December 19, 2012

BigWhite December 2012 - January 2013

magazine

50th

2013:

Celebrating BigWhite’s

Birthday

Present this coupon at the ticket window and receive half price on full day tubing & skating.

Valid January 7, 2013 - March 3, 2013

2.

December, 2012

3.

big white magazine | december 2012

inside Big White Magazine is published by The Capital News, a division of Black Press, located at 2495 Enterprise Way, Kelowna, B.C. V1X 7K2.

22

17,000 magazines are delivered monthly to Big White Ski Resort.

inside:

10

Big White turns 50

6

A celebration for the ages ............................................ 4

High on ice

Give ice climbing a try! ............................................... 6

Mountain of memories

Looking back on the early days .................................. 10

Events and Activities

…at Canada's Favourite Family Resort ..............12-13

Chef profile

Vincent Denis of Santé ............................................. 14

4

Long-time Artist-in-Residence

Kenna Graff at Santé Bar & Grille ............................ 16

What's new on the mountain

BigWhite

…attracts professional & amateur boarders ....... 17, 19

magazine

December 2012 January 2013

50th

Family Day at Big White

Celebrating families on March 15 .......................18-19

Opening Day

2013:

Celebrating BigWhite’s

MAIN SWITCHBOARD 250-763-3212 CLASSIFIEDS 250-763-7114 1-800-787-3308 FAX LINES Newsroom: 250-763-8469 Sales: 250-862-5275 EMAIL: Newsroom: edit@kelownacapnews.com jsmith@kelownacapnews.com Production Department: prod@kelownacapnews.com WEBSITE www.kelownacapnews.com GENERAL ADVERTISING REGULATIONS

This newspaper reserves the right to reject any advertising which it considers to contain false or misleading information or involves unfair or unethical practices. The advertiser agrees that the publisher shall not be liable for any damages arising out of error in classified, classified display or retail display advertisement in which the error is due to the negligence of its servants or otherwise for non-insertion of any advertisement beyond the amount paid for such advertisements.

See who was there on Day One .................................. 22

Birthday

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For information on the Big White Magazine or how the Capital News can produce a special publication for your business, please contact our office at:

ticket window and receive

half price on full day tubing

Valid January 7, 2013 -

& skating.

March 3, 2013

On the front cover…

'Big Jump 2' …a Big White Ski Resort photo in celebration of 2013, the year of Big White's 50th birthday.

Member of the British Columbia Press Council

4.

years 50

December, 2012

and going strong, a celebration for the ages

by Jennifer Smith

Big White gets ready to look back, leap forward and add a little birthday shine to 2013

D

C HA L E T H O M E SI T E S

ski-in, ski-out location

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ownhill skiing in the Okanagan got its start in the 1920s in the rolling grassland hills that lead one down the road to Big White, just outside Kelowna’s city limits.

It was known as the Black Mountain Bowl and the skiers hardy enough to play along its walls ravaged the snow. Planting a fire pit at the base of the runs, they lit up the

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own@FeathertopBigWhite.com y chalet homesite touches a ski easement. Every homesite s against a ski run. Everything www.FeathertopBigWhite.com the mountain offers – from champagne powder slopes, bustling village, and endless winter activities – lies just beyond your front door.

Lift off for the first ski lift, installed in the 1970s.

slopes with the kind of indomitable spirit needed to brave a -20 Celcius wind gust, strap on boots and start hiking in only a heavy sweater.

Then one day a young pilot named Doug Mervyn flew over Big White and the dreams of those fiery outdoor buffs really began to soar.

The lure of the panoramic powder landscape and snow-crusted tree tops off the south slope of the mountain was just too tantalizing to ignore.

The skiers would discover an alpine of sparkling pine apparitions now world-renown to powder hounds keen on nosing their way through the so-called snow ghosts at the top of the Gem Lake Express.

Big White became the second largest ski resort in B.C. and was awarded 2012 Family Ski Resort of the Year by Snow Action Magazine, based out of Australia.

A birthplace of the ski industry, and many an athletes’ hopes and dreams, it also gave Canadian ski Continued on page 9

5.

BigWhitemagazine

Harry is SOLD SOLD on Big White!

To view VIRTUAL TOURS of these listings go to

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Harry Pettit

‘Your Big White Specialist’

1

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#122 WHITEFOOT LODGE

#27 TREE TOPS

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STUNNING 3 level 3 bdrm townhome w/middle level loft/bdrm. 1690 sf. Beautifully furnished & decorated. 2 storey rock-faced fireplace in living rm. Ski in/out. Private hot tub. 3 full baths have heated tile floors. Covered parking.

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#312 THE ASPENS REDUCED $90,000!

#210 PLAZA ON THE RIDGE

AMAZING PRICE for this 4 bdrm/2 bath condo in Plaza. Superb village location - looks onto Perfection Run for the best ski in/out. Walk straight into the condo. NO STAIRS. Incl all furn.

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#120-1060 Manhattan Dr. Kelowna, BC V1Y 9X9

#2 & 6 GRIZZLY RIDGE

Reduced $140,000! Gorgeous, new, 3 bdrm townhouse backs onto Serwa’s Run. Super ski in/ out. Gourmet kitchen. Stainless appliance pkg.

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#301 CHATEAU BIG WHITE

BEST LOCATION ON THE MOUNTAIN! Super sized studio condo over 600 sf. Feat full kit w/dishwasher & dining area. Flat screen TV & gas fp. Pull down queen murphy bed & queen bed. Awesome ski in/out loc on the Village Plaza beside Plaza chairlift. Right across from grocery store, restaurants, kids’ center. Stroll to all mountain amenities. Bldg. has restaurant, spa & hot tub. MLS®10055820 Listed at $114,900

ONE OF BIG WHITE’S BEST BUYS! 3 bdrm. chalet at Sundance Resort - way below assessed value.

