Skiing and Snowboarding - Page 3

0773|=\ · #41 Posted **Dec 20, 2007, 6:00 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnnyc

Utah claims to have the best snow on earth, but since it's colder here, shouldn't that give that honour to us?

Yeah, I think Utah's claim is due to its dry climate, and these flash-snowsqualls that come from the Great Salt Lake close by. Still, Alberta has pretty enviable snow by most accounts, better than that West Coast cement...

0773|=\ · #42 Posted **Dec 20, 2007, 6:14 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by freeweed

Hey, anyone that's a crazy ski buff wanna list off every resort around here that they know? Say, anything within a 4-5 hour drive of Calgary/Edmonton. I know the obvious ones like Sunshine and Louise, etc, but I every once in a while hear of some place in BC and I have no idea where it even is.

Better yet, is there a comprehensive map somewhere? I get the impression we might have 20-30 resorts within a 5 hour drive.

Sunshine, Louise, Marmot, Norquay, Nakiska, Castle, -- all in Alberta. In BC, there's a heli/cat skiing place out in Valemont BC (forget the name), Kicking Horse -- Golden, Panorama -- Invermere, Kimberley, Fernie, Revelstoke (used to be Powder Springs, new this year 4700 ft vertical, eventually will be higher than Whistler), Big White -- Kelowna, Sun Peaks -- Kamloops, Silver Summit -- Vernon, Whitewater -- Nelson, Red Mountain -- Rossland, Powder King (about five from Edmonton, close to Dawson Creek), and after that it's Apex (Penticton) and Mount Baldy (Osooyoos) in the southern Okanagan. Those are the big ones, any others would be similar in size to COP or smaller (correct me if I'm wrong...). I've heard there's a ski hill out in the Cypress Hills, but not sure how big it is...

Ayreonaut · #43 Posted **Dec 20, 2007, 6:20 AM**

Is the one in the Cypress Hills the one they call the pimple? Vernon's hill is Silver Star. There is also Cat-skiing in Revy, Sicamous, Cherryville, and I think maybe Fernie. I know a guy who was going to start a cat-skiing operation in Smithers but I don't know if it ever happened.

ExcaliburKid · #44 Posted **Dec 20, 2007, 3:09 PM**

I guess you could also add Fairmont in there, but thats a stretch. I think Silver Summit is the hill near Edson. Wasnt there rumors of a new massive ski resort near Valemont a few years ago? Canyon Springs or something?

Calgarian · #45 Posted **Dec 20, 2007, 6:56 PM**

The hill in the Cypress hills is called hidden Valley, and it's about the same size as Wintergreen was.

http://www.skihiddenvalley.net/index.html

You Need A Thneed · #46 Posted **Dec 20, 2007, 7:01 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnnyc

The hill in the Cypress hills is called hidden Valley, and it's about the same size as Wintergreen was.

http://www.skihiddenvalley.net/index.html

I skiied there once, and in IMO, it was better then wintergreen, but yes, that would be the hill I would have compared it to.

Calgarian · #47 Posted **Dec 20, 2007, 7:48 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by You Need A Thneed

I skiied there once, and in IMO, it was better then wintergreen, but yes, that would be the hill I would have compared it to.

Yeah i found it better than Wintergreen, but that's not really saying much. lol

Deepstar · #48 Posted **Dec 21, 2007, 7:07 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin_foster

I'm a snowboarder. I started in the late 80's when snowboarders were considered "malicious criminals" to most. I learned to board from a very old school skater who instead of giving me tips; literally strapped me onto a board; rapped my knuckles and pushed me down the mountain while laughing and calling me a big "pu$$y". Punk rock, snowboarding in the winter, skateboarding in the summer. It was the culture back then! We were different, that's for sure...

That's how things were done back then! I used to frequent the parks in Edmonton; made tons of trips to Lake Louise for their board park too... I can remember the day it opened, we all couldn't believe how cool it was that a major ski resort was accomodating to boarders. When ski resorts starting using "ski and ride with care" for their warning tags, we knew that snowboarding had gone mainstream (for the better)

Now I just ride because I love it. I'm too old for tricks... I do love to scream down off limits areas or find myself deep powder; but mostly I've tamed down and just ride for the view; haha.

I tried skiiing once but I hated it.. I do have some really excellent skiiers in my family (half of which live in Jasper); and I admire their skills/talent. Skiiing, IMO is hard.

Sorry, I don't mean to sound ignorant, but Edmonton has places to snowboard?

Deepstar · #49 Posted **Dec 21, 2007, 7:12 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelS

I think I have to disagree with this. I have been noticing more and more skiers at hills the last couple of seasons, it seems to be making a come back. I am in my mid twenties and have been skiing since I was able to walk, and have more friends that ski instead of board. I do have a couple of friends that board as well, but they are the minority.

It varies from hill to hill.

0773|=\ · #50 Posted **Dec 21, 2007, 7:29 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ayreonaut

Is the one in the Cypress Hills the one they call the pimple? Vernon's hill is Silver Star. There is also Cat-skiing in Revy, Sicamous, Cherryville, and I think maybe Fernie. I know a guy who was going to start a cat-skiing operation in Smithers but I don't know if it ever happened.

Gah! I always make that mistake! Yeah, Silver Summit is the one by Edson. I've heard about a place closer to Terrace that gets a ridiculous amount of snow up there, but I forget the name of that hill. I have a few friends out in that neck of the woods who are into back-country skiing. Apparently there are some fairly good options out that way, especially in the passes between Terrace and Smithers.

240glt · #51 Posted **Dec 21, 2007, 3:43 PM**

Quote:

It varies from hill to hill.

