Christmas 2012 - Skiing in Canada
Discussion
I know there's a wealth of knowledge on PH for all things, skiing among them, so I'm looking for some assistance, please.
Having spent many years skiing in France, Italy, Switzerland, etc., we're looking to go to Canada for Christmas 2012/New Year 2013. My daughters will then be 10 & 11, and both ski to a very good standard, so no issues on needing easy runs.
I'm wondering though which resort to look at in Canada, if there are great differences between Whistler, Banff, Lake Louise... - in terms of accomodation, restaurants, town life, etc. ?
Please could you help me in my quest PHers?
Thanks!
Mrs & Mrs 5Pot
Having spent many years skiing in France, Italy, Switzerland, etc., we're looking to go to Canada for Christmas 2012/New Year 2013. My daughters will then be 10 & 11, and both ski to a very good standard, so no issues on needing easy runs.
I'm wondering though which resort to look at in Canada, if there are great differences between Whistler, Banff, Lake Louise... - in terms of accomodation, restaurants, town life, etc. ?
Please could you help me in my quest PHers?
Thanks!
Mrs & Mrs 5Pot
Superb skiing conditions I believe, if you don't mind the rather low temperatures. A mate went to Whistler one year and reported -40 wind chill!
Personally, I like the Alps late season when the snow is still reasonable but you can get away with a T-shirt for a tan in the bars on the slopes.
Personally, I like the Alps late season when the snow is still reasonable but you can get away with a T-shirt for a tan in the bars on the slopes.
Personally I would avoid US o Canada until the latter part of ski season, it's absolutely bl**dy freezing December-February. However if you can wait until March-April it's fantastic. Great resorts loads of choice with accommodation and tend not to have the feeling that your wallet is being abused overtime you Ge it out
If you want a reasonable airport transfer, you can narrow the list the Banff and Whistler and nothing else.
Banff: nice town, but you will need a car. Sunshine is about 20 mins drive and Lake Louise is about 45 mins drive. Both Sunshine and LL have small accommodation areas which I would not want to be confined to.
At Xmas Banff is probably going to be cold. I have been there in Jan in -25. Those temps plus its inland position mean that you get dry light champagne powder, which has to be skied to be believed. Although the temps are low the cold is quite dry, so it doesn't feel super cold unless the wind kicks up. If it does, the lifties will check you for frost nip as you get off the lift and usher you inside if you have signs of it.
Whistler: you won't need a car. Stay on the village and you will be able to walk to the slopes and everywhere in the village. Typically you are looking at -10 +/-5 degrees. But you can get -40, and you can get zero in the village. It all depends. That means the snow conditions can be more variable, and can also be more variable between the top and bottom of the mountain.
Terrain: Whistler wins hands down.
Restaurants: ditto. Banff reminds me of a cowboy town. Whistler has a couple of places that merit a Michelin star, and some fantastic sushi restaurants. LL has the Chateau, and that's about it.
All that said, I'm biased. We've been going to W for >20 years, have a place there, and yes, we do mates rates.
Banff: nice town, but you will need a car. Sunshine is about 20 mins drive and Lake Louise is about 45 mins drive. Both Sunshine and LL have small accommodation areas which I would not want to be confined to.
At Xmas Banff is probably going to be cold. I have been there in Jan in -25. Those temps plus its inland position mean that you get dry light champagne powder, which has to be skied to be believed. Although the temps are low the cold is quite dry, so it doesn't feel super cold unless the wind kicks up. If it does, the lifties will check you for frost nip as you get off the lift and usher you inside if you have signs of it.
Whistler: you won't need a car. Stay on the village and you will be able to walk to the slopes and everywhere in the village. Typically you are looking at -10 +/-5 degrees. But you can get -40, and you can get zero in the village. It all depends. That means the snow conditions can be more variable, and can also be more variable between the top and bottom of the mountain.
Terrain: Whistler wins hands down.
Restaurants: ditto. Banff reminds me of a cowboy town. Whistler has a couple of places that merit a Michelin star, and some fantastic sushi restaurants. LL has the Chateau, and that's about it.
All that said, I'm biased. We've been going to W for >20 years, have a place there, and yes, we do mates rates.
Edited by anonymous-user on Saturday 31st December 22:34
Thank you all for your comments.
I had a feeling it would risk being very cold, but to be honest, we had -25 in Val d'Isere one ear when the girls were only 4 & 5, and my wife makes sure they're thoroughly wrapped in layers, so it's not a major problem - I hope.
Greg: thanks for the info. Much appreciated. I may well be in touch!
I had a feeling it would risk being very cold, but to be honest, we had -25 in Val d'Isere one ear when the girls were only 4 & 5, and my wife makes sure they're thoroughly wrapped in layers, so it's not a major problem - I hope.