HST paid! Top of the line beautiful! Hardwood, heated floors, designer furniture. Fabulous kitchen w/stainless appliances, granite counters & sit up bar. Killer location, on the slopes - no better ski in/ out. Outdoor pool/slide, hot tubs, movie theatre, steam room, library, kids play area, fitness center, lounge. MLS®10041794 Only $529,900

WHITE CRYSTAL INN

#218/220 - 2 BEDROM REDUCED $49,500.

Very deluxe. Fantastic rentals. Show suite condition. Beautifully finished & furn. 2 gas fireplaces. Terrific ski in/out location in the heart of the Village Plaza. Bldg. has exterior hot tub,sauna, restaurant/bar. Great rentals.

MLS®10056971 $179,500

#33 TREE TOPS

SPACIOUS 3 BDRM + DEN/LOFT (or 3 bd) townhouse. Beaut. finished & furnished.

Just under 1700 sf. Huge kitchen w/situp eating bar, 2 storey rock-faced gas fireplace in lvgrm. Hrdwd flrng. 3 full baths.

Great ski in/out location. MLS®10047808 Just $269,900.

Top of the line 2 bdrm/2 bath “Aspens” condo.

Corner unit. Right on the run. Stunning views.

Granite counters, hardwood & heated tile flooring. Wine storage & fridge. Beautifully furnished & decorated. Hot Tub on deck.

MLS®10048384 Only $269,900

#101 COPPER KETTLE

STUNNING top-of-the-line 4 bd/3 bath corner view unit, 1750 sf. Situated right on the slope. True ski in & out from your door - 5 steps and you are skiing.

Fab kitch w/granite counters & sit up eating bar, top-of-the-line appl incl gas range. Huge lvg rm w/ wet bar & games area. Beaut. cork & slate flrng.

Walk out to hot tub on priv cov deck overlooking the ski runs. MLS®10052955 Asking $529,900

5977D SNOW PINES CRES.

LOWEST PRICED 2 BEDROOM CONDO ON THE HILL! Nicely furnished & decorated. High vaulted ceiling with floor to ceiling windows.

Faces south - great views. Superb location. Ski in/out. Walk to Village on night lit trail. Ready to go. Shows great! Just bring your boards!

MLS®10038531 Only $98,900.

#301 TAMARACK

LOWEST PRICED 3 BEDROOM ON THE HILL! Updated corner 2 bath unit incl built-in sauna w/ shower! Nicely furnished & decorated. Room for family & friends. Kitchen cabinets, countertops all custom-made. Large boot room area. Heated floor in entrance. Great village location for ski in/ out. Short stroll to all the mountain’s amenities.

MLS®10051408 Reduced to $155,000

#2-5950 SNOWPINE CRES.

You won’t find a better deal than this spac 3 bd/2 bath condo. Best lot in Snowpine Estates! Backs right on a run. Walk 2 paces off the back deck & you are skiing!

Lg windows to enjoy the fab views. Nicely updated & fin. Gas fp, lg. master bd w/huge ensuite w/soaker tub. Priv garage w/extra parking for 3 more cars. Sit. beside night-lit trail to Village Center. Very low condo fees. Only $229,900 MLS®10049637

#208-208A SUNDANCE RESORT

Corner unit 3 bd (one is a lg studio lock-off) 3 bath at Sundance Resort. Awesome rental possibilities. Stunning southern views. High end furn incl. Fantastic ski in/out. Feat heated o.d. pool/hot tubs, waterslide, movie theatre, fitness center, lounge, steam room. HST PAID! MLS®10056547 Asking $314,000

THE INN AT BIG WHITE FROM $50,000

4814D SNOWPINES RD.

This one has it all - size, location & awesome price. Lots of room for family & friends. This 1700 sf 4 bd/3 bath condo features great ski in/out. Spac entertainer’s kitch. Lg lvgrm w/ huge vltd clg, gas fp, walk-out to deck & hot tub.

Lg sauna. Fantastic views. Beaut furnished & finished. MLS®10047023 Just $269,500

#17 BULLET CREEK CABIN

Lowest priced Chalet in the village! Over 2100 sf, 3 bdrm w/fully fin walkout bsmt. Enjoy the hot tub on the deck & the fabulous views of Monashee Mtns.

Beautifully furnished & finished. Huge vaulted ceiling in living rm/dining rm. Rock faced gas f/p.

Family rm, games rm, loft/den. This will make a wonderful home on the hill. MLS®10052194 Listed at $398,900

4826C SNOWPINES RD.

What a deal! Really nice 2 bdrm/2 bath unit. Sleeps 8 comfortably. Features large sunken lvgrm, gas frpl, large kitchen with all appliances. Fully furnished. Hot tub.

Beautiful views. Huge boot room for all the gear. Ski in/out. MLS®10057258 Only $168,500

#2 SILVER TIPS

Fabulous location! Over 2200 sf of luxury living in this 4 bd/3 bath townhome situated right on Serwa’s Run. The best ski in/out. Absolutely topof-the-line finishing throughout. Gorgeous kit w/granite counters/sit up eating bar. Beautifully furn. Hot tub on the deck. Huge loft area. Garage & carport. 12 min stroll on level night-lit trail to the village center. MLS 10052355 Only $450,000

#135 Studio $50,000 Lowest price in bldg. #122 Studio $52,000 Awesome southerly view. HST PAID ON BOTH UNITS. Village center location. Beautifully furnished.

Studios sleep 4. Swimming pool, hot tub, fitness center, restaurant & pub. Unlimited owner use. Condo fees include utilities.

MLS®10056828

#31 TREE TOPS

THE TOTAL PACKAGE! Gorgeous 3 level townhome. 2 bd & huge loft family room.

