Editor's note: Abundant snow means Big White Ski Resort opened yesterday -- six days earlier than the originally planned Nov. 28.
The only thing better than being an ambassador at Big White Ski Resort is being an Olympian.
Tess Critchlow should know because she's both.
"Big White is home to me and pure enjoyment, so it's natural for me to let everyone I come into contact with how great Big White is and that it has something for everyone," says Tess with a laugh.
"Being an Olympian is totally different. It's about pushing yourself to your mental and physical limits in a sport you love."
The sport Tess loves -- and is exceptionally good at -- is snowboard cross.
She finished 6th at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics and 9th at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, Korea.
Now retired from competition, Tess, 29, is snowboarding for fun, doing a bit of coaching, helping with her dad's summer business in Blue River, taking tourists out to spot bear and moose on jet boats, and revelling in the role of Big White ambassador.
"I have an extra-special relationship with Big White," she explains.
"As a kid, my family lived up there in the winter so I could race and go to school up there, too. Now, as an ambassador, I snowboard and get to talk to so many adults and kids."
The talk may be of her being a two-time Olympian.
But, more often than not, it's about how Big White is the No. 1 ski resort for families and famous for its consistently beautiful snow -- 750 centimetres (that's 24 feet!) of it every season.
"I've been lucky enough to travel all over the world snowboarding and, honestly, nothing is comparable to Big White and it's incredible powder snow," says Tess.
"Even a big powder day in Austria is not as good as Big White."
By the way, Tess' favourite run of the 119 at Big White is Serwa's because it's long and rolly and reminds her of friend and fellow Big White ambassador -- Kelsey Serwa, who won the ski cross gold medal at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics.
The ski run and Kelsey's last name comes from her grandfather, Cliff Serwa, a founder of Big White in 1963 -- the little resort 56 kilometres east of Kelowna, British Columbia that's snowballed (pun intended) into a world-class destination.
There's no strict criteria for being a Big White ambassador.
The resort has 16 of them this season ranging from everyday skiers and boarders and ski instructors to former World Cup racers and Olympians.
Essentially, they simply promote the resort when they are on the mountain and share their experiences on their social media channels with #skibigwhite.
"It's a no brainer," enthuses ambassador Ian Deans, a former World Cup ski cross racer who was the 2012 Nor-Am Cup overall champion and winner of the 2015 Euro Cup in Orcieres, France.
"Big White is where me and my family belong, so to be a steward of the community and show off Big White through my unique lens is everything."
Ian's unique lens is also living at Big White in the winters as a kid so he could race and go to school up there, meeting the woman who would become his wife at Big White, having every Christmas there and spending COVID lockdown at Big White making ski videos.
As a young racer, Ian remembers travelling across British Columbia and everyone touting Whistler, Whistler, Whistler.
"And then when we were there for a competition, I had to ask: 'Well, where do I put my skis on?" remembers Ian.
"Because, Big White is all ski-in and ski-out (from hotels, condominium complexes, restaurants and shops), I just wasn't used to having to haul my skis around."
Ian's favourite spot at Big White is Grizzly Bowl because it's exposed, fast and technical.
But, the resort also has plenty of beginner areas for his kids, aged 4 and 2, to learn.
Ottawa transplant Renee Seaman is a ski instructor and ambassador who seeks year-round snow hopping from Northern Hemisphere Big White to Southern Hemisphere New Zealand and Australia.
"Wherever I am in the world, I'm always talking up Big White," says Renee.
"It's an incredible place. It's got me for life."
That's quite a statement, especially since Renee came west for just one season in 2020.
Renee's favourite run at Big White changes depending on weather and snow conditions.
But, you'll always find her after a dump of snow on Easter Chute and afterward at Bullwheel Pub for apres-ski happy hour and more talk about epic conditions.
