Bring on the Pow!

Courtesy of Revelstoke Mountain Resort

 

Revelstoke is renowned for it’s legendary pow and last season was record breaking with over 12 metres of snowfall (a 10 year high!).  This season looks set to compete with that with nearly 7 metres already at the start of January, incredible conditions on and off the slopes and the season’s only just getting started!   This is what makes January skiing momentous – it’s a quiet time of year to ski (shh…don’t tell everyone!) and the pow is amazing!  With conditions like this, what more can we say?  Enough talking, let’s go skiing!

Taking a GoPro Heliskiing? Our Tips for doing it like a Pro.

Skiing the Pow
Catching that shot

These days, on mountains all over the world, you can’t help noticing how many skiers and boarders have a GoPro attached to some part of their body.  We’ve become obsessed with digitally recording ourselves … and there’s nothing wrong with that as far as we’re concerned at Bighorn.  The breath taking vistas and snow conditions here at Revelstoke lend themselves perfectly to shooting incredible footage of your ski adventures.  So move over Warren Miller, here’s a few tips to ensure you actually record the memorable images you want (rather than a long bumpy video of your ski pants)!

  1. Where to mount the camera?

Helmet mounts:  a unique viewpoint from your own perspective – but make sure you mount it near the front (not on top).  Before you put it on your head, angle it down slightly.

Chest mounts:  work equally well for skiers, not so much for boarders as they are often standing sideways on, unless of course you just want to shoot your friends skiing.

Boot, board or ski mount:  provides a unique angle to show the view of the ski or board as it moves or you can invert it to show the skier.  The only issue is the adhesive doesn’t tend to last long in very snowy conditions and damage is more likely with it being so close to the ground.

Ideally to get the best varied footage, use a combination of the above.

  1. Filming your ski buddies? With the GoPro’s wide field of view, it’s best to get as close as possible to the action, ideally no more than a couple of metres away and aim the camera at the middle of the person, keeping their head to toe in shot.
  2. Which resolution? (i.e. the number of pixels). Whilst it’s tempting to go for the highest res, unless you really are planning on being the next Warren Miller, 720 is actually good enough for most computers and will save you memory space whilst making editing much easier.
  3. Anti-Fog Inserts. The conditions can be cold and humid on the BC terrain leading to a fogged lens.  GoPro has the answer with anti-fog inserts that protect your lens from fogging up.
  4. Battery Packs. Even if you fully charge your battery before you spend the day heliskiing, your charge may not last the entire day, so bring a spare battery pack or two.
  5. Get the GoPro App. It makes it really easy to control the settings and preview your amazing powpow shots from your phone.
  6. Do a test run with your trusty GoPro to check you’ve got it set up properly before your head off on one of the best powder descents you’ve ever done (speaking from experience!)
  7. Finally…sit back and relax at the end of the day with a well deserved drink in hand to watch your amazing powder adventures in HD in the Bighorn cinema.

…and cut! That’s a wrap, folks!

Early Snow in Revelstoke

Early snow Revelstoke

Snow has been falling earlier than usual in Revelstoke and the top of the peaks are already covered white. This should set both Revelstoke Mountains Resort and our heli ski partners up for a great start to the season. The first week of the season is still available at Bighorn, so if you want to get first tracks this season we are open from December 14th.

The Selkirk Mountains are famed for their massive snowfall, averaging 12-18 meters per season. This year winter temperatures are forecast to be cooler than normal, which would make the powder snow especially light and dry. Perfect for tearing through the trees, cruising along a glacier and floating down a high alpine bowl!

The Top 10 Ski Resorts in North America

Top ski resorts Revelstoke

Using a new formula to rate ski resorts, Snowbrains.com have named their Top 10 Ski Resorts in North America. Right up there is Revelstoke Mountain Resort, giving long-established resorts such as Whistler and Jackson Hole a run for their money.

Rankings have been created using the following formula:

Ranking = [Average Snowfall + Access to Challenging Terrain] x Radness Factor. We like it!

Revelstoke’s huge annual snowfall (480 inches at the top of Mount Mackenzie), massive inbounds terrain (3121 acres) and North America’s highest vertical descent (5620ft) mean it ranks up there as one of the best ski resorts in the continent. ”Man, this place is amazing.  I’d love to get back up here.  On a powder day, it seems like there’s nobody here and the terrain’s incredible.  I gotta get back.”  – Arne Backstrom, 2010 Overall FWT Champion.

Aside from the awesome resort skiing, what sets Revelstoke apart is access to millions of acres of world class heliskiing. The lucky guests at Bighorn can either ski the resort, or take to the skies from the private house helipad. Now that is rad.