Beautifully furnished & finished. Wood floors, 2 storey stone fireplace, heated bathroom floors. Sensational kitchen. Ski in/ out to all the lifts. MLS®10040473 Asking $275,000

#10 THE EDGE-REDUCED $409,000

STUNNING ARCHITECTURE! 3 Bdrm + den. World class design in this 1/2 duplex.

Nothing left out. Finest on the hill. The best contemporary furniture package.

Geothermal heating. Private garage. 25ft ceilings. Open plan. Over 2000 sq.ft.

MLS®10039086 Now only $590,000

#72 SUNDANCE RESORT

Stunning 3 bdrm townhouse w/incredible ski in/out location. Situated on the slopes at Sundance Resort. The best in quality & cratsmanship. Designer kitchen w/granite counters, amazing wet bar. Wood floors, hot tub on deck. 2 car garage. MLS®10024892 Reduced $170,000!! Now only $419,900

4821A SNOWPINE

Spacious 2 bdrm/2 bath townhome with BSMT SUITE. Suite could rent for $7000/ season. Hot tub on deck. Fantastic views of Monashee Mtns! Very nicely furnished/decorated. Parking for 2.

Easy ski in/out. MLS®10036745 Only $199,900. HST PAID

#11 BLACK BEAR

Best buy by far! Huge 3 bd/3 bath townhouse.

Post & beam const. Beaut furn & decorated.

Unbelievable master bdrm! Hot tub on deck.

Lg cov’d patio. 2 cov’d parking stalls. Ski in/ out. Strata fees incl hot water & gas for fp that heats virtually the whole townhouse.

MLS®10056514 Priced at $319,000

* * B A S E D O N # O F O K A N A G A N M A I N L I N E R E A L E S TAT E B O A R D M L S S A L E S AT B I G W H I T E F R O M J A N 1 , 2 0 0 2 T O D E C . 5 , 2 0 1 2

High

6.

IRENA KUNA PHOTO

December, 2012

on

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

ice

Toni Clark (right) welcomes you to the Big White Ice Tower (above).

"Every time I met someone who seemed really healthy and really full of life, it always turned out that they were a climber", says Margo Talbot, ice climber extraordinaire.

by Jennifer Smith Talbot competes as an elite athlete in events like the EXPN X-Games and Ouray Ice Festival.

From one shining moment to another, her star glitters as bright as the ice she’s fame for climbing; but no one quite realized her climb to the top was equally fragile until she published an autobiography last year letting the world in on a tremendous secret.

Talbot was addicted to both drugs and alcohol before reaching international fame as an extreme sports junky. She credits her lust for the thrill of reaching new peaks with turning her life around.

“I believe that the reason climbing was so instrumental in my healing is that it brought me into the present moment,” she explains.

The climber will be at the Big White Ice Tower this year to offer a little inspiration to local ice enthusiasts and any other women who might want to take on a new challenge.

Strapping on her first set of crampons at age 28, she can honestly say she picked her way out of that world of addiction and crime one line at a time after noticing that the climbers in Jasper,

where she was living, seemed to share a natural high more appealing than any drug.

“I was very angry at the time and I really loved the aggression of the ice climbing. I don’t climb aggressively now, but I was getting something out of me that I wasn’t even quite sure I knew was there,” she said.

It took ten years for the serotonin boosts of those natural highs to help level her brain chem-

Ice Climber Margo Talbot

istry enough to reign in the bouts of debilitating depression she had suffered from since her teens.

“I was a machine. Even though I was depressed, I would have this incredible mania so I could work all day and climb forever,” she said.

To say she has a gripping story is a bit of an understatement, but so too do Jim Ongena and his partner Toni Clark, who will be running “the first ice tower at a North American ski resort” for the third year in a row.

The Big White Ice Tower is comprised of telephone poles cross-braced, doused continuously in water and frozen to form an 18-meter cylinder even the timid find tempting.

“Out east they construct these towers in city parks for competitions, but the concept of bringing it to an already recreational area and making it something that people can finally try safely, is quite unique,” said Ongena, a climbing guide with experience in every mountain range on earth.

This year the couple have added a competition element to the tower experience and are expecting top climbers from around the world to take notice.

7.

BigWhitemagazine But it’s the thrill of teaching new climbers every day that keeps them up on the hill each morning.

“We provide all the equipment: axes, harnesses, boots, helmet and a belay,” said Clark, noting novices and season’s pass holders alike enjoy its convenience.

Whether laying down 52 climbs in a single day—the current record—or one’s first 10-minute venture to the top, the soft ice of the tower is the perfect medium to learn on or perfect one’s skills.

“We don’t get spooky ice in B.C. That’s much more difficult to climb as it’s hard and brittle, unlike our soft, plastic ice,” said Clark.

This is part of what’s attracted climbers like Talbot and Will Gadd to teach at seminars at the attraction this season.

Gadd, in particular, is quite the coup to secure as he spends nearly all of his time travelling the world with a camera crew, seeking out the

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

A breath of fresh air, Margo Talbot shares her story of addiction, depression and her climb out at Big White this year.

$

greatest adventures as a climber and paragliding pilot.

Based out of Canmore, AB, he has appeared in 100 television projects internationally and established the world’s hardest ice climb, known as Spray On, at Helmcken Falls inside Wells Gray Park. (Tim Emmett, of the U.K., and Klem Preml, of Slovenia, became the first to actualy completed the climb earlier this year.)

From climbing the sides of silos in Iowa, flooded and frozen for competition, to challenging distant waterfalls, Gadd has sharpened his skills with the ice pick enough to pick any climb he chooses.

“Everybody always thinks of risk in the negative, but you get good things with risk. The consequences are both positive and negative,” he said.

