New Canadian ski area gets green light

23rd January 2007, by Chris Gill

Revelstoke, in British Colombia, has long been an area associated with heli- and cat-skiing adventures; but it is about to become home to a fully-fledged ski resort.

The Canadian resort has recently announced a major investment contract, which should see it offering North America’s longest lift-served vertical by 2008/09.

The ski area on Mt Mackenzie, 3.5km/6miles from downtown Revelstoke, could ultimately boast a lift-system of 20, terrain covering 100km/62miles and a resort ‘village’ housing some 5,000 units.

The first phase to develop the mountain includes a $22 million gondola and high speed chair-lift. The 8-person gondola will initially go from the upper village area to 1700m, to be extended the following year. The fast quad is expected to start at 1595m and rise to 2245m. Both lifts are planned to be installed and opened for 2007/08, serving 1440m/4720ft vertical for the first year.

When complete, Revelstoke Mountain Resort will offer a vertical of 1829m (6,000ft). Comparing this with other major North American resorts, it would beat Whistler (the current leader) by over 200m and rank higher than its state neighbours Panorama and Kicking Horse - both with their own decent verticals.

Off-piste adventures are also set to grow with the resort’s recent acquisition of the CAT Powder Skiing company (at Powder Springs), and the signed agreement to purchase local heli-ski operator, Selkirk Tangiers. 

If all goes to plan, Revelstoke looks like leaping up the North American “must visit” resort charts very soon…

• revelstoke

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