Whistler, Sun Peaks Launch British Columbia Ski Season

Thanks to early snow, Whistler Blackcomb and Sun Peaks Resort both cranked up their lifts early for skiing and snowboarding over the weekend. That officially launched the British Columbia ski season

Whistler Blackcomb opened on Nov. 17 — five days earlier than scheduled — with fresh snow falling throughout the day. A combination of natural and machine-made snow aided the early opening, and in true Whistler fashion, the line up for the gondola started 24 hours before the first car.

For opening day, several lifts ran on Whistler Mountain, including the Emerald Express, Big Red Express, and Franz’s Chair. Lifts on Blackcomb Mountain are scheduled to run starting Nov. 22.

Here’s a bit of opening day enthusiasm:

Sun Peaks catapulted into action, too, with the Sunburst and Elevation chairlifts operating on Tod Mountain for opening day, Nov. 17. The Village Platter also ran for beginners. Machine-made snow enhanced OSV run for international teams to train for racing before the Lake Louise Winterstart World Cup, and OSV opened to the public over the weekend along with two other runs.

Check out the first installment of “Tall Tales and Epic Trails” from LSL Productions of the new video series from Sun Peaks:

What’s in the forecast for both resorts? Snow, and more snow. Both Whistler Blackcomb and Sun Peaks are open daily for skiing and riding, and last minute lodging deals are available for both ski resorts.

For information on Whistler’s lodging, go here. For Sun Peaks lodging deals, go here.