Best Ski Chalet Fashion

Stylish surrounds at Bighorn Revelstoke

 

What are the best things to wear for a ski chalet holiday? Aside from packing plenty of warm ski gear, how should you dress for après ski? The beauty of staying in an exclusive ski chalet like Bighorn is that you can wear whatever you like! This is your private domain and you make the rules. If you are looking for some suggestions, we recommend packing some cosy, comfortable and stylish clothes to match your surroundings. Here is our pick of the best ski chalet fashion for this season:

1) A cashmere sweater

Perfect for relaxing in front of a roaring log fire after a day on the slopes. Slip on a cashmere sweater for a little bit of easy luxury.

We love: Ralph Lauren Black Label Boatneck Cashmere Sweater at Barneys.com

2) The go-to shirt

You can’t go wrong with a classic white shirt. Teamed with jeans, a casual shirt with a stylish fit is easy chalet chic.

We love: Alfred Dunhill White Engineered Shirt at Dunhill.co.uk

3) Merino wool socks

Lightweight, warm and comfortable, merino wool socks are stylish enough to be worn alone. Who needs shoes when you won’t want to leave the chalet?

We love: Icebreaker Ultralite Crew Trojan at Icebreaker

4) For the ladies – soft leather pumps

More stylish than slippers but just as comfortable. Dressy enough for dinner and relaxed enough for watching a movie with your feet up in the home cinema.

We love: Ladies’ Lanvin Lambskin Ballerina Flats at Neiman Marcus 

5) For the ladies –  a cosy wool dress

Easy, comfy and smart. A sweater dress requires minimum thought, but looks effortlessly stylish.

We love: Ladies’ Stella McCartney silk and wool blend sweater dress at Net-a-porter.com

 

 

 

It’s Already Snowing in Revelstoke

Early snow in RevelstokeRevelstoke has enjoyed its first snow of the winter and we can’t wait for another epic season to get underway. Check out this photo from the Ripper Chair webcam, its sure to get your ski legs twitching in anticipation! With an average of 12-18 meters of snow per winter, Revelstoke Mountain Resort is officially one of the snowiest resorts in the world. Plus, the snow in Revelstoke is perfect powder – light, dry and deep.

Bighorn is the perfect compliment to this powder paradise. The world’s most exclusive ski chalet offers both private heli skiing direct from the house helipad and lift skiing at the incredible Revelstoke Mountain Resort. This is as good as it gets!

Heliski in a Romantic Winter Wilderness this Valentines Day

 

It’s that time of year again – the shops are filled with pink balloons, expensive chocolates and teddy bears. Yes, Valentine’s Day is looming. The team at Bighorn know there is only one place to be in the middle of February however and that is on the slopes, as conditions in Revelstoke are amazing.  With heaps of fresh snow and bluebird skies, guests have been hitting the high alpine and loving the powder, views and awesome terrain.

The Bighorn Chef, Peter Hughes, can create a special Valentine’s menu for any love birds who want the best of both worlds: amazing heliskiing and romantic gastronomy. We’ve got a sneak preview of what he is planning, it sounds delicious even if you’re not feeling romantic! Perfect fuel for another day skiing the dream.

  • Canapé and champagne party
  • Truffled gougeres with dolcellate
  • Oysters Kilpatrick grilled with Canadian Bacon and Worcestershire Sauce
  • Teppanyaki Seared Scallops with Lemongrass and Ginger Infused Miso Broth
  • Frasier River Sockeye Salmon served En Croute and Carved Table Side
  • Chocolate Marquise Kisses with Gold Leaved Strawberry Crostilliant

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Top Fashion Trends for the 2012 Ski Season

Luxury ski fashion ideas for 2012

So, what should you be rocking on the slopes this season? After a few seasons of neon brights blinding us at every turn, this year it is back to simple primary colours: red, blue and yellow. Simple, unfussy blocks of colour. We love the Norrona Lofoten Pro Shell jacket and pants in ‘caviar’ black and ‘saffron’ yellow, perfectly blending function and design. www.noronna.com 

Under your ski jacket, it’s all about the layers. A high wicking base layer followed by a lightweight down jacket allows you to stay warm without restricting movement. Great brands to look out for include Icebreaker for base layers www.icebreaker.com and Peak Performance down jackets. www.peakperformance.com

After an exhilarating day’s heliskiing, back at Bighorn you want to be cozy, comfy and yet still fit with your stylish surrounds. Of course the house is exclusively yours, so in theory you can wear whatever you want, but we’d highly recommend slipping on a soft cashmere sweater to relax by the roaring log fire. Perhaps the most luxurious on the market are Brunello Cucinelli’s fine sweaters, made from the soft under-down of the Hircus goat. www.brunellocucinelli.com

Update your look with a few key trends for this season. For the ladies, leather trim, colourful cords and tweed. For the gentlemen, plaid check, camel and velvet. If you don’t have the time to shop for the new season, staff at Bighorn can arrange a consultation with a personal stylist before you leave home. Londoners will be assured of personal service at our partner Boutique at Home, whose owner Natasha will find a variety of smart casual looks to suit your needs. www.boutiqueathome.co.uk

To see some cutting-edge skiers working the primary colour-block look at Revelstoke, check out this video: