday evening: 5-9 p.m.
Tickets start at $29.99 for entrance to the festival, and taster tokens are $1 per token (drinks cost 2+ tokens per 4oz tasting). Your ticket includes a commemorative tasting mug to sip out of during the event and take home with you. If you’re not staying on the slopes, take advantage of the resort’s dedicated shuttle service between the hill and downtown Revelstoke, which will be complimentary to festival attendees.
Closing Day with SkiiTour – April 14
This year, Revelstoke is ending the ski season with a bang. The city is hosting an epic après experience complete with local beer and live music from the famed DJ/production duo SkiiTour to celebrate the closing day. B.C. locals SkiiTour are known for their upbeat and groovy house music and will bring an iconic retro feel to the event. SkiiTour is well known in the live music world and tours globally at festivals like Friendship, Burning Man, Bass Coast, Snowbombing Canada, and many more.
This last epic après party will be free and open to all ages in the Paul Mair Plaza. SkiiTour is famous for its legendary annual après parties at Shambhala Music Festival, so expect the energy to be high and the music popping. Embrace the retro ski aesthetic and come in your best retro gear, ready to smile, dance, and celebrate another amazing ski season.
SNEAK PEAK: Summer in Revy
If you’re already feeling sad about the winter coming to an end, don’t fear. The summer season at Revelstoke is scheduled to begin at the end of May, so there will only be a few weeks before you return to the mountains again. In the summer, Revelstoke Mountain Resort transforms into the mountain playground of your dreams, with everything from mountain biking and hiking to disc golf and Revy’s famed Pipe Mountain Coaster. Its Play All Day Pass gives you access to everything the resort offers at a great price, and there are activities for all ages, so bring the family and enjoy endless adventures.
Home to B.C.’s newest lift-accessed trail network, mountain biking in Revelstoke is well known for its beautiful views and naturally “sendy” vibes. The talented trail-building team prides itself on creating a progressive mix of epic descents and picturesque climbs, with technical and flowy trails that take advantage of all the best parts of the natural terrain. If you want to go big, you can climb beyond the top of the gondola and tackle the longest known continuous flow trail ever built, the famed Fifty-Six Twenty trail, which boasts a healthy vertical drop of 5,620 ft.
Revelation Gondola also gives you access to over 12 miles (20km) of stunning hiking trails, and you can even enjoy a burger and local beer at Mackenzie Outpost while taking in the breathtaking views. If the 5,500 ft altitude at the top of the gondola doesn’t make you nervous, you can also try out the Aerial Adventure Park, a four-story high ropes course with over 50 obstacles and a zipline. With a mix of beginner, intermediate, and advanced elements, the Aerial Adventure Park is suitable for kids as young as six.
If you prefer the thrill of speed over heights, don’t miss the famed Pipe Mountain Coaster. The coaster takes you on a picturesque route through glades and a tunnel, allowing you to shoot along the track at up to 26 mph (42km/hr). This is another great family-friendly activity since kids as young as three can enjoy the mountain coaster. Last but not least, if you want to practice your throwing skills, you can check out either the Woodchuck Disc Golf course or the Peak Axe Throwing range, also included in the Play All Day Pass.
Hopefully, you can still sneak in a quick trip up to Revelstoke and experience the magic of a Revy Stoked Spring this year, but don’t forget that it’s also never too early to start planning for next year. Early-bird deals on lift passes, lodging, rentals, and more are already open, so act now to ensure you don’t miss out on the savings.
