Skiing and Snowboarding In The Canadian Mountains: What You Need To Know Before You Go
- Book a week-long trip.
- Rent your skis or snowboard from a store in town.
- Check your pass options before you go.
- Take lessons.
- Keep an open mind on your first try.
The Canadian Rocky Mountains: not only are they beautiful to look at, but skiing and snowboarding down them is even more of an incredible experience. Check off one of the boxes on the Canada Winter Bucket List, and get yourself to Banff, Alberta in Canada this winter to try your hand at arguably one of the most exciting winter sports there are.
These are your 5 tips for a positive experience before you hit the slopes for the first time in Canada:
Tip #1: Book a week-long trip.
In order to get the most out of your first experience and telling everyone back home that you can officially ski or snowboard, I would recommend booking a week-long trip. By the third day, I promise you, you will see immense improvement. I have been skiing and snowboarding for 10 years and even now, I find my improvement within the long ski trips rather than going to the mountains for the odd day or two.
Book your stay for your next ski trip in Banff at my favourite places:
Luxury $$$: Fairmont Banff Springs
Average $$: Douglas Fir Resort & Chalets
Budget Friendly $: Banff International Hostel
Bed and Breakfast: Mountain View Bed & Breakfast
Tip #2: Rent your skis or snowboard from a store in town.
Save yourself some money and rent your ski or snowboard equipment from a certified ski rental store in the town nearest the mountain. Especially if you are planning on hitting the slopes for more than a day, this is most likely the cheaper option than renting from the ski resort itself. If you have skis or a snowboard at home, this will also be much cheaper than the baggage fees it will cost to bring them over. There is also little to no hassle when renting from a store in town.
If you are headed to Banff, this is my top recommendation for rentals:
Skiing: Banff Performance Ski Rental
Snowboarding: Banff Performance Snowboard Rental
These rental options also include delivery, making your trip even easier and hassle-free!
Tip #3: Look at your pass options.
Depending on the resort you are planning on heading to, they all offer several options for your passes. Head to their websites and find the best price for what you are looking for. If you plan on going for a week or so, several resorts have passes that give discounts in addition to free ski days. For example, at Sunshine Village in Banff, Alberta, they have a Sunshine Super Card where your 1st, 4th, and 7th visits are completely free and your visits in between are at a discounted rate over the course of the season.
Tip #4: Take lessons.
If it is your first try at the sport, I would highly recommend paying a little bit extra and taking lessons for the first day or two. If you think they are pointless and you can teach yourself, you of course are free to do so (although at the very least, please watch some Youtube videos first), but for your safety, it is best to learn from the qualified teachers. There is also no need to be embarrassed, every one on the mountain has been there at some point.
Tip #5: Keep an open mind on your first try.
As with most things in life, more than likely, you will not be an expert on your first day skiing or snowboarding, and that is OKAY. Have fun with it. If you get as frustrated as I do when I can’t do a specific turn or jump, etc. remember where you are. How incredible is it that you are quite literally going to the top of a mountain and getting down it in one piece on two planks or a board? It sounds scary, but it really is one of the coolest and most amazing concepts.
Remember: You are doing something that so many can only dream of. Enjoy it!
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