This Week in Skiing: Dec 2, 2011

So what's been going on this past week in the skiing world? 

Let's start with resorts preparing for their official opening for the 2011/12 season. The early snowfall allowed many resorts to offer a preview weekend, but we're now approaching the official opening, including midweek skiing and riding for those who are so privileged! 

Resorts Opening / Opened this Week:

• Big White: Opened earlier this week, and is now open for the season.
• Fernie: Officially opens for the season this weekend following last weekend's preview.
• Norquay: Has been open for weekend operations for the past few weekends, but starting this weekend they're open for the season.
• Revelstoke: was open for their preview weekend Saturday last week, but had some high-winds on Sunday which kept the lifts from spinning.

In addition to these resorts opening, we've got two preview weekends coming up - giving you the opportunity to lay down some fresh tracks!

• Kicking Horse: Bonus weekend opening December 2nd (TODAY!).
• Kimberley: Open for a preview weekend Dec 3-4th!
• Whitewater: Open December 3rd for the weekend.

Where's the Snow to?*

At a high-level, a storm came through the mountains of Western Canada earlier this week, and dropped snow along the way. Resorts in the coastal range got snow earlier in this week trailing off into the past few days. Further into the B.C. Interior, snow fell throughout until ~ Tuesday, with a few scattered flurries since. There's no clear answer as to where you should head out riding this week, but it is clear you should head out riding. That said, our picks would be Kicking Horse and Revelstoke this weekend.

What's in the Forecast?

There's not a lot of snow in the forecast, but if it doesn't snow that provides a good opportunity to get out and shred the snow that fell earlier in the week, with an additional benefit: visibility. The forecast varies across the western provinces, but it looks like there's a good chance of some blue-bird days this weekend, especially Sunday. Here's a chart showing chance of precipitation accumulation >10mm (which is roughly equivalent to 10cm of snowfall) over the next 72 hrs:

*Where's the snow to' comes from a dialect of English located primarily in the far reaches of Eastern Canada, known as Newfie: A great place filled with great people, blue star, and beautiful foggy vistas.