Big White is AWESOME! Opening Early...? And skiing anyway...

Dunno, she followed me...
She calls herself 'Wifey... or boss... or 'she who must be obeyed...'

Will we? Won't we?

Everyone keeps asking the question. Well as a someone who un-officially doesn't know the answer (I have not asked, and they have not answered this un-asked question... yes, yes I know it is a complicated system). I am going to say... depends.

Quick note... the pics you see are from today - skiing! It was AWESOME!

Depends on what?

A number of things, now imagine if I was the big dog looking at the situation; balancing up the pros and cons, I would ask myself a number of questions...








Operational...

1. Is there enough snow?



Kinda like Darth Vader.

• And will it last, what does the god of grooming tell me?(Jeremy).
2. Can we get the lifts running?
3. Do we have the staff available to run the operation... and are they trained?
4. Is it safe? Actually this would be like, question one...
5. Do we have ski instructors?
6. Do we have ski patrol?
7. Can we prepare the runs?
8. What about other businesses? Can they gear up quickly?
9. And accommodation - is it, or can it be ready?
10. What does wifey say?
• I did say if "I" was the boss.

Wait, which way up
 do these go?
And pointy end goes down?

Financial...

1. Can we balance expenditure with increased revenue?
2. If no, what is the marketing value/public relations value?
• Do the two balance?
3. Will opening early generate local interest and lead to increased season pass sales? This year... next?

Marketing...

1. What is the PR value of opening early?
1. If we are the first to open compared to the other major BC resorts?
2. What is the PR cost if we can open... but don't? 
1. And other resorts open?

Strategic...

1. Will opening early meet with our long term strategic objectives.

Not smiling... It is the Dark Side of the Force death-grip...
but in a nice Canadian style.

So there you have it, will Big White open early? The answer is still 'depends'.

Remember, Big White are a business, they have to answer to stakeholders, who ask questions like 'Why did you lose money...? Or why didn't you make more money...? Or where is my cookie? (I made that last one up.)

Of course I am not the big dog. But there is a good reason for that. Yes, exactly, they are Australian and I'm English.

But... going out on a limb. My prediction is yes, on the 21st November. And if I am wrong, don't blame Big White... blame me.

Told you. Deep! No, I am not kneeling.

And yes skiing today. Stunning eh? We hiked up, the weather was perfect, we got some great exercise, enjoyed the stunning scenery, played in epic epic powder, and (almost) had the mountain to ourselves. Being carried up the mountain is easier but this was cool too!

Keeners! First in line for Telus Chair.

Sólido Properties... well I usually do a self deprecating and some people think (me) both humorous and entertaining, end to my blog... but this time I think I will just

Big White is AWESOME! Cos the people... 13 (maybe...) and Welcome to Big White.

I don't know... I could check how many, or count but that would involve time taken away from walking to the coffee machine and pressing a button...

Part 1 - The People.
Kris and Jolene... They are AWESOME!

This weekend was the big annual Halloween Bash at Sam's, it is the first big party of the season. Tons* of people go... tons of people from Snowpines.

*I was going to use the metric Tonnes but decided to stick with the old imperial... easier to write and I come from GB which once had an impire... Queen Victoria - she was an Impress... it was also how the navy got its' sailors. But she was defeated by Luke when he blew up the death star.

But... since the mountain is not open yet, there is no official transport. Kris and Jolene decided to help. They not only donated a vehicle but paid for a driver to help shuttle the sober to Sam's and (jumping to conclusions here) the inebriated back home again.

I think this is the most unselfish act I have seen at Big White. Of course I once got given a ski pass... but, they had taken it away first... and it could have been a mistake.

• They did not earn a penny.
• They risked their vehicle.
• They paid for the driver.
• They paid for the fuel.

Did I say unselfish!!? Their actions were so cool... ...I decided not to copy... cos that is how I role.

Kris and Jolene run a business at Big White. Snowy Nights, they could have promoted the business but they didn't. Maybe because they don't need to tell everyone how good they are... maybe because they do a great service and grow because of this... maybe they are great employers with happy and loyal staff...

Snowy Nights have been managing tubs for years - their rates are fair, their staff are honest, they inspect tubs more and I know when they say 'this needs fixing...' it needs fixing.

If your service is this good, do you need to advertise? Probably not. 

And they spend most of the summer fishing on the pacific coast. How cool is that? No... I don't do that either.

Part 2 - Welcome.

We fill up every year with seasonal people - whether on a working vacation, a gap year, a life change or whatever. Big White enjoys almost 1400 seasonal visitors and not all are from Australia... no, it is true - there are German, East German (is that PC?), Kiwi, English, Scottish, Welsh (I didn't forget you Alyn), Chilean, Argentinian, Frenchian... etc etc. I made that last one up... yes I did!

We love you guys! You make Big White interesting and fun, and diverse and... possible to exist. Yes, we probably couldn't do it without you. So... Thanks!

But I have a couple of requests, or guidelines if you wish...

Garbage.

Big White is beautiful, a pristine part of the world. Fresh, pollution free air, the purest water, unobstructed 360 degree vistas and of course snowsports. How lucky are we? How lucky are you...?

...But Snowsports are winter specific, when the snow melts we see everything under it - trash doesn't melt, beer cans don't melt, cigarette butts don't melt. Please please please bag your garbage. You wouldn't want to visit a dump, please don't leave one.

Theft.

Don't steel, (I know - intentional... maybe) Period. The value of the cheapest item you steel (or not) is the value of your integrity... think about it.

Alcohol and other recreational activities... 

I was gonna say drugs but thought better of it.

Moderation, have fun but stay in control - you will thank yourself in the morning.

Work.

Balance it with life, be reliable, respect your employer - don't abuse the trust.

Respect the place you live.

Owners have a choice of renting to seasonal staff or... not. You are there because they chose the former, don't make them regret their decision.

Respect your roomies.

Pull your weight, share the chores, respect their space.

Respect your neighbours.

Noise - respect the quiet hours.

I think that is it; if you follow these simple guidelines, your season will not only be fantastic... it will be awesome - Big White AWESOME!

Sólido Properties owns, manages, rents, lives, and enjoys just being at Big White. Of course we also do this social media marketing thing to promote our business (unlike Snowy Nights... some say it is because they are better, others... because we are worse... fortunately we use Snowy so that brings up our average... :)

If you are an owner looking for a self righteous, narcissistic, inferior blogging, (employing uninformative verbal drivel) company to help you, to help Sólido increase profits... and generate stable, guaranteed, revenue  for your property... contact us. That last sentence was the call to action... if you got so far.