If you are a snowboarder this is the mountain for you! If you are more into skiing I would recommend its sister mountain of Snow summit.
I recently experienced the worst costumer service I have ever endured at Big Bear Mountain Ski and Snowboarding resort. My boyfriend and I came to snowboard for Valentine’s Day, and the conditions were extremely unsatisfactory; very slushy and very sticky snow. After two runs we decided the snow conditions were too poor and too dangerous to continue snowboarding for the day. We were disappointed because we drove 80 miles one way and paid holiday pricing, etc.My boyfriend and I really were looking forward to a good day of boarding together; however, the poor snow conditions spoiled that. We weren’t expecting poor snow conditions because usually the resort blows snow overnight, or the day of, and no matter how warm the weather may be the snow is usually fairly decent. Well, after deciding to leave at around noon, I went to Guest Service’s to inquire about the options of a voucher for future visits or equivalent. I did recall Big Bear having great customer service over the many years I have been going there, and I explained to the “customer service” representative the situation. I asked if there were any options half day refund, or next visit vouchers they could provide us so we could return on another date and enjoy the resort (Big Bear used to provide a $20 voucher if you left before 1pm). The representative informed me “that they do not have the $20 voucher program any longer if you leave before 1pm anymore, and they are not interested in compensating any money or voucher for the poor conditions.” The representative was so unwilling to help me (and I am truly a loyal and ongoing customer) that I asked to speak to her supervisor. I was then put on the phone with a supervisor named Kendy, who immediately was the rudest person I have come across in a long time! Not to mention, this is a “customer service” supervisor? I couldn’t believe it!Kendy told me “didn’t you do your own research before you came? Didn’t you know it was going to be warm?” To which I replied, “yes, but you usually have snow blowers on the night before or the day of so the conditions have never been considered bad in my opinion over the seven years I have been coming.” She laughed at me and told me “it’s not her problem that I didn’t like the conditions.” Kendy refused to compensate me in any way to come back on a later date and enjoy the resort. I proceeded to explain to Kendy:“I am a loyal customer who has been coming for years. I was a previous season pass holder and I bring friends regularly to snowboard, eat, drink, and enjoy Big Bear Mountain with me over many years. I am not asking for a monetary refund specifically, I was just hoping for a voucher, or anything at all, since I had gotten there at 9am, parked in VIP, had lunch and drinks at the resort, and tried to make the best of the day. I just wanted a voucher to return another day since we were leaving at noon (not even a full half day), and on top of it all we paid holiday prices!”Kendy continued to laugh at me and said “do you really think I am going to give you a voucher because you came on Valentine’s Day? I don’t care if it’s Valentine’s Day.” Her snicker and condescending tone was disgusting to say the least! I told her, “not because it is Valentine’s Day and I am here to have a good day with my boyfriend, but because you are charging holiday prices, that is why I brought up Valentine’s Day specifically.” Finally Kendy said, “She is okay with permanently losing me as a customer.”We are loyal customers, who come often, and enjoy the resort for all its amenities regularly. We love Big Bear Mountain… Well, at least we used to. I am appalled at the way Big Bear Mountain Ski and Snowboarding resort handles their customer service. This experience was by far one of the worst customer services experiences ever! There is not a reason at all for any paying customer to be treated in such a demeaning manor! This is extremely poor customer service and very Bad Business!!
had my 8 and 9 year old take there 4 hour lesson. best money ever spent. awesome instructors. kids loved the class.
My kids and I learned how to ski and ride at bear mountain. We recommend bear mountain for southern ca skiing. I believe the kids program is excellent. I recommend putting the kids in the learn to ski program. Then having them ski with you in the afternoon. We were up on Saturday. Chairs near the beginner slopes and the beginner slopes were very crowded. However, our longest lift line was maybe 15 minutes. Snow was excellent for spring skiing. There was an icy patch near lift 2. However, remainder was mostly packed powder. We got a few inches of snow about lunch time. Overall, much better conditions than normal March conditions.
