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Catching
Air in Whistler
Photo Courtesy of Luke Macmillan |
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Canada
offers the world's ski and snowboarding enthusiasts some unique opportunities.
A country as large as Canada offers a great variety of ski and snowboard
hills, and virgin winter terrain, ranging from the Atlantic to the Pacific
coasts. An added attraction to visit this huge country for a winter sports
vacation is the relatively low cost compared to other world winter destinations.
Additionally, Canada has a much longer season compared to other places.
If you include heli-skiing it is possible to partake in winter sports
all year round. Otherwise a lot of hills are open a full five months from
November through to the middle of April. In the west a few resorts open
even longer. As well as downhill skiing and snowboarding there is great
cross-country skiing available in every province and territory. Every
region of Canada (even the prairies) has ski hills available. Many of
these ski hills away from the main skiing centres are very good, and they
are far too numerous to mention them indiviudally. The best skihills however
are in Western Canada in the British
Columbia Rockies and the Alberta
Rockies and at Whistler
B.C., with excellent hills also available in Québec
and Newfoundland and
Labrador .
SPECIALTY SKIING
IN CANADA
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Helicopter
Skiing - Canmore, AB
Photo Courtesy of Alpine Helicopters |
Canada
also provides great opportunities for backcountry skiing - this
is downhill skiing on snow that shows no sign of previous human presence.
In Canada various methods of reaching backcountry ski runs have been devised.
Factors such as weather, skill levels and equipment should be considered
when selecting the right experience. One of these methods that is particularly
spectacular is for advanced and intermediate skiers only - Helicopter
Skiing. Heli-Skiing was first devised in British
Columbia back in 1965. A helicopter takes skiers up to high elevations
in the mountains to ski (or snowboard) on virgin snow. Cat Skiing
is another popular method of skiing that is widely used in Canada. This
is similar to heli-skiing in that it brings skiers and snowboarders to
virgin territory near the top of the mountain, but this time in a Snowcat
vehicle. This has the tracks of a military tank and the body of a snowplow
with a passenger cab mounted on it, and it can drive through virtually
any type of terrain. The main advantage of this is that skiing is guaranteed
no matter how hard it is snowing. The sport of telemarking is becoming
increasingly popular. This is a hybrid form of both downhill and cross-country
skiing which enables both techniques to be used in back country runs.
A ski with the width of a cross-country but with most of the features
of a downhill ski is used. Telemarking is especially challenging and very
technical.
COSTS AND RENTALS
As
a very rough guideline, the average price for a lift ticket for the day
in a Canadian resort ranges from $25CDN for a quieter less challenging
hill, up to $75CDN for a world class resort such as Whistler.
Equipment rental is available at resorts across the country for both snowboarders
and skiers.
CLIMATE
Obviously
the average temperature will remain below zero Celsius (there wouldn't
be much snow otherwise.) With the right clothing, (layers work best to
allow for variances in temperature) conditions are usually very comfortable.
Although the temperatures are cool, the sun is nearly always shining and,
(especially at high alpine altitudes) sunscreen is an absolute necessity.
Without it there is a high probability of getting badly burned. Of course
in any part of Canada temperatures can drop very rapidly and conditions
can become totally unsuitable. Once the temperature gets below minus 20
celsius, the average person would probably prefer to stay indoors. During
daylight hours this does not happen as often as one may think, and when
it does it presents a great opportunity to enjoy the other attractions
of your destination.
NEWFOUNDLAND AND
LABRADOR
Newfoundland
and Labrador seems a surprising location for winter sports, but
its relative isolation does not change the fact that the opportunities
for skiing and snowboarding here are considered by many to be Canada's
best anywhere east of the Rockies (though some in Québec
may disagree.) As the Rockies are thousands of kilometres away for the
bulk of the North American population, a winter vacation in Newfoundland
and Labrador can be a very acceptable alternative for those who live closer
to the East Coast of the continent. The centre of all this winter activity
is in the west of Newfoundland at Marble
Mountain. This area has an average annual snowfall of five metres,
and excellent conditions for downhill and cross-country skiing, snowboarding
and snow-mobiling. There is around 150 acres of skiing terrain available
here. The lift lines are minimal, and the prices are well below average.
The vertical lift is 1600 feet and some excellent terrain provides great
opportunities. It ranges from long, relatively flat trails to some outstanding,
steep and gnarly groomed and bump runs. For boarders a pipe has been constructed
which has proven very popular. There is also a huge lodge at the base
of the hills for great apres-ski in a very casual style.
Cat
Skiing is also very good here. Marble Mountain is located south of Gros
Morne National Park (which also has excellent cross-country and
other winter sports facilities), and just west of the city of Corner
Brook. The closest airport is at Deer
Lake. Marble Mountain is still a well-kept secret. In fact local
skiers like to keep it this way. Combined with the charm of the Newfoundland
and Labrador people, and their unique culture and humour, this is an ideal
destination for those who want to go somewhere different away from the
glitz of the larger resorts. Newfoundland and Labrador is perfect for
the serious skier of any level looking for a quieter area and at a lower
price.
QUÉBEC
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Skiing
at Mont Sainte-Anne
Photo Courtesy of Daniel Lessard, © Tourisme Québec |
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Travelling
west, the next excellent skiing area is the Laurentian Mountains
of Québec. Many of the
resorts here also lay claim to the title of "Best Skiing east of the Rockies".