I've noticed an overall decline in snowboarders at most hills... many young'uns are going back to skis, & freestyle seems to be really catching on.

Oh, and yes, Edmonton has several places to snowboard.

Calgarian · #52 Posted **Dec 21, 2007, 4:20 PM**

What's that one stupid little hill just off the Whitemud? i'm amazed there's a lift there, it's like 11/5 the size of COP.

ExcaliburKid · #53 Posted **Dec 21, 2007, 5:05 PM**

^ Snow Valley. Theres also Edm. Ski Club, Sunridge and Rabbit Hill

freeweed · #54 Posted **Dec 21, 2007, 5:43 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnnyc

What's that one stupid little hill just off the Whitemud? i'm amazed there's a lift there, it's like 11/5 the size of COP.

Is that the tiny one that's next to a campground? I remember staying in that campground years ago (thought it was Rainbow Valley or something) and having a chuckle at that hill. Edmonton's river valley is impressive but not THAT impressive.

Of course, I lived in Winnipeg at the time, and our local ski "hill" was built on the side of a man-made drainage ditch.

CanadianCentaur · #55 Posted **Dec 21, 2007, 6:27 PM**

I've been skiing for a number of years now, and Marmot Basin is where I usually go. While Marmot is more or less Edmonton's ski hill, as locals like to put it, there's a lot people who come in from the Grande Prairie area, too. Ironically, Marmot doesn't get quite as much snow as many other ski resorts further south in BC, Alberta and even in the western US, because it can be pretty dry there during the winter. They even once came close to closing the entire ski area for the rest of the season in Dec. 1994-January, 1995, because there was so little snow in spite of the colder than average winter.

Nevertheless, Marmot Basin does get more than enough snow in most years to make for some decent skiing. And best of all - you don't usually get the huge lineups at the lifts like a lot of other ski resorts further south! I've also been to Lake Louise, Sunshine Village and Powder King, which is by Hwy 97 about 2 hrs north of Prince George - very remote and just north of 55°N, but LOTS of powder there, hence the name (anybody remember Chateau Atco?

)!!

Of Edmonton's local ski hills, I've only been to Lake Eden, which is actually west of Edmonton just off the Yellowhead to the north. I remember going there once on a day ski trip with my junior high school. It was pretty crappy, because it was fricking ICY out there.

I have a pair of 165 cm skis about 11-12 years old, but still quite servicable. While those skis seem a bit short for someone like me (I'm 5' 7"), they're pretty easy for me to handle. They're surprisingly stable at high speeds, but I'm one who likes to deal more with moguls and powder. I don't snowboard, but I know some in my family who do.

240glt · #56 Posted **Dec 21, 2007, 6:36 PM**

^ Time to get some parabolics buddy... the difference between them and straight sticks is night & day!

I went from my old racing skis (A set of 225 Tyrolia GSR's) to my current (six year old) Volkl 187's. The maneuverability difference is substantial.

You Need A Thneed · #57 Posted **Dec 21, 2007, 7:20 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnnyc

Yeah i found it better than Wintergreen, but that's not really saying much. lol

no, that's not saying much. Wintergreen had that one top section that was ok, but you would have to tuck down half of it to get down that whole flat part at the bottom.

I haven't been able to get out skiing the last few years. I don't own equipment, so I ahve to rent, and thus, it costs about 100 bucks or more to go for one day, and then I don't really have anyone to go with, with whom I'd want to pay 100 bucks to ski with. If I have to wait for them all day, its not worth it.

When I do go, it's usually been at Sunshine.

Calgarian · #58 Posted **Dec 21, 2007, 7:35 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by You Need A Thneed

no, that's not saying much. Wintergreen had that one top section that was ok, but you would have to tuck down half of it to get down that whole flat part at the bottom.

I haven't been able to get out skiing the last few years. I don't own equipment, so I ahve to rent, and thus, it costs about 100 bucks or more to go for one day, and then I don't really have anyone to go with, with whom I'd want to pay 100 bucks to ski with. If I have to wait for them all day, its not worth it.

When I do go, it's usually been at Sunshine.

It costs about $100 to go to Sunshine or Louise for a day if you eat lunch there.

freeweed · #59 Posted **Dec 21, 2007, 7:37 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by CanadianCentaur

I have a pair of 165 cm skis about 11-12 years old, but still quite servicable. While those skis seem a bit short for someone like me (I'm 5' 7"), they're pretty easy for me to handle. They're surprisingly stable at high speeds, but I'm one who likes to deal more with moguls and powder. I don't snowboard, but I know some in my family who do.

165s? Short?? Wow. I'm your height and I've been skiing on 145 parabolics lately (ski shops usually suggest a 155). The control you have on modern parabolics (as someone else pointed out) is insane, and wearing a slightly shorter ski - pure heaven.

I avoided skiing for many years due to my memories of how terrible I was on the old style of alpine ski. After someone first stapped a pair of parabolics on me, it feels like I've been doing this since I was 5!

freeweed · #60 Posted **Dec 21, 2007, 7:40 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by You Need A Thneed

I haven't been able to get out skiing the last few years. I don't own equipment, so I ahve to rent, and thus, it costs about 100 bucks or more to go for one day, and then I don't really have anyone to go with, with whom I'd want to pay 100 bucks to ski with. If I have to wait for them all day, its not worth it.

I hear a suggestion for an SSP ski day! Get enough people together and there's no waiting around - there's always a few people at every skill level.

Sunshine is over $100 now for us renters. $80+ lift ticket, $20-30 rental. Not counting food.

Then again, $100 for 6-8 hour skiing is a far better value for me than a $100 concert, or $100 at the bar, or even a pair of cheap Flames tickets (and I LOVE hockey). But I'm rapidly turning into a skiing freak.