Gadd’s next thrill will be an ice climb in Africa, but at his level he can’t reveal the challenge until its Continued on page 8

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PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

December, 2012

Will Gadd, a god among extreme sports enthusiasts, shares what he knows on the Big White Ice Tower this February.

HIGH ON ICE from page 7 done, or really discuss the rewards.

“Ice climbing is but one way to explore this really cool planet,” he explained. “And this tower at Big White makes it accessible.

“You can learn to ice climb about as fast as you can learn to ski, but you can spend a lifetime learning how to do it well.”

When he teaches, he focuses on patterns. Just as there’s a repeti-

tive pattern to a ski turn, there’s an equivalent turn in ice climbing that can expedite one’s progress and make the process that much less daunting.

“Ice is probably the least likely medium to climb,” he said. “We walk out of our door and fall down on the sidewalk and curse it, yet you can climb icicles and waterfalls and it’s very, very interesting.

“It never ceases to amaze me that ice climbing works.”

The Ice Climbing Series: The three clinics by Canadian ice climbing experts are a first in the B.C. Interior.

- BEGINNERS Jan. 19 and 20 with Jim Onega 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. for a cost of $300

- WOMEN Jan. 26 and 27 with Margo Talbot, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., $300

- ADVANCED CLIMBERS Feb. 9 and 10 with Will Gadd $400 For adults, a two-day competition, Feb. 23-24, will take place with both men’s and women’s divisions. For kids, there is a one-day competition Feb. 23 for those 14 years old and under.

Information can be found at corporateheights.ca

9.

BigWhitemagazine

BIRTHDAY, from page 4 cross athlete Kelsey Serwa, whose grandfather, Cliff Serwa, helped Mervyn found the resort, her start on the slopes.

Serwa has been named FIS World Champion and Winter X Games Champion and is a testament to the determination of this mountain’s ski community.

For Big White’s 50th birthday, the resort will showcase this rough-andtumble spirit, throwing its own yearlong celebration to commemorate a half-century of winter adventures.

Culminating in a birthday bash next December, one can expect to see quirky events like relay races on original wooden skis, and plenty of attention paid to the community that brought mountain to life.

Locals and visitors alike will want to stay tuned to bigwhite.com to watch the festivities unfold. It will

be chock-a-block with snippets of all the fun to come, according to Adrian Witt, guest services and events manager.

Witt is planning a photo contest for locals to draw in old snaps from the family albums and there will be theme days from the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s to watch our diehard ski bunnies strut their stuff in the duds that made this mountain a trendsetter.

“Break out your neon-wear,” said Witt with a chuckle as the first week of the season began.

Isn’t he lucky those daring, glaring colours are all the rage in snow gear once more? One will be able to colour this party happy without ever having to venture to the thrift store.

Old photos like these snaps of Cliff Serwa and Doug Mervyn establishing Big White may just be needed for a photo contest or two as Big White celebrates a year-long 50th anniversary.

10.

December, 2012

Mountain of Memories 50 years in the making

Cliff Serwa and Doug Mervyn had a dream, took a risk and put the Okanagan on the winter map

by Jennifer Smith

If Big White had not opened, there would not be a highway leading out past the mountain, connecting the Okanagan to the Kootenays, Cliff Serwa says as he stands on his expansive East Kelowna property, looking at the zip-line he built his grandkids.

Serwa and his partner, Doug Mervyn, founded Big White, building a ski chalet, the first major lift and the road into the mountain themselves before opening for the 196364 season, four feet of snow to slog through the entire way.

“If we failed in any part of that, we lost everything,” he said.

The lift was only delivered in early October, a month or so before ski season, making the job almost insurmountable.

Cliff Serwa (left) and Doug Mervy n (right) christen the mountain to open in 1963.

There is a picture of the dynamic duo christening their accomplishment upon completion, smashing a bottle of cheap champagne on the main T-bar post, a big grin on Serwa’s face as he stands with his hands in his pockets.

The mounted photo hangs on an old barn wall he retrofitted to stand inside the family home. His wife, Lois, has left no space untouched in showcasing their impressive life.

Serwa eventually served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly, the last of the Social Credit politicians in British Columbia. There’s a photo of him and Margaret Thatcher, the longest serving Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, alongside photos of the early days on the mountain. It’s the perfect touch for a

stately home at the end of a circular drive.

But life wasn’t always so grand.

The man for whom that champagne broke was dressed in a thick wool sweater and jeans, tired after working 35 to 36-hour shifts doing hard, physical labour.

“I always dressed warmly,” he said. “That was just me. We would go cougar hunting and I would stay up all night tending the fire because I couldn’t sleep. I’d get too cold.”

Serwa and Mervyn met in school.

They fished McCulllough Lake just south of the mountain for years, often fantasizing about reaching its summit.

Only Mervyn was actually a skier.

He was also a pilot and as he flew over the vast expanse of soft white

flakes, he would see miles of powder terrain that seemed like far better slopes than the Black Mountain Bowl where locals skiied at the time.

Then one day the pair decided to try and cut a road in from Joe Rich, the sprawling community of ranches and woodsy cabins between Kelowna and Big White.

That was it. Although the first attempt failed, the die was cast and the challenge of reaching Big White became all consuming.

Both young men already had jobs. Mervyn worked for his father at Mervyn Motors and Serwa worked for his father at Serwa Bulldozing, an outfit his son Brad still runs today.

“We must have chaffed a little working under our fathers, so that

11.

JENNIFER SMITH photo

BigWhitemagazine

Cliff Serwa at his East Kelowna home in 2012. kind of got us going,” Serwa mused.

“We were bright enough to see an opportunity and naive enough not to see the problems.”

The pair cut the road into the mountains themselves using only a clinometer, a handheld compasslike device, to establish the grade as they sliced through buckbrush to the top. The road is still in the same place today, as is that first chair, the Ridge Chair, installed in the early ‘70s.

