As the snow caps the mountains surrounding the valley, locals and visitors alike have one thing on their mind: December 4, 2026 – Opening day at Panorama Mountain Resort.
Opening day is a special day at every resort, the vibes are high, the snow untouched, and everyone is full of stoke.
So follow these tips to make sure that it goes smoothly, and you can lay back and enjoy it.
Does everything still fit the growing kids? Do you still have that tear you swore you’d patch over summer and forgot about? If you need some new gear then the Windermere Valley Ski Club annual Winter Gear Swap is on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at the Columbia Lake Recreation Centre.
This is also the perfect opportunity to wash the ski gear you quickly put away at the end of last years ski season. Head to Valhalla Pure Outfitters in Invermere to purchase some technical gear wash, you’ll thank us when your ski suit is dry after a long day on the snow.
If you didn’t get a service and storage wax done at the end of last season, chances are they dried out a little over the summer. Give your summer legs the best chance by having the best edges and base. Take them to Columbia Cycle and Ski or Syndicate Boardshop in Invermere for a pre-season tune up.
If you can make it to Panorama Guest Services before opening day to pick up your 26/27 season pass or SnowCard, you will avoid all queues on the day of, so you can focus on getting up the Mile One chairlift as quickly as possible. Guest Services usually open in November, but phone ahead before you go to check. If you do arrive to get your passes the day of, get there as early as you can to avoid lining up.
If you haven’t purchased your passes yet there is still time. If you are planning on skiing as many days as possible a 26/27 Season Pass is your best bet. For those that hit the slopes on a more casual basis a 3 or 5 day SnowCard is the best bang for your buck!
Panorama Mountain Resort also has plenty of seasonal programs and one off lessons available to visitors and locals who want to improve their skiing or snowboarding. The Ski and Ride School will be releasing more information about these programs soon.
Look, you haven’t worn ski boots for a few months, and let’s face it they’re not fuzzy comfy slippers! Maybe they’ve sat in your garage all summer. If they have, bring them inside the night before and let the plastic feel some warmth. On the way to the ski hill bring them inside the car with you. The warmer plastic will make them a lot easier to put on and just slightly more comfortable.
Go easy on yourself! Today isn’t the day to see if you can still do a backflip or to find the biggest moguls. Give others plenty of space and take it easy, and let everyone get their ski legs back.
Welcome back ski season and see you on opening day at Panorama Mountain Resort!
InvermerePanorama.com is the official travel and tourism site for Invermere on the Lake in partnership with Panorama Mountain Resort, Tourism Radium, and TravelColumbiaValley.com. Learn more about us.
