Big White Ski Resort

What Big White Ski Resort does

Big White Ski Resort Ltd. is a privately held, family-owned Canadian destination ski resort incorporated in British Columbia and operating on Big White Mountain near Kelowna, BC. The resort's core product is alpine skiing and snowboarding on 118+ marked runs and 5 powder bowls, served by 16 lifts with a combined capacity exceeding 28,000 persons per hour, at elevations ranging from 1,755m at the village to 2,319m at the summit. The property markets itself as 'Canada's largest ski-in/ski-out resort' and 'Canada's Favourite Family Resort,' with an average annual snowfall of 750 cm marketed as 'Okanagan Champagne Powder.' The business operates on a roughly five-month winter season (late November to early April), with a growing summer mountain biking and hiking offering extending utilization.

The company monetizes through eight primary revenue streams: lift tickets and season passes, equipment rentals, ski and snowboard instruction, food and beverage, retail (Dizzy's Ski & Board Shop and four other outlets), accommodation and property management, adventure activities and tours, and the summer bike park. Pricing is direct-to-consumer across an eStore, Central Reservations team, Group Sales department, and on-mountain points of sale, supplemented by multilingual websites (German, Spanish, French) targeting international feeder markets in Europe (Germany, Spain) and the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. Notable technology includes skiKrumb (a proprietary GPS-based real-time tracking device integrated with the lesson management system) and 3D foot scanning at Dizzy's for custom boot fitting. Infrastructure partners include TELUS (terrain park naming rights and WiFi network) and Tinastin Adventures (ice climbing tower operations).

Name

Big White Ski Resort

Legal name

Big White Ski Resort Ltd.

Website

https://bigwhite.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1963

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Big White Ski Resort Ltd. is a privately held, family-owned Canadian destination ski resort on Big White Mountain near Kelowna, BC, operating 118+ runs, 16 lifts, and ski-in/ski-out accommodations, serving families, individual skiers and snowboarders, and group bookings through lift tickets, lessons, rentals, accommodation, dining, and adventure activities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ski Resort

NAICS

Skiing Facilities (71392), Skiing Facilities (713920), Recreational Goods Rental (532284), Tour Operators (56152)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Integrated Ski & Mountain Resorts (Lift-Served Skiing/Riding) (THAAAJAA)

Keywords

• Ski resort operations
• Alpine skiing services
• Ski instruction programs
• Mountain resort accommodations
• Winter recreation activities

Headquarters

HQ city

Kelowna

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Lift Tickets and Season Passes: Primary revenue stream from alpine skiing and snowboarding access through lift tickets (single/multi-day) and season passes (Early Bird and standard). Season passes include a Refundable Pass Option (RPO). The POWder Card offers flexible loadable lift access.
2. Equipment Rentals: Comprehensive rental program including ski and snowboard equipment (beginner and performance tiers), Nordic and snowshoe rentals, ice skate rentals, and clothing rentals. Season Passholders receive 10% discount on equipment purchases.
3. Ski and Snowboard School / Lessons: Instructional programs including group lessons (adult, teen, and kids), private lessons, multi-day performance camps (Freeride Club, Masters' Week, January Ski Week), training and certification (CSIA Level 1 Courses), and adaptive programs. Advanced online booking offers 10% savings.
4. Food and Beverage: Multiple restaurants, food trucks, and market outlets throughout the resort serving diverse cuisines. Groceries available through Vacation Food Service with online ordering and delivery. Horse-drawn sleigh dining tours offered as a premium experience.
5. Retail and Merchandise: On-mountain retail shops including Dizzy's Ski & Board Shop (boot fitting, demo program), PEAKS, Mountainside, Altitude, and The Rider. Shops offer equipment, clothing, protective gear, souvenirs, luggage, and tuning options.
6. Accommodation and Property Management: Commission-based and direct booking of ski-in/ski-out accommodations including hotels, condominiums, luxury chalets, vacation rentals, and pet-friendly options. Property management services for owners through Big White Utilities and property management partners.
7. Activities and Tours: Revenue from adventure activities including sleigh rides, dog sled tours, snowmobile tours, eBike tours, ice climbing tower, tubing, ice skating, spa services, and daily snowhost tours (free). Summer activities include downhill biking, scenic chairlift rides, hiking, and disc golf.
8. Summer Mountain Biking (Bike Park): Downhill mountain biking operations during summer months including bike park tickets, 3-Day Dirt Pass, bike park season passes, scenic chairlift tickets, and bike rentals and repair services through the Bike School.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Big White Ski Resort operates a comprehensive four-season destination mountain resort on Big White Mountain in British Columbia, Canada, offering alpine skiing and snowboarding across 118+ marked runs and five powder bowls. Core revenue is generated from lift access (lift tickets and season passes), the Ski & Board School (group, private, and adaptive lessons), equipment rentals, on-mountain retail at Dizzy's Ski & Board Shop, ski-in/ski-out accommodation bookings, dining, and adventure activities such as ice climbing, dog sledding, and snowmobiling. The resort also operates a summer mountain biking program and a bike school.

