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Life at Panorama Mountain Resort
Guide Summary
Although you come to Pano to ski, there are plenty of opportunities to socialise outside of riding. One of the best aspects of living and working in a ski resort is the community and the ability to create friendships. I’ll run through the events throughout the season and a breakdown of the weekly rituals of ski season-aires.
Weekly Rituals
The resort offers a free and regular shuttle down to Invermere – a typical BC town with cafes, restaurants and independent stores. Wednesdays are big, as the thrift store opens and the new stock is dropped. Although there’s a queue, you’ll find some gems. Second-hand skis, jackets and skates are continuously being donated. Find a pair of old skates that fit and go to the frozen lake. The lake holds the record for the longest ice skating trail in the world. But don’t worry if you don’t have the balance for skating, go for a walk and take in the views. If you fancy trying your hand at curling, the rink offers a drop-in session once a week. Mixing up the week and getting into an unusual sport is always fun. The next town over, Radium Hot Springs, is accessible by bus and is renowned for its natural thermal baths. It’s a special way to relax after a long ski day and is a must-do.
Suppose you’re interested in something different from back home; there are ice hockey matches in town, which are insanely popular with locals, and the rink often offers discounted tickets to Pano staff. The local team is the Columbia Valley Rockies, and the league matches are packed due to loyalty and success. The atmosphere is electric, with chanting from the crowds and fights in the rink – you’re truly in a real BC town when you’re down by the ice. The Rockies often compete against other ski town teams, from the Vernon Vipers to the Fernie Ghostriders to the Revelstoke Grizzlies, making it the place to be on a Friday or Saturday night.
Winter Highlights
There are a few events to look out for through the winter. The resort appreciates its staff by hosting BBQs and drinks throughout the season. This is the way to meet people and integrate yourself into the resort. There are also two main events of the winter to look out for. In January, Invermere hosts the Snowflake Festival at Kinsman Beach. The town floods to this spot to enjoy outdoor bonspiel curling, fireworks and live music. Pano hosts a Red Bull sponsored Slush Cup at the end of each season. Anyone can enter, and this is a great spectator event as riders dress up and try to make it down a run and across a pool of water. It’s a highly anticipated event and one to watch.
Exploring Other Mountains
Pano is conveniently located in the heart of interior British Columbia and is a perfect base for visiting other resorts. Banff Big Three (Sunshine, Lake Louise, Norquay) is a beautiful two-hour drive through the National Park to Alberta, making for a perfect weekend trip. If you fancy sticking to BC resorts, Fernie, Kicking Horse and Kimberly are only two hours away and offer deep snow riding. One of the benefits of working for Pano through your ski / snowboarding internship is access to reciprocal passes in other resorts. So look into teaming up with friends with a car to explore other mountains for free!
Eat, Drink, Dance
Let’s run through my recommendations of places to eat and drink. At Pano, opposite the first chair, is Alto, a restaurant offering fancy food and Neapolitan-style pizza. Don’t be put off by the upscale environment; the bar seats are popular for a casual drink – a spicy marg or a pint of Fernie brewed beer were always on the cards. But really, my treat was ordering a few pizzas with friends and enjoying the taste of Italy. Trust me, my favourite slices were those loaded with BBQ chicken and banana peppers!
Next door is the T-Bar, decorated with vintage posters and popular ski run signs, making it the mountain’s go-to bar and restaurant. Although popular, this is an ample space, so getting a table for two or ten is easy, and there are lots of options to fuel up post-ski. If you fancy some typical Canadian comfort food, try the poutine. This dish is one of Canada’s strengths – they’ve made it acceptable to devour cheesy chips and gravy in the daylight. If you don’t think poutine is for you, order a burger with a side of simple fries. Chat with friends, watch ice hockey and relax after a day of riding – get into Canadian ski culture.
If you fancy an evening out, there are two nights a week you have to look out for. Mondays are for musical bingo, and Saturdays are for DJ nights and karaoke. If you fancy changing it up from T-Bar, Ullr down in town also hosts a Tuesday musical bingo night. This is often hosted by drag queens and is a night full of fun. After the winners are announced, the lights dim, and the dance floor is cleared. Both attract big crowds, and staff integrate it into their weekly routine. Both are perfect social spots to meet people and have a night with an activity. So make it from the first chair to the last call!
What Are You Waiting For?
We offer ski / snowboard courses and internships based out of Pano, if it seems up your street give us a call!
FAQ
Find out more about how to do a ski season at Panorama…
We have a plethora of opportunity to work at Panorama – from ski and snowboard courses to internships. Contact us to find out more so you can experience life in a ski town.
It can be expensive to live in a ski town, especially in BC. But with our courses and internships you cover the upfront costs of accommodation and other costs. We also offer a meal plan, four breakfasts and dinners a week, saving you time and money!
Ski resorts attract so many types of people from all over the world. Canadian towns in particular are filled with Brits, Aussies, Kiwis and of course Canadians. It’s a brilliant opportunity to meet people from other countries and cultures. Trust me – you won’t be the only Brit!
Normally its 18 to 25 year olds, but with the visas being extended to 35 and the fact we have more advanced courses running, its common to have older clients coming into resort.
