snow resorts in canada

gavinlit · 06-25-2006, 05:13 PM

I'm in the process of planning a four week or so trip to canada early next year. The plan is to do a bit of skiing/boarding & also see some sights. I've heard rave reviews about red mountain from my mates for about 4 yrs now so that's on the list. Any other recommendations aside from whistler/blckcmb? Also any other must see things to check out while over there in winter? The travel brochures are mostly filled with how wonderful the resorts & hotel rooms are

Brian 162 · 06-25-2006, 05:58 PM

Try Panorama, or Big White.Panorama has groomed runs and Big White is known for powder. I've been to Whistler/Blackcomb around 10 times and loved it. Saying that, I've never been to Panorama or Big White but some of my ski instructing pals have been at those resorts and loved it.

gavinlit · 06-25-2006, 06:05 PM

The powder stuff is more enticing than groomed runs so looks like Big White is on the shortlist.

deanp · 06-25-2006, 06:24 PM

Sunshine Village or anything around Banff.

Rich76_911s · Rich76_911s's Garage

I skied Fernie, it was really pretty nice. Good snow but with a lot of canada it can rain at the lower altitudes if the temperature gets too warm.

Rich

deathpunk dan · 06-26-2006, 03:33 AM

Yeah
Echoing Rich, lower altitudes at W/BC can be rainy and foggy if you go early in the season.

Now, if you really want some fine skiing, head up here to New England to hit up Killington during school vacation week when it's -10 F after a week of rain and only 1 day's snowmaking to make up for it.

gavinlit · 06-26-2006, 03:42 AM

Looking at Feb which I'm assuming would have little chance of rain. Shortlist seems to be
banff/lake louise
fernie
red
big white

If skiing banff/lake louise is it better to stay at Lake Louise or Banff?

Christien · Christien's Garage

Lake Louise is one of the most beautiful natural sights you'll ever see - you can just sit at the edge of the water and stare all day. Both Banff and Lake Louise are expensive and very popular with tourists, but if you can avoid the university study week in February you should hit a pretty low point for tourists.

As for other things to do, if you're in that area in February, check out a hockey game in either Calgary or Edmonton, especially after Edmonton's run at the cup this year. I don't know that either city has "attractions" per se like a statue of liberty or eiffel tower, but they're both interesting cities in their own right. Of course, you could spend a lifetime enjoying the outdoors around Banff and Lake Louise, Jasper, all sorts of parks, trails, mountains around that area.

deanp · 05:07 PM

We stayed in a condo/cabin place in Banff last January and cooked at the cabin the whole week, packed lunches for the mountain, etc. and it was pretty cheap by comparison to the same trip to Colorado or Montana.

Here are a few shots I took from the trip -

}{arlequin · }{arlequin's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by deathpunk dan
Now, if you really want some fine skiing, head up here to New England to hit up Killington during school vacation week when it's -10 F after a week of rain and only 1 day's snowmaking to make up for it.

ha ha, that's so funny and so true... seems like the only decent new england skiing can be done either right after a good snowfall or all the way up in MadRiver or Sunday River all the way in maine

anytime it says "packed powder" it really means ice w/ a dusting of manmade on top which will only fool you into thinking you're skiing instead of skating

steve185 · 06-26-2006, 11:38 AM

Canada is a huge country with lots to see. There is excellent skiing in Quebec, try the Mont Ste Anne web site. There will be great conditions from Dec to April. They are only 20 minutes from Quebec city and a few hours from Montreal.

RoninLB · 06-26-2006, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by deanp
Sunshine Village or anything around Banff.

I don't ski. The Canadian Rocky's is magnificant as I've been there 2x. Once with a tent and another w/the bride on summer vac. It's probably the best area in Canada to visit overall.

gavinlit · 06-26-2006, 04:07 PM

Thanks for the info. Crazy pics. I've never seen anything like those things on the snow before - what are they called? I can't imagine the landing would be gentle.

deanp · 05:05 PM

Those are Crighton Snowmoto's. A former marketing guy from Burton improved upon the traditional ski bike that requires foots skis. These do not and the two boards for a continuous radius sidecut like a shaped ski or snowboard for carving. THe result is a platform that is easy to stand on and leverage for carving. A lot of fun and very intuitive to ride.

The guys we were shooting were freestyle moto-x guy and were fearless, they were pulling can-cans, supermans, no handers, no footers. 360's, back-flips, etc.

The company I work for was helping to bring them to market until we were bought out in January. Check out snowbmx.com for more info. We had some market penetration in New Zealand, Japan, the US, Canada, Germany, Sweden and Argentina.