It took great research to make the investment work.

After touring Western Canada and the Pacific Northwest in the United States, the pair learned from skiers what made for a great run, and they figured the ability to ski in and ski out of accommodation might also prove attractive.

It didn’t take long before they had ski school instructors from Europe, like Austrain Willi Pfisterer and Chris Jaegli of Switerland, and locals, like the Athans family, so outstanding they could provide the mountain with new runs to groom.

It’s the community the mountain built that really makes Serwa smile.

“I guess the real satisfaction stems from what it did for families,”

he said. “It’s been something that families did together and then, when the day was through, they would stay together for the rest of the evening as they were all tired out.”

From the economic benefits for Kelowna to the outdoor recreation potential it provides the world, the Big White experience has gone unmatched.

Under the guidance of the Schumann family, who purchased the mountain in 1985, it has become an international attraction, a hill worthy of its family-friendly reputation and host to tourists and young ski enthusiast from around the world.

Last year, Serwa put on skis for the first time in a couple of decades to join his son and Mervyn on the hill for another one of those family ski days. His granddaughter, Kelsey, had just won the X Games and FIS World Cup in ski cross.

Serwa is rarely ever still. After selling the mountain several decades back, one is now more likely to find him out dirt biking in the Monashee Mountains enjoying the view of the mountain he helped build, contemplating life and the extraordinary twists and turns it has offered.

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December, 2012

Poutine master in a triathlete’s body

Chef Denis’s zest for piling on gravy and cheese is matched only by his talent for staying slim and trim Do Jamaicans like poutine?

At Santé Bar and Grille they do; but don’t ask the chef to follow suit and chow down.

Now 15 years into his career cooking up fine cuisine for the skiers on Big White, executive chef Vincent Denis will be on a strict 1300 calorie diet for the rest of the season as he prepares for the new Challenge Penticton triathlon.

Denis tracks his caloric intake on an iPhone App to be sure he never gets off track, particularly this year

with his new French fry, cheese curd and gravy creations.

And yet, as tempting as it is, he always comes back to the ski hill for more.

“I love the environment. I love the feeling you get when a new crew comes in every year and you see the first snow,” he said.

The fare in this kitchen must be fit for a weather-worn ski crew, but he knows every pound he adds could have serious repercussions on the race course. Cheating is not an op-

tion and neither is shortchanging his creative imagination behind the frier.

“People don’t come into my restaurant looking for a light lunch or a salad,” he explained. “They want comfort food.”

And he knows the feeling. Denis arrived in the Okanagan after walk-

JENNIFER SMITH PHOTO

by Jennifer Smith

Chef Vincent Denis is one hardworking mastermind whether he’s behind the frier or atop his bike, eyes locked on the athlete out front. ing 500 kilometres from Mexico to Canada along the Pacific Crest Trail.

He started work on the hill, eventually purchasing Santé Bar and Grille a decade ago, and has earned a lifestyle absolutely perfect for his outdoor nature.

He now works the winters and enjoys the summers of free training time, operating from his home in Joe Rich, the community between Big White and Kelowna.

He has competed in six Ironman triathlons and even one Ultraman, a three-day, 514.5-kilometre triathlon in the South Okanagan that would push any athlete to the brink.

And if it still seems baffling that such a structured, healthy human being would choose poutine as his new featured item, one might want to consider his wanderlust.

This winter’s new creations were inspired by trips both he and his

general manager, Dawn Brenciaglia, took to Montreal where poutine fusion is in fashion.

“We’ve always said we do eclectic Canadian cuisine and what’s more Canadian than poutine?” said Denis.

As such, The Bob Marley sees a plate of French fries topped with pulled pork tossed in spicy jerkbarbecue sauce and doused in gravy.

On the Redneck Supreme, the fries that make up the base of the dish are topped with an eight-ounce charbroiled burger patty, bacon, caramelized onions and gravy.

And on the Lobster Yama, he switches up the potatoes for yam fries and adds bacon, Langostino lobster, hollandaise and gravy.

Pop in and enjoy a some hardy, authentic Canadian fare served up by true Okanagan athlete.

15.

BigWhitemagazine

Find Your Place on the Mountain!

Tamara Terlesky

250-212-5115 www.terlesky.com PERSONAL REAL ESTATE CORPORATION

Jerry Redman

250-717-5000 PERSONAL REAL ESTATE CORPORATION

#204-6430 Whiskey Jack Road

Unit 215, $51,900, MLS 10055457 One of the MOST AFFORDABLE studios at The Inn with upgraded fireplace & flat screen TV. Unit 235, $50,500, MLS 10056027 - Enjoy the Village view from this 362 sq.ft. fully equipped condo. Murphy bed & queen bed (sleeps 4), spacious 4pc bath. Induction cooktops coming in next year. Pool, hot tub, Carver’s Restaurant, underground parking.

#14-200 Moon Shine Crescent

BEST DEAL for a free standing chalet! Walk to village amenities ski to Lara’s Gondola. Ideal layout for entertaining; private hot tub on covered deck with view of Monashees. Fully furnished & unlimited owner use or benefit from rental revenue. Asking $285,900. MLS 10056895

#8-205 Raven Ridge Road

PLENTY OF SPACE for large groups!

Open plan, 3 bedrooms + loft sleeps 8. Vaulted ceiling, stainless steel appliances, stone fireplace.

Tandem garage. Private hot tub-mountain view. Great access from chairlifts! Asking $390,000. MLS 10052951

#4817A Snow Pine Road

FANTASTIC HOME at Big White sleeps 13-15 people, rent as 6 bdrms., use extra rms for kids’ Rec rm, games/media om or 2nd living rm for 2 families! Mtn views from private 6-person hot tub. Fully furnished & ski to Ridge chairlift. Asking $194,000. MLS 10054823

PERSONAL REAL ESTATE CORPORATION Main floor 2 bdrm. unit with great ski in and out access. Walk to all of the restaurants, shops, pubs, ski tickets, rental shop and day care.