Product overview

Big White Ski Resort is a comprehensive four-season destination resort offering skiing and snowboarding as its core product, complemented by a full suite of supporting services. The resort features 118+ marked runs, five powder bowls, and terrain for all skill levels. Key products include the Ski & Board School (professional instruction), TELUS Park (terrain park), Kids Centre programs, and skiKrumb GPS tracking for lesson safety. Summer operations center on a mountain biking bike park with trails, skills areas, and a bike school. Additional offerings include equipment rentals, retail (Dizzy's Ski & Board Shop), accommodation booking, dining, childcare (Tot Town Daycare), wellness (Spa at Stonebridge), adventure activities (ice climbing, snowmobiling, sleigh rides, dog sled tours), and transportation services. The resort positions itself as Canada's largest ski-in/ski-out destination with ski-in/ski-out accommodations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• skiKrumb: GPS tracking device for ski lessons, integrated with lesson management system

Products and services

• Ski & Snowboarding Alpine skiing and snowboarding on 118+ marked runs across varied terrain from beginner (Sun Run, Highway 33) to expert (The Cliff double black diamond), plus five powder bowls and off-piste tree skiing, for recreational skiers and snowboarders of all skill levels.
• Ski & Board School Professional ski and snowboard instruction program offering group lessons for adults, teens, and children (ages 4+), private lessons (half-day and full-day), multi-day performance camps (Freeride Club, Masters' Week, January Ski Week), adaptive private lessons, and CSIA Level 1 certification courses.
• TELUS Park Terrain park facility featuring rails, jumps, a super pipe, snowcross track, and beginner progression areas for skiers and snowboarders from novice to advanced.
• Kids Centre / Kids Lessons & Programs Children's ski and snowboard program offering group lessons, private lessons, Park Groms terrain park program (ages 10-15), and After Dark kids' night out (ages 6-12) including dinner, movie, and tubing.
• Season Passes Annual ski pass offering unlimited access to Big White throughout the ski season, with Early Bird pricing, free online payment plan, and Refundable Pass Option (RPO).
• Lift Tickets Single-day and multi-day lift tickets providing access to all 16 lifts and runs at the resort, with the POWder Card offering loadable flexible access.
• Rental Equipment Full equipment rental service including ski and snowboard rentals (beginner and performance tiers), Nordic and snowshoe rentals, ice skate rentals, and clothing rentals. Season Passholders receive 10% discount on equipment purchases.
• Dizzy's Ski & Board Shop On-mountain retail ski and snowboard shop offering custom boot fitting with 3D foot scanning technology, ski and snowboard demo program, equipment sales from major brands, heated gear, and tuning services.
• Mountain Biking / Bike Park Summer downhill mountain biking facility featuring trail map, slopestyle centre, beginner skills area, 3-Day Dirt Pass, bike park season passes, scenic chairlift tickets, bike rentals and repair services, and a bike school.
• Ice Climbing Tower 60-foot ice climbing tower in Happy Valley Adventure Park operated by Tinastin Adventures, featuring 4 sides of varying difficulty from beginner to advanced, with equipment provided. Open December through April.
• Tours (Sleigh Rides, Dog Sled, Snowmobile, eBike, Snowhost) Various guided tour experiences including horse-drawn sleigh rides, dog sled tours, snowmobile tours, eBike tours, free mountain snowhost tours, and horse-drawn sleigh dining tours.
• Tot Town Daycare Daycare service for pre-ski children offering a mix of indoor play and outdoor activities for children who do not wish to ski the whole day.
• Spa at Stonebridge Wellness and spa services offering relaxation and wellness treatments for resort guests.
• Accommodation Services Comprehensive lodging services including ski-in/ski-out hotels, condominiums, luxury chalets, vacation rentals, and pet-friendly options, with direct booking through Big White Central Reservations and property management services.
• Food & Dining On-mountain dining options including multiple restaurants, food trucks, market outlets, and online grocery ordering and delivery through Vacation Food Service, plus Christmas dinner to-go service.
• skiKrumb GPS Tracking Device Compact GPS tracking device that attaches to outerwear, integrated with the resort's lesson management system to track ski and snowboard school participants in real time on the mountain where cell phones cannot reach. Available for purchase at Dizzy's Ski & Board Shop.
• Transportation & Shuttle Services Transportation services including airport shuttles from Kelowna International Airport, on-mountain shuttle, shopping shuttle, free parking, and EV charging stations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Rated 4.3 out of 5 stars by skiresort.de (world's largest ski resort test portal) across 18 evaluation criteria in 2013/2014
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• TELUScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTELUS Park is Big White's premier terrain park facility, named after telecommunications partner TELUS. The partnership provides a world-class snow park experience including slopestyle, super pipe, and various terrain park features for skiers and snowboarders.
• TELUS (Network Partner)coreTechnology or IntegrationTELUS provides WiFi network infrastructure throughout the resort, managed by Meraki WiFi Service Provider. Supports guest connectivity and resort operations technology.
• Tinastin AdventuresminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFamily-owned rock and ice climbing business operating the 60-foot ice climbing tower in Happy Valley Adventure Park. Provides trained climbing staff, equipment, and expertise for the activity.
• FortisBC Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnergy utility partner collaborating on Big White Community Energy Conservation Engagement Program launched in 2023 to promote energy efficiency across the resort.
• GreenStep Solutions Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSustainability solutions provider partnering with Big White on the Community Energy Conservation Engagement Program to reduce environmental footprint.
• Okanagan Forest Task Force (OFTF)minorOthersVolunteer-run nonprofit organization dedicated to combating illegal dumping and restoring natural beauty of local forests, recreational areas, and waterways. Big White donated $2,000 in celebration of BC Rivers Day 2024.
• Harmony HondaminorOthersLocal Honda dealership sponsoring the Daily Snow Report page on the Big White website.
• Vacation Food ServiceminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGrocery delivery service provider offering online grocery ordering and delivery to on-mountain accommodations. Featured on Big White's Food & Dining pages.
• Twin AnchorsminorOthersHouseboat vacation provider offering a $7,989 houseboat vacation as prize for Early Bird Season Pass purchase before July 19.
• alluraDirectminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVacation rental management company offering Big White accommodations through its platform. 'Book smarter. Play harder.' marketing tagline.
• Okanagan PremierminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVacation rental management company offering comfortable Big White vacation rentals.
• Locations Mountain Management ServicesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProperty management company managing Big White vacation rentals sleeping 4-18 guests.
• White Spirit LodgeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorArtisan log masterpiece chalet property managed through Stay Locations - 10,000 sq/ft of world-class craftsmanship.
• Luxury Mountain Vacation RentalsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOn-mountain vacation rental company offering exclusive Big White properties with sustainable practices.
• Urban Retreat HostelminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBudget accommodation provider offering ski hill experience with shared and private accommodations.
• Powder Hounds Adaptive Ski ClubminorOthersAdaptive ski program partner providing coaching for physical challenges. Big White offers Powderhounds Adaptive Program for adaptive lessons.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Alterra Mountain Company: US-based multi-resort operator owning Steamboat, Winter Park, and others with the Ikon Pass distribution platform. Major independent competitor to Big White via cross-resort pass traffic and shared international marketing reach.
• Vail Resorts: US-listed multi-resort operator owning Whistler Blackcomb, Vail, Park City, and others. Operates Epic Pass cross-resort distribution. Represents the dominant industry business model against which independent resorts like Big White compete for destination demand.

