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Destination Showcase: Big White Resort, BC

Jul 10, 2018
by Clint Trahan  


Presented by Big White Resort.



If you build it, they will come. Peter Plimmer, President of Big White Ski Resort and passionate mountain biker, firmly believes that.

In the Summer of 2017, Big White opened to the public with some single track mountain biking trails. In 2018, they've opened not one, but two slopestyle courses.

The Gold course is designed for world class riders to session some of Canada’s best features, and the Bronze course serves as a feeder to its more daunting big brother. Designed by Tom Van Steenbergen and muscled into existence by Loft Bike Parks, the project went from design to trickable features in just 70 days. This included clearing out 3 meters of snow before anything else could begin.

I think the team has hit a home run. The first thing that strikes you about the courses are how well they fit into the surroundings. They've done an amazing job of turning previously unused terrain into a slopestyle haven.

Big White Slopestyle Invitational shot at Big White in British Columbia on July 6 2018. photo by clint trahan clinttrahan.com

bigquotes(This) should be the model of Slopestyle course building moving forward.Carson Storch

With a stunning backdrop and a wildcard spot open for Joyride at Crankworx in Whistler on the line, Big White attracted some serious talent.

He built it, riders came. Hosted by Tom, the athlete list looks like a who's who of slopestyle; both seasoned vets and up and comers came to play. For all the action, check out the Gold Recap and the Bronze Recap.

Big White Slopestyle Invitational shot at Big White in British Columbia on July 5 2018. photo by clint trahan clinttrahan.com
Both Gold and Bronze courses can be sessioned at the same time....
Big White Slopestyle Invitational shot at Big White in British Columbia on July 5 2018. photo by clint trahan clinttrahan.com
...with a quarter-pipe at the end of Bronze.

The major boner. Log. Well done Tom.
The major boner log.
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Nicholi Rogatkin is not human.

So, why build a quarter million dollar slopestyle course on the side of a family resort that only 2% of the population could ever hit?

bigquotesTo get people excited. I love biking. I love where we live. I want to share it with the world. If the athletes love what we do, so will everyone else.Peter Plimmer

The stoke was at an all time high in Big White. If attention was the objective, I think it's Mission Accomplished.

There are now 20 runs and 51km of trails for riders of all abilities, and plans to continually expand those numbers. And that is what Peter and his team are building.

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Noah Brousseau tackles the steeps.

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Plenty of places to style out.
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Rock Hammer get slapped around by Noah.

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Loose....nevermind.

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It smells better up here too.

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Leaning.
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Gratuitous berm smashing.

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Big White from a distance.

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Views for days!

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A damn good way to spend a weekend.


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Member since Jun 27, 2014
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31 Comments
  • 57 1
 I am the Bike Park Manager for Bike Big White. Just wanted to add something. At BBW we are all riders who live and work at the resort. We all have a lifetime of commitment to what we believe in. We are all family here.We love this place and we love to ride our bikes. From the President and CEO, to me, the park manager, all the builders, the build contractors, right down to my 6 year old. We all ride here. We are prepared to deliver the goods. We want more trails to ride too. The work on the Slope Style course was a tremendous effort, but we did not sacrifice the trails in the park. We worked on both.There is way more to come so please stay tuned.
  • 7 0
 Looking forward to what is to come in the following seasons!
  • 11 0
 heh... bbw
  • 6 0
 Would you consider hosting a UCI DH world cup track?!? It's been way too long since we had a WC track in BC, and the shore hills don't seem to care one bit. Big White would be a great place for it. I know I would travel out there from Vancouver, and I know a lot of other people who would as well. Just make sure it's rowdy!
  • 5 0
 @redridesrule: We would consider it for sure... I am not sure of the course/event requirements at the moment. Anything is possible and we have a whole bunch of stoked riders on board to make things awesome.
  • 47 0
 More bike parks, especially ones that aren't owned by vail, are a good thing! Looks like a rad spot!
  • 12 1
 Right now in Fernie, we are dreaming of having Vail buy us out. I just wish someone at RCR had this kind of vision.
  • 7 0
 They are onto somethign special in BW. the team loves MTB and wants to grow into a world class destination. They have everything they need to make it a reality. Winners are everyone. its great to see.
  • 4 2
 @brownstone: Not just RCR. Take a look at how rad Kicking Horse is. News trails, actual jumps etc.. FAR management has a hate-on for mtb that has seen me and several of my friends take our business elsewhere this year (bought a Pano pass instead). I don't miss sitting on the Elk chair for 18 mins to ride blown out trails one bit!
  • 2 0
 @brownstone: unfortunately RCR are a pack of insurance muzzled sissies.
  • 14 0
 If 2% of Canada can ride that slopestyle course, that means there are 725,800 Canadians that are way more badass than me.
  • 2 0
 Think he meant the mountain biking population... Otherwise I feel pretty bad too! ????
  • 1 0
 its a figure of speech. the gold course especially is a tough one.
  • 4 1
 Great seeing a 'mom and pop' ski resort with forward thinking and pushing outside their typical box. I love Whistler like everyone else. That said, more is better in many was AND living in Colorado, Vail is the evil empire in many ways.
  • 12 4
 f*ck vail. Normally make a trip to whistler once a year but after noticing the prices this season I bailed. hit up silver star and sun peaks with no regrets and for half the price. Now that big whites open in that area too why bother with whistler at all let the yuppies have it.
  • 6 5
 @nismo325: yuppies? You're a douche
  • 2 0
 L.O.F.T. Bike Parks did an incredible job building that course! Those boys live, work, eat, sleep biking! Congrats to Alexander CHISHOLM, Austin DAVIGNON and Dustin GILDING for their awesome work and attention to detail. Keep an eye out for where these guys are building.....they are the bomb in the biking world!
  • 1 0
 We couldn't agree more. So happy to have LOFT on board!
  • 1 0
 Just to be clear, the Slopestyle course is open to the public, and will be all year?
  • 4 0
 Slopestyle trails are both closed to the public at this point... We’ve been so busy getting this event off the ground in the last 10 weeks that we didn’t think about what to do once we were done Smile That being said we are investigating using the Bronze course for special days where we can have it patrolled and maintained. That will be being discussed this week so please subscribe to the @bikebigwhite social media for updates on this.

Peter
  • 2 0
 @GreaterShadow: If it's open to public I know I'll be across asap!
  • 2 0
 I think there is a BC Cup there this summer too!
  • 2 0
 I’m quite literally headed there today! Can’t wait.
  • 1 0
 Hopefully you’re aware that the park is closed on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Thursday to Monday are the days that we’re open!
  • 2 0
 @GreaterShadow: Of course! Rode yesterday, riding today and half of tomorrow. There's some incredible tech here.
  • 1 0
 Hopefully in coming years the season expands. Would love to check it out.
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