Greg: thanks for the info. Much appreciated. I may well be in touch!
We did Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper at Christmas 2009. It was super cold. I think we saw -36 in the car at one point. However, we skiied every day apart from one, when it was the visibility that kept us off the hill. Banff is absolutely lovely. We really enjoyed it. Stayed in a hotel int he middle of town so once there didnt need the car. Was very grateful of it to get to the ski areas as we didnt have to wait for the buses. There are some nice places to eat/drink in Banff too.
Mount Norquay is a small area but enough to keep you busy for a day.
Sunshine Village is bigger with plenty to do, differing terrain.
Lake Louise, I'd guess bigger than Sunshine Village, we only managed one day there though. All very driveable from Banff.
Jasper is a good half days drive over the Columbia Icefields Parkway which is an amazing road. So much to see, just make sure you check weather before leaving and that you filled the car with petrol as its about 250km between petrol stations or something daft like that. We didnt really enjoy the town of Jasper, it wasnt as nice as Banff and didnt seem as welcoming. The ski area is about 1/2 hour outside the town so again, you'd need a car if you weren't happy with the ski buses. We didnt really find that many good places to eat in Jasper either.
If we went again we would definitely do 10 days in Banff/Lake Louise and woulnd't bother with Jasper. Or we'd try Whistler on the strong recommendations of a few on here.
Mount Norquay is a small area but enough to keep you busy for a day.
Sunshine Village is bigger with plenty to do, differing terrain.
Lake Louise, I'd guess bigger than Sunshine Village, we only managed one day there though. All very driveable from Banff.
Jasper is a good half days drive over the Columbia Icefields Parkway which is an amazing road. So much to see, just make sure you check weather before leaving and that you filled the car with petrol as its about 250km between petrol stations or something daft like that. We didnt really enjoy the town of Jasper, it wasnt as nice as Banff and didnt seem as welcoming. The ski area is about 1/2 hour outside the town so again, you'd need a car if you weren't happy with the ski buses. We didnt really find that many good places to eat in Jasper either.
If we went again we would definitely do 10 days in Banff/Lake Louise and woulnd't bother with Jasper. Or we'd try Whistler on the strong recommendations of a few on here.
[quote=5potTurbo]Thank you all for your comments.
I had a feeling it would risk being very cold, but to be honest, we had -25 in Val d'Isere one ear when the girls were only 4 & 5, and my wife makes sure they're thoroughly wrapped in layers, so it's not a major problem - I hope.
"what about the other ear"
I had a feeling it would risk being very cold, but to be honest, we had -25 in Val d'Isere one ear when the girls were only 4 & 5, and my wife makes sure they're thoroughly wrapped in layers, so it's not a major problem - I hope.
"what about the other ear"
-36?! Bloody hell!
Sorry, "year" - typo, that is all.
I'll correct the quote for you too.
Simon Brooks said:
5potTurbo said:
Thank you all for your comments.
I had a feeling it would risk being very cold, but to be honest, we had -25 in Val d'Isere one ear when the girls were only 4 & 5, and my wife makes sure they're thoroughly wrapped in layers, so it's not a major problem - I hope.
"what about the other ear"I had a feeling it would risk being very cold, but to be honest, we had -25 in Val d'Isere one ear when the girls were only 4 & 5, and my wife makes sure they're thoroughly wrapped in layers, so it's not a major problem - I hope.
I'll correct the quote for you too.
There are huge differences TBH. Biggest one is Banff is more of a touring destination i.e. you have a car and and drive to one of several resorts, WBC is more what you're used to in a European resort and in terms of size/vertical measures up to euro resorts too. Bitterly cold temps are more likely in Banff than WBC but people seem to get fixated on this and like you've rightly said it can get bloody cold in Europe at that time of year too.
I did my instructor quals in Banff years back and loved the place, I'd imagine that a purpose built resort like WBC may be more convienient for familes and what you're used to. Banff is a proper town and has all that goes with that too.
I did my instructor quals in Banff years back and loved the place, I'd imagine that a purpose built resort like WBC may be more convienient for familes and what you're used to. Banff is a proper town and has all that goes with that too.
Well, now all booked - Whistler won!
Flights: Luxembourg>Frankfurt>Vancouver
Accomodation: rented a townhouse on Spearhead Dr
I've also booked a Jeep GC for the time we'll be there as we're heading to Victoria on Vancouver Island on 2nd Jan to visit friends.
Can't wait now, but we'll have to!
Flights: Luxembourg>Frankfurt>Vancouver
Accomodation: rented a townhouse on Spearhead Dr
I've also booked a Jeep GC for the time we'll be there as we're heading to Victoria on Vancouver Island on 2nd Jan to visit friends.
Can't wait now, but we'll have to!
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