A great building with infrared sauna, hot tub, games room & wax room. MLS 10050675

FREESTANDING CHALET: Attached garage. Studio for rental revenue.

HST paid! Paved parking, landscaped yard, covered deck w/hot tub. 4 bdrms, wood fireplace, ski storage, ski-in/ski-out. Perfect for year round use. Asking $509,000. MLS 10051857

#215 & 235 - 5340 Big White Road

250-717-5000 #107 Ponderosa Inn $154,900

#4866 Snow Pine Road

100 STEPS TO SNOWSHOE SAM’S! 2 bdrm condo in Ptarmigan with fantastic ski-in/ski-out to Village!

Newly tiled dining rm., kitchen & entrance. Spacious living rm. w/access to balcony. Building managers. Ski locker, hot tub & u/g parkade. Asking $169,900. MLS 10053897

Ken Mitchell

#4826D Snow Pines $159,900

$339,900

Located in the heart of the village at Big White this 3 bedroom Condo in Stonebridge features spectacular views of the Monashee Mountains. Stonebridge units feature the highest quality from finishings to furnishings. MLS® $185,000

Great one bedroom and den in the Grizzly Lodge, located in the heart of the village at Big White. The Grizzly Lodge offers good ski in/ski out access, great rental, common area with seating, fireplace, pool table, hot tub and sauna. MLS®

$269,900

Snowcrest Village in the heart of the Village at Big White Ski Resort!

Great townhome boasting room for the whole family, featuring an open plan, that is perfect for enjoying the après ski with family and friends. MLS®

$209,900

Great one bedroom townhome in the heart of the village. This Trappers Crossing unit features great village location, ski in and ski out, a private hot tub and great views. Trappers Crossing offers some of the best rental units at Big White. MLS®

$249,900

Top floor 2 bedroom unit in Sundance Lodge at Big White.

This unit is the ultimate in rental opportunity, featuring a studio lock-off allowing for 3 different layouts to rent the unit. Sundance features all the amenities you could want. EXCLUSIVE

In like new cond, this spac 2 bd home has stone flrs in the foyer, ceramic tile in the dng rm & kitchen, wall-to-wall in the bdrms. Fully furn & ready to enjoy w/family & friends. Grt mtn view with 2 parking stalls & good ski in/out access. New roof this summer w/10 yr. warranty. MLS 10052593

#7 Aspens $479,000

Very high end finishing in this 3 bd, 4 bath townhouse. 4 U/G parking stalls & lots of storage.

Granite counter tops, heated slate floors, maple cabinetry & vltd clgs. Priv hot tub on lrg deck w/ fab view. Super ski in/out loc. Has been operated as a B&B, this is a great place for entertaining and family fun. MLS 10053423

#101 The North $275,000

Grt value on this 2 bd + den with 2-car garage town home. Super mtn. & valley views, slate floors in the kitchen, in-unit laundry, gas fp, lrg 11’x11.6’ deck w/priv hot tub. Loc right on the Speculation ski run makes for great ski in/out access. Walk to the pubs, stores, restaurants & village activities. MLS #10053883

#40 Trapper’s Crossing $375,000

Top floor 3 bdrm + loft fully equipped & ready to enjoy. One of Trapper’s Crossing’s best homes.

Private hot tub on a balcony with an incredible view. Stainless appl, hrdwd & ceramic floors, private garage. Walk to everything, great ski access. A wonderful place to enjoy family & friends. MLS 10053923

#308/308A Sundance Lodge - $319,900

3 bdrm, 3 bath corner unit looking at the Monashee Mtns has flexible rental potential as a self contained studio suite can be locked off. Most amenities on the mountain, outdoor pool, slide & hot tub, theatre, fitness room & concierge. Located next to the Bullet chair - the ski in/out access is fabulous. MLS 10056072

16.

December, 2012

Home grown painter Not many people can say all four of their grandparents have been in the Okanagan since the 1920s.

by Jennifer Smith But for the few who grew up with the heat of the Okanagan orchards and the sweet taste of its endless vines coursing through their veins, an unparalleled window on this outdoorsy home lay ripe for the picking.

Contemporary wildlife artist Kenna Graff knew just how to let that knowledge ripen into a talent worthy of showcasing the stunning landscapes this area is famous for, offering a taste of the valley’s spirit right alongside.

“I really like to portray animals as though they just spotted me,” says Graff, who loves nothing more than to add striking images of antlered wildlife to her paintings.

A ski bum through-and-through, Graff favours a good winter scene and a breathtaking buck to work with, and she’s had a fair taste of the great animals over the years.

Graff grew up in the Nancy Greene Racers, skiing hills from Penticton’s Apex Mountain to Mount Baldy, just east of Big White, and Big White itself.

She is now a resident artist at Santé Bar and Grille “I do prefer the winter palette, the blues and the on the mountain, landing the plum position at the beiges, but mostly I’m affected by the season and the request of prominent local chef Grant de Montreuil, a light,” she says. friend who owned the restaurant and felt her art suited Originally from Osoyoos and Kelowna, Graff can rethe flavour of its contemporary Canamember when Big White was a handdian cuisine. ful of epic runs on deep powder with a Since then, the restaurant has small, wooden chalet in a parking lot changed hands and Santé’s new ownat the base of the hill. er, Vincent Denis, has made a point of It was perfect for inspiring a life of keeping those antlers on his walls for loving snow. the decade he has owned it.

