Skiing locations

[Huntingwhale]

Originally Posted by MacDaddy77

Castle Mountain is a great hill. http://skicastle.ca/

It has terrain for all levels so if you want to leave them to their learing and have some off piste fun you are able. Castle gets the same snow as Fernie with very little lineups.

The lift tickets are cheaper than Louise or Sunshine and you don't have to pay for a park pass

I love Castle...but as someone who has had a season pass for the last 4 years at that hill I would NOT recommend it for beginners. The Blues are like blacks on other hills. There really only is 1 lift that has the beginner greens and even then I would recommend having taken skiing lessons.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by username

Never stayed in Revy huh? Plus Lake Louise is a terrible, overrated busy hill.

Castle is good - except it's small and the lift lines are ridiculous.

Nakiska is close to Calgary. I can't really think of anything else that's good about it.

####shine, er I mean Sunshine is just all around terrible.

I forgot about Kicking Horse, that's an excellent resort and partying in Golden is great too.

Nope, never been there but I've heard nothing but good things.

But dude, Lake Louise is world class. You ever hiked Purple Bowl? Or star wars? My best days have been at Louise (not including Fortress of course). It can get busy on the weekend, but other than that you're good to go.

Nakiska is the worst.

Scumshine sucks too.

[Flames0910]

I'm assuming the following:

If your boys have never skied/boarded before, they're going to spend the entire day on greens and might make it to a blue or an easy black by the end of the day.

You want to get a full mountain experience. IE: scenery, resort-type feel


Go to Fernie. It's got a better after-party and even though it's nothing but bowl after bowl it's still got some beginner friendly terrain. After driving through the Crowsnest pass, and with lodging on-hill, you feel like you're way out there in the mountains.

Second choice? Louise. World class resort, closer to the city and you can apres-ski in Banff. Wiwaxi would be a great starting place for them and they'll feel cool in the tourist-friendly Gondola.



Don't go to Sunshine - too many traverses for beginners. Don't go to Castle (slow chairs, small resort, short runs for beginners). Don't go to Revelstoke (not worth it, they won't be able to appreciate it). Don't go to Nakiska (no big mountain experience)

You could also consider a few BC resorts (such as Panorama or Silverstar) but I'm assuming you are thinking near Calgary as you posted this in a Calgary forum...

[Torture]

Originally Posted by username

Never stayed in Revy huh? Plus Lake Louise is a terrible, overrated busy hill.

You must ski the gondola all day. Try the Paradise Bowls or the Summit Platter.
Doesn't compare to Revy in terms of powder and glades but Lake Louise is a world class destination.

Originally Posted by MacDaddy77

Castle Mountain is a great hill. http://skicastle.ca/

It has terrain for all levels so if you want to leave them to their learing and have some off piste fun you are able. Castle gets the same snow as Fernie with very little lineups.

The lift tickets are cheaper than Louise or Sunshine and you don't have to pay for a park pass

Castle is a great hill, but if you're coming from overseas to get the big mountain skiing experience you don't want to go to Castle. It's an excellent hidden gem though.

Originally Posted by Flames0910

I'm assuming the following:

If your boys have never skied/boarded before, they're going to spend the entire day on greens and might make it to a blue or an easy black by the end of the day.

You want to get a full mountain experience. IE: scenery, resort-type feel


Go to Fernie. It's got a better after-party and even though it's nothing but bowl after bowl it's still got some beginner friendly terrain. After driving through the Crowsnest pass, and with lodging on-hill, you feel like you're way out there in the mountains.

Second choice? Louise. World class resort, closer to the city and you can apres-ski in Banff. Wiwaxi would be a great starting place for them and they'll feel cool in the tourist-friendly Gondola.



Don't go to Sunshine - too many traverses for beginners. Don't go to Castle (slow chairs, small resort, short runs for beginners). Don't go to Revelstoke (not worth it, they won't be able to appreciate it). Don't go to Nakiska (no big mountain experience)

^^^ What Flames0910 said.
You take your boys to Fernie or Louise and they'll go back home raving about their trip to Canada and the amazing time they had skiing with their dad.

[kevman]

Originally Posted by Torture

^^^ What Flames0910 said.
You take your boys to Fernie or Louise and they'll go back home raving about their trip to Canada and the amazing time they had skiing with their dad.

This, although I'd tend to lean towards Fernie. Sure it's further but the snow will be softer and the Apre at the Griz is a guaranteed good time on the weekends! For mountain village charm Panorama is a good time as well but the snow leaves something to be desired.


Back off topic: Louise hate is funny... The snow is hit or miss but some of the alpine chutes are as good as it gets for skiing in the Rockies. OOB (including the Traverse/North Cornice), ER3/5 and WH2/3 are all fantastic. Follow the snow of course but passing up Louise on a good snow day is a silly mistake.

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by kevman

For mountain village charm Panorama is a good time as well but the snow leaves something to be desired.

Back off topic: Louise hate is funny... The snow is hit or miss but some of the alpine chutes are as good as it gets for skiing in the Rockies.

Panorama on a good snow day is as good as it gets IMO. We played hooky one day when they got about 3 feet in 2 days. Tayton Bowl in a good powder is unreal.

Louise is great when there's snow. I find it gets tracked out waaay to quick though. Better in the spring. Love the ER runs, however, and I like the amenities there.

[Big_Bert_7]

I'm liking the sound of Fernie Thanks