Skiing and Snowboarding

<div>RCMP is reminding people planning to go into the backcountry this winter to “expect the best, but be prepared for the worst” after one death on Jan. 21 and a separate rescue on Jan. 22 near Golden. The RCMP logo is seen outside Royal Canadian Mounted Police “E” Division Headquarters, in Surrey, B.C., on Friday April 13, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck</div>

1 dead, 2 rescued in separate backcountry emergencies near Golden

2 backcountry skiiers found stranded on a cliff in Yoho National Park

 

Men’s bronze medalist Liam Brearley of Canada competes in the finals of the FIS Snowboard World Cup, Snowboard Slopestyle, in Calgary, Alta., Sunday, Feb. 16, 2020. Brearley won gold on Sunday in Laax, Switzerland. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Dave Chidley

Canadian snowboarder Brearley wins World Cup gold in slopestyle

Canadian snowboarders Liam Brearley and Cameron Spalding won gold and bronze, respectively,…

 

Fernie Alpine Resort on opening weekend in December 2023. The resort opened as scheduled in 2023, compared to other skil hills throughout the province that had to delay opening or close briefly. (Gillian Francis)

Snowfall bolsters B.C.’s ski hills, but resorts understand need to diversify

Ski resort operators used to the ebbs, flows of winter weather: Canada West Ski Areas Association CEO

 

Snowboarders make their way to the chairlift at Cypress Mountain in West Vancouver, B.C. Friday, April 9, 2010. The Vancouver ski destination has manufactured more than 81 acres of artificial snow for skiers and boarders to enjoy since opening for the season Dec. 7, but much of that was lost to rainfall and warm temperatures later in the month.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Manufactured snow increasingly needed as ski hills cope with climate change

Weather patterns due to climate change threaten to shorten average length of the ski season

Snowboarders make their way to the chairlift at Cypress Mountain in West Vancouver, B.C. Friday, April 9, 2010. The Vancouver ski destination has manufactured more than 81 acres of artificial snow for skiers and boarders to enjoy since opening for the season Dec. 7, but much of that was lost to rainfall and warm temperatures later in the month.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
A young Jim Howe tries out his Winterstick Swallow Tail snowboard at Big White in Jan. 1980. (Contributed)

‘How cool is that?’: B.C. man remembers 1st snowboard to ever carve Big White

Carving and crashing on Big White in 1980

A young Jim Howe tries out his Winterstick Swallow Tail snowboard at Big White in Jan. 1980. (Contributed)
VISAS instructors with new alpine student at 2023 Herb Bradley Festival. Photo supplied

Registration open for annual adaptive snowsports festival on Mt. Washington

Every January, the Vancouver Island Society for Adaptive Snowsports (VISAS) invites those…

  • Dec 9, 2023
VISAS instructors with new alpine student at 2023 Herb Bradley Festival. Photo supplied
Mount Washington Alpine Resort is open for the winter. Photo via mountwashington.ca

Mount Washington officially opens for the year; snow base sits at 40cm

On Dec. 8, the Comox Valley resort kicked off its 2023/24 winter season

Mount Washington Alpine Resort is open for the winter. Photo via mountwashington.ca
Members of Queer Shred Revelstoke. (Ryan Collins/VIMFF)

B.C. film examines queer identities affected by small mountain town life

People Like Us is set to premiere in Revelstoke tonight

Members of Queer Shred Revelstoke. (Ryan Collins/VIMFF)
Kelsey Serwa and her gold medal she won in ski-cross at the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang. (BC Sports Hall of Fame)

Kelsey Serwa’s journey from growing up on Big White to gold at the Olympics

Kelsey is the grand-daughter of Big White co-founder Cliff Serwa

Kelsey Serwa and her gold medal she won in ski-cross at the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang. (BC Sports Hall of Fame)
Leo Grillmair, guide, former manager of CMH Bugaboos Lodge, with Bugaboo Spire in background, Purcell Range, BC. (CMH Heli/Pat Morrow)