While she may come from Canada’s “Every year I sell one or two pieconly desert climate, she’s got skiing, es,” says Graff, noting it’s an opportusnowboarding, snowshoeing, not to nity that pays dividends in exposure. mention back-country, cross-country Graff has a wide brushstroke and and downhill on the brain. doesn’t mind letting a swirl of paint It’s exactly the kind of eclectic, Casend the odd stream of colour running nadian perspective that makes Santé down her canvass, adding a little light Bar and Grille a hit. As an artist in resiKenna Graff to the snow. dence, Graff is the perfect fit.

We help bring the thrill of the slopes at Big White to people with physical disabilities.

Please consider supporting us, and you’ll be rewarded by the best smiles in the world.

250-861-3302

www.pimbc.ca

17.

BigWhitemagazine

BIG WHITE SKI RESORT photo BY PAUL COTTON

NEW! Family snowshoe scavenger hunt

When the sun goes behind the mountains and the moon spreads its glow across the snow, it’s time to get back out into wilderness for a scavenger hunt on snowshoes.

Using the Flaik GPS system, Big White will be hosting weekly evening snowshoe jaunts, which will be a mix of orienteering, geo-

caching, and scavenger hunting.

A unique and low-cost après ski family activity.

NEW! Flaik System Flaik is a GPS tracking system that will let parents “re-live” their child’s day on the mountain, view the location of their child at any time via a smart phone app, and share the experience via social networks with their friends and family.

BIG WHITE SKI RESORT photo

BY QUICK PICS

18.

March, 2012

www.bigwhiterealestate.com Peter MacLeod 250-212-7090 Steve Nicoll 250-470-7011

We live here, we work here, we play here, we know the mountain.

The only full-time, year-round real estate company at Big White. Since 1996.

SUNRAY CHALET In Whiteforest Estates. Custom chalet. 6 bedrooms, 4.5 baths, 30 ft. vaulted ceilings in LR. Over 3500 sq.ft. Outstanding quality.

FEATHERTOP ESTATES FROM $59,000 Village building lots now reduced!

No time limit to build and use your own builder. LOW low strata fees of only $33/month.

VILLAGE 1/2 DUPLEX $139,000 Two bedrooms plus extra large rumpus room. Can sleep 8 easily.

On ski run. Must sell! $139,000.

WINTERIDGE $135,000 Top floor condo, two bedrooms, facing onto Perfection ski run. Fully furnished, vacant. Only $135,000.

FORECLOSURE $170,000 3 bedroom, 3 bath, can sleep 10.

Upper unit in Snowpines. Vacant.

Only $170,000.

TREETOPS FORECLOSURE $255,000

HAPPY VALLEY $260,000 Two bedroom, top floor, very upscale. Reduced to $260,000.

CASCADES TOWNHOMES NEW, FROM $259,900 Three bedrooms, two bath, private garage , fireplace, views. Great buys.

GLACIER LODGE $289,900

PTARMIGAN INN $158,900

WHITEFOOT LODGE $164,500

STONEBRIDGE FROM $359,000

Deluxe 2 bedroom top floor corner unit with granite counters, hardwood floors, steam shower, fully furnished. Large deck with hot tub and mountain view.

HST partially paid. Asking $289,900. MLS 10045837 Steve Nicoll cell 250-470-7011.

Two bedroom, three bath townhome, end unit, private hot tub. Vacant. $255,000.

Corner 3 bedroom, 2 bath unit priced to sell at only $158,900. Easy walk to the Village Plaza. Fully furnished, clean and affordable family accommodation at Big White. MLS 10044017. Steve Nicoll cell 250-470-7011

Top floor 2 bedroom unit with mountain view.

Right on the Village Plaza. Completely renovated with top quality appliances and new kitchen cabinets. Great rental potential in this popular building. Asking $164,500. MLS 10043371 Steve Nicoll cell 250-470-7011

STONEGATE $325,000

Two bedrooms, two baths, in village.

Four units to choose from. All fully furnished and ready for personal use or rental. 2 bedroom and den models with excellent outlooks to the mountains or the Village Plaza.

Priced from $359,000. MLS – 10047299.

Steve Nicoll cell 250-470-7011

www.mountainrealty.ca | phone 250-765-1577 | toll free 1-877-765-1577

19.

BigWhitemagazine

NEW! High Performance Series Big White Ski & Board School introduces guests to high performance this season.

BIG WHITE SKI RESORT photo BY ADAM SMITH

Sessions with some of Canada’s top Level 4 instructors will focus on specific aspects of skiing to maximize performance. In Slash the Steeps, Bash the Bumps and Tackle the Trees guests will spend an entire day with a pro who will show them how to tame the most challenging terrain Big White has to offer. These small group sessions of no greater than four skiers, will use video analysis to target technique improvements. Each session includes a full day of skiing and lunch at the Happy Valley Day Lodge.

NEW! Snowshoe Fitness Treks and Expansion Guests are invited to watch the sunrise while enjoying an invigorating snowshoe trek up the mountain before the lifts even open.

Give the gift of the great outdoors

BIG WHITE SKI RESORT photo BY MATT BUTTERWORTH

Wear the latest ski gear from

Snowshoeing is a great lowimpact activity anyone can do, even children as young as five. Big White will be offering early morning, sun-

Brand names such as…

Plus!

CLEARANCE

ON FAR WEST PRODUCTS set, and family tours as part of their expanding snowshoe program with 15 new kilometres of trails.

70

up to

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250-860-9010

20.

December, 2012

Performing collision repair and windshield replacements to all makes and models for 38 years.

When accidents happen see the experts at‌ Online at www.jacobsencollision.com 1110 Leathead Road Kelowna Collision Centre

250.860.7788

21.

