seventeenth December 2025
Final modified on December twenty fourth, 2025
We’re on a 2-month go to. Based mostly in Canmore in Alberta, however with the will, the automobile, the contacts & the money (hopefully) to go additional afield. Adventures are unfolding… UPDATED
Tuesday twenty third December
And so to ‘The Wild West’ in Sunshine Village…
The Wild West, Sunshine Village, Canada. Picture © PlanetSKI
The resort is understood for some steep terrain.
‘Delirium Dive’ is essentially the most well-known space, however the ‘The Wild West’ space is liked by the locals and provides difficult off piste terrain.
It has simply opened after enormous quantities of early season snow.
It not often opens in December and in some winters, it doesn’t open in any respect.
It wants important quantities of snow to fill the shutes and canopy the rocks.
The Wild West, Sunshine Village, Canada. Picture © PlanetSKI
We have been fortunate sufficient to be among the first individuals down this week (it helps to have a good friend within the ski patrol who gave us an early nod of its opening) after record-breaking snowfall.
Avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe are obligatory and it’s accessed by an digital gate that checks you might be suitably outfitted.
No transceiver and the crimson cross stays crimson, with the door locked.
Neat concept.
The Wild West, Sunshine Village, Canada. Picture © PlanetSKI
The simpler route down is skiers proper and is comparatively benign to start with.
The Wild West, Sunshine Village, Canada. Picture © PlanetSKI
It quickly steepens up.
The Wild West, Sunshine Village, Canada. Picture © PlanetSKI
The Wild West, Sunshine Village, Canada. Picture © PlanetSKI
The snow was fabulous.
It was primarily tracked, however nonetheless gentle and dreamy with pockets of powder.
With views to match.
The Wild West, Sunshine Village, Canada. Picture © PlanetSKI
What a journey…
Monday twenty second December
It’s starting to look lots like Xmas right here in Banff and Canmore in Canada…
Xmas lights in Banff & Canmore. Picture © PlanetSKI
Xmas lights in Banff & Canmore. Picture © PlanetSKI
Xmas lights in Banff & Canmore. Picture © PlanetSKI
Sunday twenty first December
Are you able to consider it?
We’re again in Lake Louise – it’s solely the ski space with one of the best snow of wherever on the earth proper now (although the opposite Banff resort of Sunshine Village could disagree!).
The street to Lake Louise. Picture © PlanetSKI
The street to Lake Louise. Picture © PlanetSKI
One other superb day in Lake Louise for James Cove and the PlanetSKI group.
There was the same old cost for recent tracks because the lifts opened.
PlanetSKI heads to the powder of Lake Louise. Picture © PlanetSKI
However there was no want as powder was as soon as once more in plentiful provide.
PlanetSKI within the powder of Lake Louise. Picture © PlanetSKI
PlanetSKI within the powder of Lake Louise. Picture © PlanetSKI
On this prolonged Canadian journey we wrestle on in silence…
Friday nineteenth December
And so to Sunshine Village…
Appears others have been getting within the Xmas spirit in Sunshine too.
Sunshine Village, Banff. Picture © PlanetSKI
Thursday 18th December
And so to Mt Norquay…
See right here for a associated PlanetSKI article as we report on analysis from Innsbruck College that appears because the significance of small, native ski areas:
Final night time we have been invited to the Lux cinema in downtown Banff.
The Lux cinema, Banff. Picture © PlanetSKI
It was the Premier of The Mighty Quay – a take a look at the 100-year historical past of the city’s native ski hill – Mt Norquay.
Banff royalty was within the viewers together with native legends – skier racers, snowboard champions, resort homeowners and plenty of others.
It was a priviledge to be there.
The Lux cinema, Banff. Picture © PlanetSKI
“Mt Norquay is a part of the Banff neighborhood and is deeply embedded into the individuals of this nice city,” mentioned the present normal supervisor of Mt Norquay, Andre Quenneville.
The resort is celebrating its a hundredth birthday in 2026.
The large change coming is the substitute of the historic Huge Chair raise with a gondola.
Not all are in favour as they consider it would change the character of the resort, however Andre Quenneville instructed the viewers that “it should safe the way forward for Norquay for the subsequent 100 years.”
Wednesday seventeenth December
We’ve been in Lake Louise as 200 acres of recent terrain opens – step ahead Richardson’s Ridge.
Richardson’s Ridge opening day in Lake Louise. Picture © PlanetSKI
Richardson’s Ridge opening day in Lake Louise. Picture © PlanetSKI
Tuesday sixteenth December
As we start a 2-month ski journey in Canada it seems our editor, James Cove, has considerably diminished in measurement.
“Aside from an RV I don’t assume I’ve ever pushed a automobile the place my nostril nearly reaches the highest of the facet mirror.”
“Nonetheless at the very least we’re color co-ordinated.
PlanetSKI’s Chevrolet Silverado for our 2-month Canadian ski journey. Picture © PlanetSKI
“Again within the UK I drive a 2-seater Mazda MX5 sports activities automotive which might virtually match within the again behind the driving force’s cab.
“However there’s going to be a little bit of mileage concerned, and extreme winter circumstances, as we head spherical to report on among the most interesting resorts that Alberta and British Columbia have to supply.
“An acceptable automobile is required.
“It’s a Chevrolet Silverado – armed with winter tyres, 4×4 drive and a 2.7L Turbo Max engine that could be a 4-in-line, (no matter that’s).”
PlanetSKI’s Chevrolet Silverado for our 2-month Canadian ski journey. Picture © PlanetSKI
PlanetSKI’s Chevrolet Silverado for our 2-month Canadian ski journey. Picture © PlanetSKI
PlanetSKI’s Chevrolet Silverado for our 2-month Canadian ski journey. Picture © PlanetSKI
And for the petrol-heads amoung you:
310 hp [231 kW] @ 5600 rpm430 lb-ft of torque [583 Nm] @ 3000 rpmPaired with an 8-speed automated transmission
Forward of Xmas, The Beast will probably be taking us spherical Lake Louise, Sunshine Village and Mt Norquay in Alberta.