Depending on the destination, the area can be reached in one to two hours
drive north of the wonderful city of Montréal
(a great pre or post snow destination). The Laurentians provide a good
winter sport location for many in Québec, Ontario
and the North Eastern U.S.A. The region has over 20 resorts and over 350
ski runs. Around 30% of these are now illuminated for night skiing and
snowboarding. There is extensive variety of facilities with something
for everyone from novice to expert. Cross-country skiing is also excellent.
Amongst the Laurentian resorts are Mont
Olympia a good location for beginners and closer to Montréal.
As a rough equation, the more challenging the ski hill, the further north
it is located, although most resorts have junior slopes as well. The most
well known resort is Mont
Tremblant with a vertical drop of 650 metres and world class facilities.
The entertainment and accommodations here are very good and there is a
wide selection. Cross-country skiers are also well provided for at many
areas around the region, in particular around Mont Tremblant and Mont
Sainte-Anne. The added attraction of Québec skiing is that the
French-Canadian influence and ambiance in the Laurentians is unique in
North America.
THE ALBERTA ROCKIES
Way
out west and a five hour flight from Montréal lie the Alberta
Rockies. The ski resorts here are excellent, and it is little
wonder that people come from all over the world to ski and board the fine
powder here. There are world class resorts at Marmot
Basin near Jasper, Lake
Louise and Sunshine
(between Lake Louise and Banff). For steep moguls and tree runs, try the
smaller resort of Banff
Norquay. Norquay has an amazing selection of terrain for its size.
The site of the downhill skiing for the 1988 Olympics isNakiska,
in Kananaskis Country,
obviously the facilities alone are worth seeing. All these resorts are
good for all levels of skiing, and wherever you choose, it will definitely
be the skiing experience of a lifetime. These are close to either the
famous town of Banff or
the slightly less well known resort of Jasper.
Banff is very international and has renowned hotels, fine dining and excellent
shopping. Jasper is much quieter but with excellent accommodations and
facilities for an 'away from it all' vacation.
THE
BRITISH COLUMBIA ROCKIES
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Flying
High - The BC Rockies |
West
over the spine of the Rockies will find you in the British
Columbia Rockies. With a less severe climate than Alberta,
winter sports facilities in the BC Rockies are outstanding. The major
ski resorts include Kimberley
and Fernie - famous
for its powder - located in the southeast of the region near to Cranbrook.
Northwest of Cranbrook is the spectacular Panorama
Mountain Village. Panorama is a completely self-contained winter
sports resort with accommodations and every facility on hand. Fairmont
is another well-equipped resort in this area. In the southwest of the
B.C. Rockies, near to the towns of Nelson
and Castlegar
are the ski resorts of Whitewater
and Red
Mountain. As well as downhill skiing these resorts have excellent
snowboarding. For the cross-country skier there are numerous trails throughout
the region. Heli-Skiing and Cat Skiing are also available in many places.
WHISTLER, BC
Last
and certainly not least (actually Canada's and maybe even the world's
best) is the winter resort par excellence - Whistler.
If you like bustling, glamorous ski resorts combined with great hills,
Whistler is the right choice. Just a few hundred kilometres west of the
BC Rockies, and just over an hour north of Vancouver,
Whistler simply defies description. It has to be witnessed, and every
winter sports fan should make it a goal to visit here at least one time.
The two ski hills here - Blackcomb
Mountain and Whistler Mountain - are adjacent to each other and
both offer spectacular skiing and boarding, and yet have different characteristics
to provide a tremendous variety. Another great feature here is the Whistler
Village the main town site. The village, with all the incredible facilities
it is so well known for, will really help to round off a great ski or
snowboard vacation. Everything for your enjoyment and convenience is here,
including fine dining or fast food (and everything in between), great
entertainment and every type of accommodation from deluxe resorts to simple
but well-equipped apartments.
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Grabbing
for Style - Whistler, BC
Photo Courtesy of Luke Macmillan |
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There
are numerous reasons that Whistler is the number one ski resort in North
America. It should also be noted that with the ever-increasing popularity
of snow boarding, Whistler has fantastic facilities for this sport and
is widely considered to be the ultimate destination for the dedicated
boarder. For both the skier and snowboarder the Whistler area has 12 bowls,
three glaciers and over 200 marked trails. There are powder chutes, excellent
moguls, well-groomed cruising runs and secluded tree skiing. Whistler
has 7,071 acres of terrain that is available for skiers and boarders,
making it the largest ski area on the continent. Whistler Mountain and
Blackcomb Mountain are the two greatest vertical rise ski mountains in
North America. Blackcomb Mountain rises one vertical mile (5,280 feet)
to an elevation of 7,494 feet and Whistler Mountain nearly as much - 5,020
feet to an elevation of 7,160 feet.
The
resort has five separate mountain bases from which to start trips up to
the ski runs. These bases are all within five minutes of each other and
all have a variety of high-speed lifts to enable easy and fast access
to the ski areas with a minimum of lift line-ups. There are a total of
32 lifts in the area. Whistler has a fantastic selection of accommodations
in the villages and with many of these you can ski in and out. The ski
season here runs from November through to June, with summer skiing available
on Hortsman Glacier until August.