Canadian Mountain Holidays founder dies at 92

Leo Grillmair was among the first to ever heli-ski in the world

Leo Grillmair, guide, former manager of CMH Bugaboos Lodge, with Bugaboo Spire in background, Purcell Range, BC. (CMH Heli/Pat Morrow)
Tyson Rettle, founder of Braille Mountain Initiative. (Great Canadian Heli-Skiing)

Two blind skiers take on Rogers Pass west of Golden

Tyson Rettle and Mark Bentz are raising money for the Braille Mountain Initiative

Tyson Rettle, founder of Braille Mountain Initiative. (Great Canadian Heli-Skiing)
Campbell Riverite Tyler Turner took home gold from the para-snowboarding world championships earlier this month. Photo courtesy Luc Percival

Campbell River para-snowboarder defends world championship title

Tyler Turner wins gold in only competition this year

Campbell Riverite Tyler Turner took home gold from the para-snowboarding world championships earlier this month. Photo courtesy Luc Percival
Sit skier Kevin Monk, 24, rips down Whiskey Jack on March 5. (Nora O’Malley photo)

VIDEO: Vancouver Island sit skier chasing Paralympic dreams

Kevin Monk trains on Mt. Washington with the Vancouver Island Society for Adaptive Snowsports

Sit skier Kevin Monk, 24, rips down Whiskey Jack on March 5. (Nora O’Malley photo)
Freerider Ross Tester competes on the Freeride World Tour at Kicking Horse in 2022. (FWT photo)

Freeride World Tour Pros stop in Golden at Kicking Horse

Men’s and women’s pro snowboarders and skiers hit the slopes on Friday, Feb. 17

Freerider Ross Tester competes on the Freeride World Tour at Kicking Horse in 2022. (FWT photo)
Canada’s Darcy Sharpe competes during the men’s World Cup slopestyle snowboard event in Calgary, Alta., Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

B.C. snowboarder Darcy Sharpe wins World Cup slopestyle gold in Calgary

Win is a first in slopestyle for the 27-year-old

Canada’s Darcy Sharpe competes during the men’s World Cup slopestyle snowboard event in Calgary, Alta., Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Canada’s Darcy Sharpe competes during the men’s World Cup slopestyle snowboard event in Calgary, Alta., Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Comox snowboarder Darcy Sharpe wins World Cup slopestyle gold in Calgary

Win is a first in slopestyle for the 27-year-old

Canada’s Darcy Sharpe competes during the men’s World Cup slopestyle snowboard event in Calgary, Alta., Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Kimberley Kufaas Photography

Annual Mount Cain Cup held during much needed weekend blizzard

Awards and prizes were handed out in the beer garden after the event

  • Jan 24, 2023
Kimberley Kufaas Photography
Rachael Karker of Canada competes during the women’s World Cup freestyle ski halfpipe event in Calgary, Alta., Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Gu golden again in World Cup halfpipe, Canada’s Karker, Bowman finish on podium

Eileen Gu’s halfpipe is ready for the Winter X Games. The 19-year-old…

Rachael Karker of Canada competes during the women’s World Cup freestyle ski halfpipe event in Calgary, Alta., Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
From Nelson to Valemount, the risk of avalanche is high. (File photo)

Avalanche risk high around Revelstoke due to unpredictable snowpack

Buried weak layers mean large slabs of snow could break off at any moment, forecasters warn

From Nelson to Valemount, the risk of avalanche is high. (File photo)
An example of a skier falling into a tree well at Big White Ski Resort on December 30, 2018. (Todd Ganie photo)

‘It’s like you’re drowning in snow’: Teen saves father who fell into tree well at B.C. ski resort

By happenstance, the teen had recently watched a video explaining how to safely get out of a tree well

An example of a skier falling into a tree well at Big White Ski Resort on December 30, 2018. (Todd Ganie photo)