BigWhitemagazine

Stutters

Disaster Kleenup

ce n e l l e c x on E i t a r t o t s f Re o s r a e Y 30 g n i t a r b Cele Is Your Disaster Kleenup Friends Established in 1982, Stutters Disaster Kleenup has led the property restoration industry in the Interior of BC in technology, service and customer approval. Coordinating your restoration needs with your insurance company, our focus is always on offering you peace-of-mind and satisfaction in an otherwise stressful situation.

Don’t just toss the keys to your home or business to the first restoration company you find in the phone book, get to know Stutters before you need us. Every employee at stutters undergoes a criminal record check – Peace-of-mind!

30 th

ANNIVERSARY

the Stutters difference

24-hour a day

emergency response

Water extraction, Water damage restoration, Fire and Smoke damage restoration, Mold and Asbestos remediation, Trauma scene Restoration, Storm damage restoration, Vehicle impact and vandalism Restoration, Carpet cleaning and restoration, Emergency response 24/7/365, Demolition, Vermiculite remediation, Content cleaning and restoration, Computer Data recovery, book, photograph and document recovery

Your emergency response team, serving the Okanagan since 1982 Kelowna: 250.763.1555 • Vernon: 250.542.9893 • Penticton: 250.490.3552 • Salmon Arm: 250.832.9818 Big White: 250.448.7326 • Osoyoos: 250.495.2805 • Oliver: 250.498.8384 • Toll Free: 1.877.763.1540

w w w. stutters .com

Day One 22.

December, 2012

The first four guys to officially cut a line at Big White in the 2012-13 season were huddled by the Ridge Chair by 7 a.m. to seal the deal on the honour.

This season marks 50 such openings, and plenty is planned for the celebration. With 200 diehard powder hounds waiting for the first chairlift to open on Thursday, Nov. 29, it appears these slopes are well suited to the wine country they are situated in. They only get better with age.

“I’ve been waiting and waiting since I finished skiing last spring,” said Joe Sullivan, a Big White convert for the last 18 years who lined up for the chairlift.

By contrast, Ben Hansford jumped in the queue for his very first day as a snowboarder. Originally from Cambridge, he didn’t let those newbie legs fail him, carving two successful runs down the mountain before most were even out of bed.

Billie Oram, 22, and her sister EmmaJane Oram, 24, didn’t having quite the same luck, the younger sister trying to teach the older a few tricks.

BIG WHITE SKI RESORT PHOTOS

BY ADAM STOREY

23.

Killing themselves laughing after landing in a heap, they were nonetheless enjoying a truly white day at Big White with the promise of a season of fond memories before them.

The sisters play horseball at home in Australia—a combination of polo, rugby and basketball— and are well prepared to take a few knocks with a smile. Not that they’ll need to.

Two centimetres of snow fell

JENNIFER SMITH PHOTOS

BigWhitemagazine

before the mountain opened with a 48-cm base on day one and it is expected the year will bring a winter wonderland of powder for anyone from Cambridge, Queensland or Summerland to turn a frosty season into a heap of fond winter memories.

Big White

The Underground

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24.

Lease the 2013 CR-V for

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Starting from 27,630

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BCHD-December-BHH-2013CRV-8x11.786 APR PER MONTH FOR 48 MONTHS. $3,429 DOWNPAYMENT OAC

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CR-V LX RM3h3DeS

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#Limited time lease offer based on a new 2013 offer Honda CR-V model RM3H3DES. lease APR *3.99% for 48 months O.A.C. payment, including freight andfreight PDI, isand $298. of $3,429.44, first first monthly payment, feesand and$0$0security security deposit due at lease inception.

Total lease obligation is $17,733.44.

Taxes, license, registration are extra.

96,000 kilometre allowance; chargekilometer. of $0.12/km for isexcess **MSRP $27,630 including #Limited time lease based on aLX new 2013 Honda CR-V LX*3.99% model RM3H3DES. lease APR for 48Monthly months O.A.C. Monthly payment, including PDI, Downpayment is $298. Downpayment of $3,429.44, monthly payment,environmental environmental fees deposit due at lease inception.

Total lease obligation is $17,733.44.

Taxes, license, insurance and insurance registration and are extra.

96,000 kilometre allowance; charge of $0.12/km for excess **MSRP $27,630kilometer. including freight andisPDI of $1,640 based freight and PDI of $1,640 based on a new 2013 Honda CR-V LX RM3H3DES. license, insurance, taxes, andinsurance, other dealer extracharges and may required time ofatpurchase.

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Offers valid December 1st, 2012 through 1st, January 2013, 2012 at participating Offers valid only for British Columbia residents HondaColumbia Dealers residents at BC Honda Dealers 13 locations.

Honda CR-V LX subject model RM3H3DES. *3.99% lease for months O.A.C. Monthly payment, including freight and is $298. ofdetails. $3,429.44, first monthly payment, environmental fees and $0 security deposit due at lease inception. Total lease obligation is $17,733.44. Taxes, license, insurance and registration are extra. 96,000 kilometre allowance; charge of $0.12/km for excess kilometer. **MSRP is $27,630 including freight and PDI of $1,640 based locations.

Offers subject to APR change or48 cancellation without notice.

Terms and conditions apply.

Visit www.bchonda.com orDownpayment seeretailer your Honda for full details.

Offers to change or cancellation without notice.

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Visit www.bchonda.com or PDI, see your Honda for fullretailer H3DES. PPSA, license, insurance, taxes, and other dealer charges are extra and may be required at the time of purchase. Dealer may sell for less. Dealer trade may be necessary on certain vehicles. €Based on R.L. Polk Canada Inc. data October YTD 2012 registrations in British Columbia. **/*/# Offers valid from December 1st, 2012 through January 2nd, 2013, 2012 at participating Honda retailers. Offers valid only for British Columbia residents at BC Honda Dealers llation without notice. Terms and conditions apply. Visit www.bchonda.com or see your Honda retailer for full details.

December, 2012