Whitewater

By Paul Dubrûle, Ski and Sales Director

Several seasons ago, I discovered a place where time stands still, where the quality of the snow is much more important than dressing fashionably, and where the lifts are rather slow (which affords you plenty of time to chat with the locals), where the cafeteria serves the best ski-hill food in Canada. In short, I discovered a place where the only thing that really matters is skiing. Welcome to Whitewater, British Columbia.

Thanks to a microclimate, this resort, located near the City of Nelson, gets an average of 12 metres of snow per winter. So, if you hear the locals talk about being waist-deep in snow, they aren’t lying! It’s also a bit colder in this area, which means the powder is extremely light. Long overlooked, Whitewater is now attracting more and more attention because of its unique nature and the diversity of its terrain. It’s also a mountain where off-piste skiing is easy to access—but, of course, you still have to be well equipped if you decide to ski out of bounds. To be frank, it kind of reminds me of Jay Peak before they invested huge amounts in improving their slopeside facilities.

Whitewater is also one of those rare ski resorts that has no accommodations. However, that really doesn’t matter when you can stay in the vibrant city of Nelson, a short 25-minute drive away. You are sure to be charmed by Nelson’s artistic, somewhat hippy-ish and community-oriented vibe. Nearby are the Ainswhorth hot springs, an absolute must for soothing those aching muscles after an intense day of powder skiing.

I can still remember everyone’s reaction the first time we skied this mountain. We couldn’t believe we hadn’t been there before— Jean-Luc Brassard more so than any of us! So, don’t regret waiting too long for your first visit to Whitewater the way we did. Trust me, you have to ski it to believe it!