Skiing 2014-2015 - Page 9 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

username · 12-22-2014, 02:29 PM

Was at Kicking Horse on Saturday and it was ok. The top was decent and both Feuz/Terminator ridge were soft. Sadly the bottom half of the mountain was a skating rink. As long as you stick to stairway to heaven you're fine.

Mass_nerder · 12-23-2014, 08:45 PM

Down in Sandpoint right now, heading to Schweitzer tomorrow. There's a winter storm warning here until tomorrow at 4, so I'm hoping for some awesome snow tomorrow morning!

polak · 12-24-2014, 09:04 AM

Going to Kimberly today. Hopefully it snows a bit

Mass_nerder · 12-27-2014, 05:59 PM

There's a ton of new snow at Schweitzer after today, and the storm should still dump another 8-12" over tonight and into tomorrow. Should be amazing this week.
too bad I'm leaving tomorrow

DownhillGoat · 12-27-2014, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mass_nerder

There's a ton of new snow at Schweitzer after today,

How is Schweitzer? That's been on my hit list for a few years now.

Mass_nerder · 12-28-2014, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kunkstyle

How is Schweitzer? That's been on my hit list for a few years now.

The snow was good both days I was there, but it was very early season conditions, so I only got to ride the front side of the mountain. Some of the runs along the ridge were a blast though, and they have some really nice glades on the front side as well.
the backside looked nice, and there were 3-4 double blacks dropping off the main blue run at the top of the front, down the back, that looked like they would be amazing. Steep and deep.
It's only a 20 minute drive from Sandpoint, so it's easy to find cheaper accommodations off the hill, and still be close.
it's worth the 8 hour drive from Calgary I would say.

meanmachine13 · 12-28-2014, 12:52 PM

Where would you recommend shopping for a ski jacket. Dont need anything crazy, just having a hard time finding a jacket that isn't the really long style that also isnt $400+.

DownhillGoat · 12-28-2014, 03:03 PM

^Sign up for Monod's email. They have some crazy online only deals. I've got two Arcteryx now for less than most basic jackets at Sport Check et al.

Family owned Banff store. I think they do free shipping over $99 usually as well.

polak · 12-29-2014, 10:32 AM

Kimberly was a bust. No base at all on the backside and the front was a skating rink as that's what everyone was skiing.

Luckily I didn't buy any lift tickets before going like I usually did so I didn't waste my money.

Northendzone · 12-29-2014, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by meanmachine13

Where would you recommend shopping for a ski jacket. Dont need anything crazy, just having a hard time finding a jacket that isn't the really long style that also isnt $400+.

I am assuming that you have looked at sportchek? I have found that Columbia jackets deliver good value......I had an omni heat jacket and it was awesome.

troutman · 01-01-2015, 10:29 AM

Enough snow for x-country?

http://www.albertaparks.ca/kananaski...-lougheed.aspx

Update - plenty of snow and groomed trails between Elkwood and Boulton.

Northendzone · 01-01-2015, 05:51 PM

Just recovering form three days of skiing in panorama....it was easily our best family vacation to date.

My daughter, who was crying on Tuesday as we put on her boots, now apparently loves to skii.....she made about 25 runs down the small chair at pano, plus about 8 more runs off the magic carpet.........my son is a maniac when he skiis. He rips down the hill pizzaing most of the way, plus he makes runs thru the terrain park, and looks for opportunities to catch air. He got a Sony action cam for Christmas, so seeing the video should be a hoot.

Only downside was in the fact that someone took my 48 inch scoot pole off of my ski and left me with a 54 inch scoot pole.....not sure weather to just cut it down, or buy a new one......the pole was looped around my ski, but I guess I'll have to mark the handle or something.....

polak · 01-02-2015, 09:26 AM

Hey guys,
I'm taking the girlfriend skiing for her first time tomorrow. We have a hotel booked in Banff so I'm trying to decide which hill is better to take her too? Sunshine or Norquay? I was leaning towards Norquay? Sunshine doesn't really have a bunny hill does it? Strawberry or Wolverine are the only options? I haven't been to Norquay in more than a decade but I seem to remember it being really easy and a lot less busy?

Also any tips on teaching an adult first timer? I've never taught before...

Barnes · 01-02-2015, 09:41 AM

Get her an hour lesson.

polak · 01-02-2015, 10:46 AM

Is it worth the $100?

What will they teach her in the one hour? I see the value in a half day of lessons and I'd totally get her a half day if it wasn't for the money I'm spending the rest of the weekend but I feel like what she would learn in that first hour would be the easiest stuff to teach?

Barnes · 01-02-2015, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by polak

Is it worth the $100?

What will they teach her in the one hour? I see the value in a half day of lessons and I'd totally get her a half day if it wasn't for the money I'm spending the rest of the weekend but I feel like what she would learn in that first hour would be the easiest stuff to teach?

Depends. A one hour lesson would get her used to the equipment and moving downhill. New skier lessons are typically organized into learning:

-Mobility
-Sliding
-Stopping (Snowplow)
-Turning (Snowplow)
-Linking

A fairly athletic person could get through this in an hour and you could take over from there. People not used to teaching take for granted the mobility part as well as the painfully slow speed new skiers need to learn. It's a lot for some people to get used to having their feet locked into skis. If you think you can do it, go for it.

I haven't taught in 17 years but I can give you some lesson pointers in a bit if you'd like. I'm going to Retallack tomorrow and need to run out and grab some powder baskets </brag>

polak · 01-02-2015, 12:41 PM

I just checked the weather and it doesn't look skiing friendly tomorrow anyways. F***. That's what happens when you try and plan a nice weekend in Banff.

Well now that we probably won't go tomorrow since it will be too cold, I'll take her another weekend and this time we won't be limited to the two Banff resorts. Any recommendations for the best hill to take a first-timer to? COP?

I would like to do the 1hr lesson for her too.

Huntingwhale · 01-02-2015, 05:53 PM

COP is the best place to learn . Small, closeby and cheap. My buddy was at Fairmont ski hill a couple weekends ago with his gf who is a noob too and she did pretty well on it. As well some of my family is going this weekend to Fairmont and 1/2 of them are new skiers. The trail map looks decent.

The only fault that I would find taking someone to Sunshine if it's their first time is that she will be on the green runs, and the greens at sunshine always have long flat areas that require a lot of cross country skiing to make across. That might discourage her.

DownhillGoat · 01-02-2015, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Huntingwhale

COP is the best place to learn

Disagree. Too busy, and generally too hard-packed/icy. Location is great and that's about it IMO.

For teaching someone I'd rather take the extra 45 minute drive and hit Nakiska.

Sliver · 01-03-2015, 07:03 AM

My vote is for COP as well to teach her. I'm not sure when kunkstyle was there last, but they have three or four magic carpets now. Their man-made snow is better than it has ever been and the lifts can accommodate many people (two detachable high-speed quads). I've been there six times this year and have not found it too busy or too icy at all. Was at Louise earlier this week with my kids and I have to say COP is better for learning than even the best mountain in our area.