The Last Best Ski - Christine Baker / Director Mountain Sports School / Big Sky Resort

The Director of Mountain Sports School at Big Sky Christine Baker lets us in on the changes and opportunities skiing at Big Sky this season.

Purchase your tickets in advance at BigSkyResort.com and come back to TheLastBestSKI.com for your scoop on skiing SW Montana Yellowstone Region. Until next time happy (ski) trials!

We have 5,800 acres that is a lot of space, it creates good skiing. If there isn’t good snow on one side of the mountain, you know there is good snow on the other side of the mountain.

This is such an opportunity to consider why we are doing things. This is the time to take the step and make improvements into the future beyond Covid.

Christine with some of her first ski intstructors in 1983

Christine baker director Mountain Sports School Big Sky Resort

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More about Big SKY Resort

·         What is the history of Big Sky; how did the resort come in to being?

o    There’s a pretty great historical timeline on the Big Sky 2025 site - https://bigsky2025.com/timeline

 

·         What makes Big Sky unique?

o    The skiing, just like the snow, is big. On average, 400 inches of powder fall on 5,850 skiable acres. More than 2,300 of those acres are dedicated to beginner and intermediate terrain, which ski instructors call the best for learning to ski. 300 degrees of skiing off of Lone Peak means you’ll never ski the same line twice. Carve down 4,350 vertical feet of skiing – the most in the state of Montana. Offering more than an acre per skier on average, Big Sky provides serious elbow room. Big Sky is also home to the most technologically-advanced chairlift network in North America, including the first 8-seat chairlift in North America, Ramcharger 8.

 

·         Big Sky boasts being the “Biggest Skiing in America.”  How is that determined?

o    Space to Ski: 5,800 seamless skiable acres with 4,350 vertical drop and about 2 acres per skier, which is more than a football field of room per skier.  

o    More Slope Time: Ski more lines by not waiting in line. An average of 3,000 skiers per days, which is a fraction of skiers at metropolitan resorts of a similar size.  

o    Consistent Snowfall: Based on historical weather patterns, total annual snowfall of 400” fluctuates very little from year to year. (Historical weather patterns result in minimal snowfall fluctuation from year to year) 

o    Terrain Variety: The best mix of beginner (15%), intermediate (25%), advanced (42%), and expert (18%) terrain for seamless skiing between 4 mountains served by 30 lifts with more than 300 runs.  

o    Lone Peak: There is only one. Ride the Lone Peak Tram to 11,166 feet for 300° of skiing, views of 3 states, and 2 National Parks. Breathtaking to see, breathtaking to ski. 

 

·         What does Big Sky offer in terms of lessons, guiding, coaching?  

o    Including a link to our website landing page – but when we arrange an interview, this would be a great thing to address there.

o    https://bigskyresort.com/mountainsports

 

·         What is the Vision of the Future of Big Sky 2025?  

o    An ambitious 10-year capital plan, Big Sky 2025 is aimed at transforming the small town of Big Sky and its big mountain ski terrain into a world-class, year-round mountain destination. The four pillars that guide the 2025 vision include:  

§  An emphasis on the alpine experience 

§  Reimagining the Mountain Village 

§  Supporting local community development 

§  Increasing transportation to Big Sky 

o    Coming next in Big Sky 2025 improvements:

§  Swift Current 6 - Big Sky Resort has announced the installation of a major chairlift upgrade, Swift Current 6, for the 2021-2022 season. This new six-person, high-speed chair with a signature Big Sky Blue Bubble and ultrawide heated seats will also become the fastest six-person chairlift in North America. Swift Current 6 is the resort's next step in creating the most technologically advanced lift network in North America, a key pillar of the Big Sky 2025 vision. "Swift Current 6 replaces the current four-person chairlift with state-of-the-art Doppelmayr D-Line technology," explains Stephen Kircher, CEO and president of Boyne Resorts, parent company of Big Sky Resort. "This technology offers guests reliability, efficiency, and a staggeringly fast, warm, and comfortable ride up to the iconic Lone Peak. There will be no faster, safer or more comfortable chairlift in North America." 

§  The New Huntley Lodge - Big Sky Resort continues to raise the bar on lodging and amenities in Mountain Village. In Winter 2021, The Huntley Lodge will start a significant renovation of its 200 hotel rooms, keeping the unique architectural aesthetic, natural colors and textures found in Montana, with a new, sleek design to evoke a sense of authenticity and warmth. The modern mountain luxury theme enhances the guest’s experience and provides elevated comfort with spacious new bathrooms, carpeting and beds with luxe linens, plus enhanced privacy with sound dampening. Located in the heart of Big Sky Resort's Mountain Village, this traditional slope-side ski lodge was an original landmark in the late NBC News broadcaster Chet Huntley's original vision for Big Sky Resort.

§  Summit Hotel Transformation - The Summit Hotel, the premier slopeside lodging in Big Sky, will undergo a transformative renovation that will completely update 213 guest rooms and common spaces in the luxurious lodge with a lighter, sleeker, alpine luxe aesthetic. A warm respite from the breath-taking grandeur of the natural beauty of Big Sky, The Summit Hotel will debut new common spaces and restaurant renovations for the 2020-2021 winter season. Room renovations will debut for the 2021-2022 winter season. 

 

·         This is another unusual season. What are the biggest challenges and opportunities for 2020?

o    Opening this summer was a great test case on our operations plans – we’ve implemented changes to improve efficiency while keeping our guests and employees safe. We expect that indoor facilities such as restaurants may be one of our pinch points, so opening up an 8,000 square foot space in the conference center for ski breaks, eating, and warming up is one of many solutions that provide a safe and reasonable experience for skiers.

o    Given Big Sky’s uniquely vast 5,850 acres of skiing that offers more than an acre per skier on average, generally, we don’t expect restricting access to the mountain. Ikon Passholders will need to let us know when they plan to visit by using Ikon’s reservation system. Otherwise, Big Sky Resort season passholders can access the mountain without a reservation, and lift ticket holders can purchase tickets with no anticipated restrictions. Our operational plan is built to be adaptable and may evolve throughout the season.

o    You can read more about our Winter Operations plan here: https://bigskyresort.com/winter-operations-update

 

·         Where can people go for more up to date information on Big Sky?

o    www.bigskyresort.com

o    https://blog.bigskyresort.com/

o    https://bigsky2025.com/