On January 25th the Olympic Torch will make it’s way into Kelowna, BC. In total the torch relay is expected to draw 15,000 to 20,000 people out for the event.
Big White is on the list of destinations for the torch while it’s in the area, and to celebrate Big White threw a pre-celebration today in the village. With a chance to win prizes, red Olympic mittens and Olympic tattoos, the event was fun for the entire family.
Big White always has something organized to keep a wide variety of options open during your stay at the resort. Visit Big White’s weekly events to learn where you can find a bonfire with free hot chocolate, or check out the main events calendar to find out events like the famous Cruz the Blues event.
The closing issue of Okanagan Home for the year of 2009 featured Crescendo on the front page! The magazine featured Apchin Design Corp, the company behind Crescendo’s design, and discusses some of the hurdles involved in building a unique luxury ski chalet at Big White, an environment that experiences an average of 24.5 feet of snowfall every winter!
You can view the December 2009 issue of Okanagan Home online, or learn more about the Apchin Design’s at their website – www.apchin.com.
As the holidays approach new runs are opening and new lifts are getting ready to start spinning. The Powder Chair at Big White is next on the list to open, joining seven other lifts that are already operational. The Mega Snowcoaster tubing park has also opened, along with Canada’s highest altitude skating rink in Happy Valley at the bottom of Lara’s Gondola.
The Christmas lights are twinkling in the village and a host of dining and entertainment options are getting ready for Christmas and New Year’s. Visit the Holiday Specials page on Big White’s website to weigh all of your options. If you want our opinion, you can’t go wrong with the Kettle Valley Steakhouse on New Years! Let the servers pamper you with a 7 course extravaganza with live music all night from a guitar soloist. Reservations are required, if interested call the steakhouse at 250.491.0130.
Big White’s Beyond Wrapture Spa also has a couple’s signature massage offered over the holidays, something you will definitely want to check out after a day on the slopes!
Big White opened on November 14th, earlier than the projected opening day to everyone’s delight. Big White has a 66cm base at the time of this post with flurries in the forecast. Take a look at the opening day video:
Kelowna, British Columbia, has a moderate climate with terrain that is varied. The golf season is long and dry beginning as early as March and ending in early to mid-November. There are more than a dozen 18-hole courses located within a 30 km/19 mi radius of downtown Kelowna. The wonderful, rolling orchids, arid grasslands, and forested mountain sides create a range of challenges for golfers of all abilities.
We’ve LOVED the suggestions you’ve given to us after your stay, and have implemented so many of those.
In the luxury department, …
Of course we have catering available on request, and some of you have enjoyed that during your stay.
Also implemented cleaning services, every three days, for those booking 7 days or more.
A ceiling fan in the master bedroom (already one in the guest bedrooms).
You asked for it – Robes! Our robes are logo’d and are especially nice when going to and from the pool/jacuzzi (or just lying around, luxuriating).
In the electronics department,
We implemented fully redundant systems. That includes everything the touchpanels can do; the remotes and the BriteStyle wall switches, extra whole-house amplifier, and a duplicate master controller.
We activated our motion detectors, which are fun. Garage and entry lights turn on automatically with motion. At night the stairs light up. Different lights around the house turn off when there is no motion. Some guests think the motion activated lighting has been kind of fun while others have found them to be kind of spooky.
We’ve added additional wireless access points for internet and we upgraded to the latest/fastest connection.
Also upgraded from wireless G to Wirelsss N, and added more repeaters throughout the home.
A couple guest had so much fun in the hot tub, that when they brought the party indoors they forgot to turn off the speakers outdoors. As Crescendo is like a fortress, it is difficult to hear the outside speakers from the inside of the house. Unfortunately, the rest of the mountain can hear them. So, we’ve reprogrammed the outdoor speakers, so you won’t have to worry about that. The outdoor speakers will now turn themselves off automatically at 10:00 pm.
DVDs continue with new titles – always. More workout videos/routines also for our Physical Therapy Power Tower.
A promised (to me by the custom designer) Ski boot rack/dryer, to hold about 14 pairs of ski/board boots.
Did you know? Kelowna has a great golf season. The boating and flyfishing seasons are busy as well. There is also wine tasting all year with 4 Wine Festivals. Kelowna is the NAPA Valley of British Columbia!
Wow! With the close of the 2008/2009 Ski Season, we’ve just completed our first full rental year.
In addition to our ski season guests, we’ve had
3 Weddings (2 during ski-season, 1 during golf-season)
4 Groups of golfing buddies
2 Corporate Retreats (all during our golf season)
2 Bachelorette parties (all during our golf season)
One unanticipated benefit that I’ve especially enjoyed this past year is the personal relationship that’s been developing between so many of us. In fact, if you happen to be enjoying Big White while we are at Crescendo, we’d love to meet you. Perhaps you’d like to see some of Crescendo’s hidden systems (such as the extensive networking, electronics, automation brain, geothermal equipment). If you’re not staying at Crescendo, just email us the dates you’ll be at Big White, so that if our dates overlap we can meet. Some have already done that, and it’s been great.
