Big White reporting record visits during holidays season

The resort saw an extraordinary 50.4% year-to-date increase in skier visits, with the traditional holiday season attendance from December 21 to January 5 rising by an impressive 31% over last year. A favourable exchange rate contributed to a surge in United States visits, where guest numbers soared 52%. 62.4% of visitors came from central Okanagan, while visits from Australia and New Zealand rose by 5.2%.

“Tens of thousands of skiers and snowboarders flocked to the mountain, with record-breaking BC visitor numbers leading the way,” said Michael J. Ballingall, Senior Vice President of Big White Ski Resort. “While we experienced increased skier visits from both day and overnight guests, our measurement of water and sewer numbers contributed to an overall daily average increase of 11%. The highest daily consumption of water on record.” 

Mother Nature played a key role in the resort’s success, delivering ideal early-season conditions and maintaining a solid snow base throughout the holidays. On December 28, a timely Powder Alert brought 25 cm of fresh snow within 24 hours, pushing Big White’s alpine snow base beyond 150 cm—the first ski resort in BC’s interior to reach this significant milestone.

All divisions at Big White reported impressive year-over-year growth, driven by increased guest activity and new facility enhancements. The newly expanded Kids’ Centre enabled the resort to serve 36% more children, peaking at over 450 kids on December 29. Meanwhile, the Big White Ski & Board School experienced robust growth, booking 394 private lessons, a notable increase compared to last year.

With the holiday season behind them, Big White is now preparing for its next major holidays, including Family Day on February 10, 2025, and Presidents’ Day Weekend in the United States on February 17, 2025.