It’s the eternal quest for skiers and boarders: the perfect ski resort. Some of us do settle in one place, even buying property if we’re lucky enough, and return year after year, but most of us can’t resist the chance to try new places, ski new runs.
Believe it or not, there are more than 70 countries around the world with ski resorts in them and literally thousands of areas to visit. Each has its pros and cons, but one of the big skiing nations undoubtedly has more “pros” than any other. You can probably guess which one from the headline above, but here are some of the arguments in favour of skiing Canada, m’Lord (or Lady):
> It’s Stunning
We all have different priorities in what we want most from a ski holiday, but having visited more than 250 ski areas over the years, Canada is the real stand-out for me in terms of just how remarkably spectacular the scenery is.
All Canadian ski resorts are located in beautiful areas, but perhaps the Banff National Park area and especially Lake Louise, a ski resort half an hour from the famous ski town (but included on the same lift pass) is the most jaw-droppingly “Wow!”
Another scenic wonder is the Icefields Parkway drive north from Lake Louise to Jasper. This is a breathtakingly beautiful highway that takes you through simply incredible scenery with another fantastic ski area, Marmot Basin, waiting at Jasper.
> It’s Big
Canada is big in every way; there’s a wonderful feeling of space which we just don’t get anywhere in Europe. Everything feels huge and when you’re on the road you can (depending on your route) pass through large areas of true wilderness.
In terms of ski areas, Whistler Blackcomb, the 2010 Winter Olympic host, is by far the biggest resort in North America, but other famous resorts in Western Canada are big, too; following expansion this winter, Sun Peaks is now the joint second biggest ski area in the country. Another BC resort, Revelstoke, has the biggest lift-served vertical in North America. The ski areas are rarely busy, so you’ll feel the space on the slopes, too, and lift queues are almost unheard of.
The space continues off the slope – you can expect a spacious hire car and plenty of room in your accommodation compared to the Alps. All in all, much more space for your money in every way.
> The Snow
Great snow – and lots of it – is a key asset of Canadian skiing. While parts of Europe struggled with snow cover at the start of this season, Canada was blessed with regular powder top-ups and has had great conditions since resorts start opening earlier than planned in late November. The snow is famous for its lightness as well as its abundance, so this is where you can really test out your board or fat skis in a powder bowl or chute, perhaps at Fernie, one of the most famous powder destinations, or at Big White (the clue is in the name).
The world’s first heli-ski business launched in Western Canada 50 years ago this season, and the region is still the world’s leading destination for heli-skiers – even though the concept has since spread around the world. Heli-skiing is not a poor man’s hobby, of course, but one of the most affordable options is to do a day’s heli-skiing if you stay at Panorama in BC, where the helicopters are based in resort.
> The Value
You get a lot more for your money in Canada than you do in Europe; accommodation is bigger and better for the cost, and so are the meals you buy on the mountain and in the evening. The Canadian dollar has always tracked a little below other leading currencies, providing a favourable exchange rate for Brits, and the good news is that “value ratio” is even better this winter than last.
For families, Canada recently rated among the best in the world for lift pass prices for children in a study commissioned by the International Ski Federation. While some resorts in Europe ask children to pay 70–80% of the adult price until age 11 or 12, then the full adult price once teenagers, in Canada the norm is for children to pay only 30–50% of the adult price, and this season most resorts are also offering children free ski passes with a paying adult.
> It’s Friendly
Canadians are almost annoyingly friendly and helpful. If you fly in to North America south of the border, you have to pay for a visa before you arrive, and queue for ages at immigration to get in, where staff will not make you feel welcome. Contrast this with Canada, which has no visas for British citizens and normally friendly immigration staff most likely to ask you where you’re going skiing.
The ski resorts (compared to the big resorts in the Alps) are relaxed and friendly. You’ll find locally run shops, cafés and restaurants are the norm, and you’ll soon be on first-name terms with the staff if you want to be. But if you want somewhere bigger, there are options, too; both Banff and Whistler Blackcomb are large, vibrant destinations, each chock-full of literally hundreds of great shops, bars and restaurants, and even nightclubs if you have the energy for them.
The relaxed attitude continues on the slopes. Most Canadian ski areas offer free guided tours of the slopes, where a long-term local will take you to the best terrain for your needs and provide any other insider info you’d like.
> It’s For Everyone
Although the deep powder bowls and heli-skiing options will appeal to good, experienced skiers and boarders, that combination of great snow (although groomed smooth and at a nice gentle angle), friendly locals to teach you and lots of space means that Canadian skiing is great for first-timers, too.
The ski areas work hard to provide dedicated areas for beginners, with family-friendly facilities, and each has many kilometres of well-groomed piste, serviced by efficient modern lifts, so new skiers, intermediates and those who just want to clock up the kilometres on the groomed runs can make the most of their slope time, too.
And of course everyone can enjoy the friendliness, the value, the space, the snow and that stunning scenery! So, why ski anywhere else? It’s a no-brainer to me.
Visit canadianaffair.com for more details and prices, or call their team of ski experts on 0207 616 9184.