Direct peers

• Sun Peaks Resort: BC interior ski resort near Kamloops with lift-served skiing, ski school, on-mountain village, accommodations, and family positioning. Comparable scale, integrated-resort model, and family-friendly destination strategy.
• Kicking Horse Mountain Resort: BC ski resort known for expert terrain and powder skiing, with on-mountain accommodation and dining. Competes in the BC destination ski market for advanced skiers and powder seekers.
• SilverStar Mountain Resort: BC interior ski resort with on-mountain village, ski-in/ski-out accommodations, ski school, rentals, and family positioning. Direct comparable in scale, integrated village model, and family market focus.
• Mont-Tremblant Resort: Quebec destination ski resort with pedestrian village, ski-in/ski-out accommodations, ski school, and family programming. Comparable integrated-resort model targeting Canadian and US Eastern markets.
• Revelstoke Mountain Resort: BC ski resort offering lift-served skiing, cat skiing, ski school, accommodations, and F&B. Competes for destination skiers seeking powder and varied terrain in British Columbia.
• Panorama Mountain Resort: BC ski resort near Invermere offering lift-served skiing, ski-in/ski-out accommodations, F&B, and family amenities. Comparable mid-size integrated ski resort with similar product mix.
• Banff Sunshine / Lake Louise Ski Resort: Alberta's marquee ski resorts operated under the SkiBig3 banner. Direct competitor for destination skiers, particularly international visitors traveling to Western Canada, with comparable ski school, lodging, and F&B offerings.
• Whistler Blackcomb: Largest ski resort in North America, also located in British Columbia. Operates lift-served skiing/snowboarding, ski school, on-mountain accommodation, F&B, and retail with similar integrated resort model. Direct competitor for international visitors to Western Canada.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/bigwhite

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Big White Ski Resort