Staff was friendly and extremely helpful. I have skied all my life, in the past 15 years I had to take a hiatus. This was the best mountain to start skiing again. My husband and son had a ski 2 hour lesson and their instructor Debbie was FANTASTIC.. There is all trails, very easy to extremely difficult and if you are a snowboard there jumps on every trail. As long it is cold enough they will make snow. All it is 3 hour drive and your skiing when you live near the beach.. My suggestion NOT to take 18 it is very twisty turny road plus really crazy driver. It will take you 10 more minute to take 38 and a lot less stress.
Went to Big Bear for the first time yesterday. Being an avid snowboarder that recently moved to San Diego, I was so happy to be able to get some riding in only a few hours away. Conditions were good, trails didn't feel too packed and had a great few runs. On our third run of the day, my friend also an experienced rider, took a dig on a box and dislocated her shoulder. Within minutes, ski patrol showed up and ran a thorough assessment on her before taking her down the hill. Dave along with the rest of the team were amazing. Their medical and first hand experience helped my friend out immensely. By 10 am we walked out of first aid, and figured we'd talk to guest services about possibly getting a voucher towards another day considering I dropped $79 on a full day ticket for three runs. DISCLAIMER: I am 100% aware that the mountain owes us nothing. We take the risk of getting injured and it's not their fault at all if we do. However, the term 'guest services' seemed to be an oxymoron. My friend who had been injured had gotten a voucher towards another ticket - which was pro-rated from the hour and a half we rode.. which just seems cheap as hell but better than nothing. When I got to the guest services desk, I explained the situation genuinely asking if there was a possibility of receiving a voucher or anything to compensate for the fact that i only took 3 runs and will not be putting any more wear and tear on the hill considering I was bringing my friend to the ER. The women we spoke with who ironically wore the tag "employee of the month" stated it was not possible to receive anything in return - that all tickets are non-refundable regardless of the situation. Understood. Every mountain and company has policies and procedures in place that employees need to follow. But the delivery of the information from this women was particularly condescending and abrupt. It was hard to have dealt with the great people in Ski Patrnol and to follow that with this sub par experience. After a lengthy conversation with no chage in tone, I asked to speak with a manager. She then informed me that she was the manager of guest services for the past four years. At this point I'm not sure what my facial reaction was. Probably a mix between shock and horror. Not really... but maybe a little bit...There is nothing about the ski industry that does not pertain to customer service. Having worked in it for years I fully understand that it's essentially a playground for adults. To not have that same enthusiasm in the Manager of Guest Services that I saw in the ticket booth, ski patrol, and lift employees was awful. One truth of customer service is that it's not necessarily the information you're delivering, but the way you deliver it. A slight change in her attitude to make it seem like she truly wanted to help us out or even cared about the situation, would've made the experience better even if we did still walk out the door empty handed.One more thing- Not once in years of riding have I been asked if I needed help putting on my lift ticket. Three times in ten minutes. Three separate employees asked if my friend and I needed help within a ten minute time span. (Now, maybe this is a moment of self realization. Maybe I have to up my lift ticket application game and how i look doing it...) It's an excellent example of on point customer service to have your staff so accessible to guests, but also a way of making them feel you see them as incompetent. Maybe a 'good morning' would go over better with guests who are just arriving to your mountain.
My 11 year old felt the class keep them standing too long in very uncomfortable boots. She gave up after 45 mins. My 14 year old lasted the full 2 hours and really enjoyed himself. He was, however, done for the day after the first 2 hour lesson.
Reservation ticket holders beware!!! since the by-out from Mammoth none of the existing reservations are valid. I found out the hard way lift ticket reservations i purchased last season, that were not to expired, are not honored due to "the merge". There was no notification even though my email is on file - "sorry we can't email every single one who has a ticket reservation". They do see my information and previous reservations but can't honor it. Not even a for a discount.
Visited Bear Mountain for the first time in Valentines Day and had an exceptional experience. I enrolled in a beginners snowboarding lesson and the instructors could not have been more helpful! It really changed my perspective on snowboarding, it's nom longer scary, but very fun and lol forward to visiting in a few weeks!
this can be some of the best local skiing without heading up north to Mammoth or out of state. IT has a consistent snow pack and good challenging terrain .. let the families head to Summit , if you want some work, go here !!