After that, who is aware of.
Just a few extra resorts in Alberta – Fortress Mountain, Marmot Basin, Kanaskis, Powderkeg and Fortress Mountain.
Then into BC with Kicking Horse, Revelstoke, Fernie, Panorama, Pink, Whitewater and Solar Peaks on the agenda.
Now we have taken the precaution of acquiring an Indy Move that offers entry to a complete bunch of small and impartial resorts that now we have by no means heard of.
Primarily we’re going to be following our nostril and discovering the powder.
The Beast needs to be as much as the duty.
Canada awaits…
Heading to Lake Louise, Canada. Picture © PlanetSKI
On Wednesday The Beast is taking us to Lake Louise as 200 acres of recent terrain opens.
We made our first turns in Canada final Sunday in Lake Louise as we headed to the resort brilliant and early after an honest quantity of recent snow fell.
Sunday 14th December
It was a 6am begin from Calgary the place James is staying for just a few days, and he hit the street to Banff.
Heading to Lake Louise, Canada. Picture © PlanetSKI
Heading to Lake Louise, Canada. Picture © PlanetSKI
Two of the city’s native resorts, Sunshine Village and Lake Louise, presently have just about one of the best snow in North America.
The resort has seen 30cm of snow within the final 48-hours, and 70cm over the previous week.
It additionally has essentially the most terrain open of wherever within the counstrive – 130 runs, 2 terrain parks and 12 lifts.
Lake Louise acquired a prime up because the weekend started, so it was the plain place to go to.
The identical thought had occurred to a couple others.
Heading to Lake Louise, Canada. Picture © PlanetSKI
Up the mountain the early begin and site visitors queue was however a distant reminiscence.
As have been the crowds.
Lake Louise, Canada. Picture © PlanetSKI
And right here is a few of that snow that James is speaking about.
Lake Louise has a ‘entrance facet’ which is especially groomed terrain.
Lake Louise, Canada. Picture © PlanetSKI
And a ‘again facet’ the place one of the best powder will be discovered.
Lake Louise, Canada. Picture © PlanetSKI
New for this season is Richardson’s Ridge and it opens later this week on Wednesday seventeenth December.
There are 200 acres of recent newbie & intermediate terrain.
There are 5 new inexperienced and blue runs, together with some vast & naturally gladed terrain.
Richardson’s Ridge, Lake Louise, Canada. Picture © PlanetSKI
Richardson’s Ridge is the newest in a sequence of initiatives seen in Lake Louise over the previous 5 years, together with the addition of the Summit Quad, West Bowl, Juniper Categorical and the brand new Pipestone Categorical.
“These are among the largest investments in our historical past, all designed to offer extra terrain, extra journey, and unforgettable snowboarding & driving,” mentioned the resort.
It’s served by this raise which is present process its remaining exams.
The following part of growth within the space entails opening up extra terrain that will be for superior skiers and snowboarders.
PlanetSKI will probably be again on Wednesday for the opening of the world and to make some first activates the brand new terrain.
Saturday thirteenth December
Now we have been in Calgary for just a few days.
“Why?” some ski mates have requested.
“It’s a dump, head to the mountains asap.
“Positive, Eddie the Eagle did his stuff right here in 1980 one thing or different and that’s about all it’s recognized for.”
Laborious to argue with that, nevertheless it so misses the purpose.
Calgary is just not a vacationer metropolis – no must-see museums, artwork galleries or church buildings.
No spectacular bars and eating places to placed on social media.
Nothing to tick off the bucket record.
Briefly there is no such thing as a nice cause for coming, and that’s precisely the purpose.
It’s a metropolis doing its personal factor and never exhibiting off and making an attempt to be one thing it isn’t – only a metropolis in Alberta with fairly quite a lot of oil cash funding it.
It’s correct city Canada.
Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Picture © PlanetSKI
And suburban.
Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Picture © PlanetSKI
Have you ever ever heard of the game of ringette?
No neither had we, however considered one of our Canada reporters, Marie Taylor, performs.
Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Picture © PlanetSKI
It’s ce hockey with a sharp stick – it’s a must to piece the ring along with your stick, fairly than whack the puck with an ice hockey stick. 
Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Picture © PlanetSKI
Sadly it was a house match someplace within the deepest north/west of the town and the rating was not the one we wished.
Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Picture © PlanetSKI
And if you need a cool jazz bar in Calgary:
Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Picture © PlanetSKI
And a cool ski store:
Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Picture © PlanetSKI
Within the vacationer guff about Calgary the “Peace Bridge” options prominently .
It was unremarkable.
Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Picture © PlanetSKI
Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Picture © PlanetSKI
And sure, the Canadians hate Trump and do every little thing to encourage individuals to assist the maple leaf.
Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Picture © PlanetSKI
Calgary is a completely un-touristy metropolis in Canada with no good cause for going.
On the floor it provides little.
Beneath the floor it delivers in spades.
And on ice too.
Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Picture © PlanetSKI
Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Picture © PlanetSKI
PlanetSKI’s Canadian Adventures
We’re self-funding the Canada journey and retaining all editorial independence so we are able to submit as we see it with out affect and spin + do what we wish.
Airfares, lodging, raise passes, automotive rent and day-to-day residing bills are coated by PlanetSKI.
Although if a resort needs to purchase us a beer or lunch it will be impolite to refuse!
To search out out extra about snowboarding in Canada try what’s on provide from the UK operator Inghams Ski or the UK ski agent, SNO.
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