As Vancouverites curse weather reports forecasting snow for the region over the next few days, ski industry insiders believe reliable snowfall on B.C. mountains is key to drawing tourists to the province.
“We probably have the most reliable snow in the world,” said Al Raine, Sun Peaks mayor, part owner of Nancy Greene’s Cahilty Lodge and longtime ski industry entrepreneur.
“We don’t always have the most reliable weather but we have the most reliable snow. In some parts of B.C., we have what is equivalent to the best weather in the world for skiing.”
B.C. resorts tend to outpace U.S. competitors when it comes to snowfall. Whistler Blackcomb Holdings Inc. (TSX:WB) released an annual report in December that compared the snowfall of other North American ski resorts. Whistler Blackcomb’s snowfall exceeded all that were listed.
For example, Whistler’s 1,170-centimetre average annual snowfall bettered the 1,054 centimetres that fell on Cypress Mountain and Grouse Mountain’s average of 970 centimetres.
Among North American resorts, only Calfornia’s Mammoth Mountain, with an annual average of 1,016 centimetres of snow each year came close to Whistler’s pile of powder.
Well-known Vail Ski Resort only racks up an average of 929 centimetres of snow annually, according to Whistler Blackcomb.