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SUNSHINE VILLAGE
It’s a busy time of the year around Sunshine Village, with skiers and riders flocking to the Banff resort to get in some turns while they’ve got time off school and work. And while Western Canada hasn’t seen the same snow we sometimes get around these parts so far this season, Sunshine’s had more than enough to make for solid coverage on its runs. The last week saw 10 cm hit the slopes and the season total is now sitting at 212 cm.
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Sunshine is also throwing a big Boxing Week sale that goes until Jan. 2. The Sunshine Super Card is available for $94, while there are discounted mobile tickets and multi-day passes, too, as well as 15% off on Sunshine merchandise.
www.skibanff.com
X: @SkiBanff
LAKE LOUISE
The week between Christmas and New Year’s might be the busiest time of the year at Lake Louise, but the resort keeps the fun going right into January. We’re only a couple weeks away from the Hot Dogger — which happens to be one of the biggest parties in the Rockies — on Jan. 13, and the For the ‘Gram Rail Jam goes from Jan. 19-29. The SnowDays Festival is set for later in the month, too, so there are a tonne of reasons to hit up Lake Louise next month.
The forecast is calling for more snow in the next couple days, which is always good news. But Lake Louise already saw 13 cm of the fluffy white stuff fall in the last week and the season total in the upper mountain is sitting at 246 cm.
www.skilouise.com
X: @SKiLouise
WINSPORT
The holidays are a busy time at WinSport, so the Calgary hill has smartly extended its hours this year. Until Dec. 30, WinSport will be open every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., which will provide skiers and riders with extra time in the mountain to get in some turns.
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And remember, just because there isn’t any snow on your front lawn doesn’t mean there’s nothing on the hill at WinSport, which is able to make a tonne of snow, and there’s more than enough coverage for anyone looking to get in a few turns or learn how to ski or ride.
www.winsport.ca
X: @WinsportCanada
NORQUAY
If, like me, you’re the type of person who leaves their planning to the last minute and is suddenly scrambling to come up with plans for New Year’s Eve, you might want to consider heading to Banff to check out Norquay’s Torchlight Parade. The best spot to view the spectacle — which is free — is from downtown Banff, as staff ski and ride down the North American Run with torches in hand for an incredible show.
There’s lots to get through before, but it’s also worth circling Jan. 10 on your calendar. That’s when Norquay hosts its first Cool2Carpool event, where you can — legally — cram as many people into your vehicle as possible and then split the cost of a lift ticket for a day on the mountain.
Norquay saw 4 cm of fresh snowfall in the past week and the season total is sitting at 149 cm.
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www.banffnorquay.com
X: @MtNorquay
NAKISKA
Nakiska got a healthy blast of snow over the past week, with 20 cm falling on the Kananaskis resort. That’s brought the season total to 98 cm, and they’ve now got both the Olympic Chair and the tube park open and ready for anyone who wants to get out and enjoy a little fresh air in the mountain.
And if you’re the type of skier who wants to take advantage of the closeness of Nakiska while also maybe checking out some resorts a little further into the mountains, we’ve gotta tell you about the RCR Rockies Card. The card gets you your first, fourth and seventh days at Fernie, Kicking Horse, Kimberley or Nakiska for free, and is currently going for $155.
www.skinakiska.com
X: @SkiNakiska
MARMOT BASIN
It’s Jasper in January next month, and we’ll be writing a lot about the big annual festival in the coming weeks. It’s truly not to be missed. But before we get to the rest of it, it’s worth mentioning this week that Marmot Basin has an amazing deal for families who want to spend a day on the slopes. They currently are selling a family pass for two adults and two children — 17 and under — for $298. The pass is only available for purchase online and has to be used between Jan. 12 and 28.
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Marmot Basin saw 4 cm of new snow in the past four days, and that’s brought the season total to 106 cm.
www.skimarmot.com
X: @SkiMarmot
CASTLE MOUNTAIN
Just in time for the holidays, Castle Mountain got a blast of winter over the past week. That’s meant that while the season total is still less than it has been in years past at this time of the season, there’s still solid coverage on most of the mountain. With 18 cm of new snow falling in the last seven days, the season total is sitting at 183 cm.
They’re going to be setting off fireworks on New Year’s, and there’s a big party set for the lodge that night, too. For anyone looking to book in a special way to say goodbye to 2023 and hello to 2024, it’s definitely worth checking out.
www.skicastle.ca
X: @SkiCastle
PANORAMA
We’ve raved in recent weeks about how Panorama has gone all-out this holiday season, and there’s still lots of time to get out to the Invermere, B.C. resort and enjoy the fruits of their labour. New Year’s Eve, in particular, should be a lot of fun, with both a torchlight parade and a glow stick parade in the Discovery Zone.
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Like everywhere else around these parts right now, Panorama is dealing with early season conditions. But there’s still lots of terrain to explore. The resort saw 4 cm of new snow in the past week and that brought the season total to 135 cm, with all 11 lifts open.
www.panoramaresort.com
X: @panoramaresort
FERNIE
You’re not going to run out of things to do at Fernie Alpine Resort, that’s for sure. The B.C. ski and snowboard area has absolutely rammed its events calendar this holiday season, and there will be fireworks and a big New Year’s Eve party at the Griz Bar. The fun continues into next year, too, with snowshoeing tours, night skiing and family arts and crafts going right until the end of the first week of January.
Fernie saw 10 cm of new snow in the past week and the season total is sitting at 263 cm.
www.skifernie.com
@SkiFernie
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