Skiing and Snowboarding

The Black Diamond / PIEPS Avalanche transceivers being recalled. (Image courtesy of PIEPS)

Black Diamond, PIEPS issue recall for avalanche transceivers

PIEPS said that avalanche incidents in 2017 and 2020 had prompted the recall, but defended the product

 

Snowboarders at Revelstoke Mountain Resort in December. The resort said they are focusing on the local market as travel for recreation is not advised. (Liam Harrap/Revelstoke Review)

Provinces launches COVID-19 education campaign for ski communities

The slogan is ‘be the reason we all have a ski season’

 

(Phil McLachlan/Black Press file)

Big White ties new COVID-19 case growth to ‘unsanctioned Australia Day gatherings’

Positive cases continue to stem from privately managed group housing

 

This “kite” skier floated through the air with the greatest of ease up at Red Mountain on a beautiful sunny day last week. Greater Trail municipalities are reminding residents to stay and play local. Photo: Jim Bailey.

Kite skiing catches air in the Kootenays

The unique sport of kite skiing is growing rapidly and catching on in the Kootenays

This “kite” skier floated through the air with the greatest of ease up at Red Mountain on a beautiful sunny day last week. Greater Trail municipalities are reminding residents to stay and play local. Photo: Jim Bailey.
Gem Lake Top, at Big White Ski Resort, seen at Jan. 8. (Big White Ski Resort)

Big White cancels $7.3M in lift tickets, accommodations due to COVID-19 orders

Since November, the ski resort has been forced to make several changes

Gem Lake Top, at Big White Ski Resort, seen at Jan. 8. (Big White Ski Resort)
Children make their way up a closed Whistler Mountain to toboggan in Whistler, B.C. Sunday, March 15, 2020. The Whistler Blackcomb resort which is owned by Vail Resorts shut down operations Saturday due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis taking place worldwide. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Whistler snowboarder remembered as ‘stand-up guy’

On Monday, fundraiser supporting Jesse Van Roon’s family reached nearly eight times its $3,000 goal

Children make their way up a closed Whistler Mountain to toboggan in Whistler, B.C. Sunday, March 15, 2020. The Whistler Blackcomb resort which is owned by Vail Resorts shut down operations Saturday due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis taking place worldwide. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
The World Ski Awards’ title of World’s Best Heli-Ski Operator went to Bella Coola Heli Sports – the fourth annual honour for the company. Photo courtesy of Bella Coola Heli Sports.

The votes are in: BC wins big in World Ski Awards!

World’s Best Heli-Ski Operator, Canada’s Best Ski Resort among the 2020 honours

The World Ski Awards’ title of World’s Best Heli-Ski Operator went to Bella Coola Heli Sports – the fourth annual honour for the company. Photo courtesy of Bella Coola Heli Sports.
The resort has implemented many health protocols around COVID-19 this season. Photo: Red Mountain

Red Mountain set to open up on Dec. 12

Mandatory masks inside facilities, physical distancing protocols some precautions resort is taking

The resort has implemented many health protocols around COVID-19 this season. Photo: Red Mountain
file photo of fernie alpine resort sign (Scott Tibballs/The Free Press)

Ski hills will look different this season, and Fernie Alpine Resort is no exception

General manager of FAR Andy Cohen said all resorts that were already open were seeing ‘amazing visitation’

file photo of fernie alpine resort sign (Scott Tibballs/The Free Press)
Kicking Horse Mountain Resort will be looking to crack the Top 10 Ski Resorts list by USA Today for the second straight year. (Claire Palmer photo)

Kicking Horse nominated as one of North America’s favourite ski resorts

The resort finished in tenth in the same poll last year

Kicking Horse Mountain Resort will be looking to crack the Top 10 Ski Resorts list by USA Today for the second straight year. (Claire Palmer photo)
The temporary access road to the parking lot will be located along Highway 3B. Photo: City of Rossland

Red Mountain to open temporary parking lot near Topping Chair this season

The parking lot will aim to reduce congestion at base of resort and mitigate threat of COVID-19

The temporary access road to the parking lot will be located along Highway 3B. Photo: City of Rossland
Ski touring operators are changing how they plan to operate due to the pandemic. Photo: Curtis Cunningham photo

With winter looming, West Kootenay ski tour operators say they’ve adapted

COVID-19 has meant businesses are changing how the upcoming season will run

Ski touring operators are changing how they plan to operate due to the pandemic. Photo: Curtis Cunningham photo
FILE – Gondolas at Lake Louise ski resort in Lake Louise, Alta., Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Canadian ski resorts wrestle with pandemic-vs.-profit dilemma as COVID-19 persists

Few are actually restricting the total number of skiers they allow on the hill

FILE – Gondolas at Lake Louise ski resort in Lake Louise, Alta., Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Cypress Mountain Resort has announced a new ‘Mountain Coaster’ ride (Cypress Mountain Resort screenshot)

VIDEO: Cypress announces new ‘Mountain Coaster’

The coaster is set to be 1.7 kilometres long off of Black Mountain

Cypress Mountain Resort has announced a new ‘Mountain Coaster’ ride (Cypress Mountain Resort screenshot)
Events like the Coldsmoke Powder Festival, seen here in 2018, will still go on when Whitewater Ski Resort opens for the new season. But a number of new COVID-19 precautions have also been introduced at the resort. Photo: Tyler Harper

Whitewater Ski Resort to require masks on guests, staff when season begins

The rule will be in place for all of Whitewater’s indoor buildings

Events like the Coldsmoke Powder Festival, seen here in 2018, will still go on when Whitewater Ski Resort opens for the new season. But a number of new COVID-19 precautions have also been introduced at the resort. Photo: Tyler Harper
Fernie Wilderness Adventures/Steven Reed

Winter activities to discover (or rediscover)

Cold weather is no reason to stay inside!

  • Apr 27, 2020
Fernie Wilderness Adventures/Steven Reed
Discover Castlegar

Discover Castlegar

Recreational opportunities offer year-round adventure

  • Apr 27, 2020
Discover Castlegar
In this Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020 file photo, Brock Crouch finishes his second run of the men’s snowboard slopestyle elimination on day one of X Games Aspen at Buttermilk Ski Area in Aspen, Colo. Snowboarder Brock Crouch was swept away in an avalanche two years ago and buried under the snow for five minutes. He broke his back, tore his pancreas, knocked out five teeth and suffered a concussion. Crouch now has a new recurring dream of making the U.S. slopestyle squad for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. (Liz Copan/Summit Daily News via AP, File)

Snowboarder eyes Olympics two years after being buried in B.C. avalanche

Brock Crouch broke his back in an avalanche near Whistler nearly two years ago

In this Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020 file photo, Brock Crouch finishes his second run of the men’s snowboard slopestyle elimination on day one of X Games Aspen at Buttermilk Ski Area in Aspen, Colo. Snowboarder Brock Crouch was swept away in an avalanche two years ago and buried under the snow for five minutes. He broke his back, tore his pancreas, knocked out five teeth and suffered a concussion. Crouch now has a new recurring dream of making the U.S. slopestyle squad for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. (Liz Copan/Summit Daily News via AP, File)