A Local's View of Kimberley: Rene Schupbach, Chef and Ski Guide

Learn about Kimberley from a local's perspective. There's more to this beautiful mountain town than you may know.

Skiing has always been a huge part of my life. I grew up skiing in the towering Alps near St. Moritz, Switzerland. Today, I am a ski guide touring the best ski resorts in Western Canada with European guests.
Some of the most incredible skiing in the world can be found in B.C.’s own backyard: Revelstoke Mountain Resort; Kicking Horse (Golden, BC); Whitewater (Nelson, BC); and my hometown ski hill — Kimberley Alpine Resort.
 

Motto: Take life lightly and have fun

In the late 1990s, my wife and I moved from Switzerland to Eastern Canada. It wasn’t long until British Columbia’s enchanting mountains enticed us to journey across the country. Since 2002, we have happily called Kimberley home. Situated between the staggering Purcell and Rocky Mountains, Kimberley is an amazing outdoor recreation area.
The skiing at Kimberley Alpine Resort is fantastic. We have phenomenal tree runs, velvety groomers and fun, fluid moguls. While many ski resorts in Western Canada are brimming with tourists and powder-hungry locals, Kimberley Alpine Resort is less busy. This allows for a more intimate small town experience, shorter lift lines and more powder for everyone. When Kimberley gets a big dump of snow you can ski powder for days, while at other resorts fresh snow is tracked out within mere hours. Without the inevitable fear of loss, there is no frantic rush to catch the first chair. As long as it recently snowed, you are guaranteed to find powder.
In addition to skiing, Kimberley is also known for its unbelievable mountain biking. In the summer, I do as much biking as possible. Kimberley’s Nature Park (BC’s biggest urban park) has awesome mountain biking and hiking trails. Hiking in the spectacular mountains around Kimberley offers breathtaking views of pristine lakes and sky-high, snow-crowned peaks. With three championship golf courses in the area, Kimberley is also a popular destination for golf enthusiasts. The nearby lakes are perfect for swimming, canoeing and kayaking.
As a professional chef and a former restaurateur, my wife and I operate our own catering business — FoodEx. With a fully-equipped kitchen in our truck, FoodEx is a catering service/restaurant on wheels. We are capable of preparing five-course meals for 50 people. During the warmer months, we cater weddings, business functions, family reunions and other private events. You can also find us at festivals in the Kimberley area: July Fest, Oktoberfest, farmers’ markets, among others. We use fresh, quality ingredients to prepare a variety of creative and mouthwatering dishes. At Oktoberfest, we cooked a pork loin roast with honey sauerkraut and served it on a bun. We also made beef burgers with fresh mango and ginger, topped with grilled apple rings and wasabi mayo. Growing our business in Kimberley has been fun and rewarding. Locals know us and love our food.
Circled by magnificent mountains as far as the eye can see, Kimberley is an amazing place to live and visit. With incredible skiing, mountain biking and hiking trails right outside our door, there is always something exciting to do.