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Mount Norquay, Banff opens - The first resort in Canada this season

26th October 2012 Print

Mount Norquay in Banff has opened due to early snow falls already in Banff and Lake Louise. Mt. Norquay will be the first ski resort to open in Canada this season with a combination of 30 cm of natural and manmade snow providing the best opening skiing conditions ever.

Following closely on the heels of Mt. Norquay is the Lake Louise Ski Area and Sunshine Village with opening dates currently scheduled for November 9th. Marmot Basin in Jasper is also due to open on 9th November, whilst Nakiska which was the first ski area in Canada to open in 2011, is due to open this weekend (27th/ 28th October).

The Alberta resorts are renowned for their long seasons (from November - May), quality and quantity of snow, range of runs available for all levels of skiers and boarders, excellent ski schools and lack of queues.

Other news from Albertan Ski resorts:

News: Cat Skiing in Alberta at Castle Mountain and Fortress Mountain:

In 2012 KPOW (Kananaskis Powder), the providers of Cat skiing at Fortress Mountain, Kananaskis County were able to offer every guest on every run a virgin untracked ski trail - a great boast and one that can be achieved because the operation runs just four days a week and only for small groups from the comfort of a luxurious snow cat. Explore the terrain at Fortress renowned for excellent snow quality, tree skiing and no lift runs. kpow.ca

Located just one and a half hours from Calgary. Castle's Powder Stagecoach takes guests on a one day backcountry adventure to ride open bowls and secret powder stashes. Guests take the Huckleberry Chair to meet the Cat which will then climb up Mount Haig to access personal powder lines in wide bowls, gladed chutes and breathtaking scenery skicastle.ca

News and events from Mount Norquay, Sunshine Village, Banff and Lake Louise:

There have been various improvements at the ski hills including new lanes, lifts and improved slopes at Mt Norquay's Tube Park. Whilst over in Lake Louise, a new Big Air Bag Jump has been designed by professional snowboarders and Hollywood stuntmen to allow some serious big air on the slope this season. Visitors to Lake Louise can also take advantage of a new tube park and learning and adventure centre.

The new Tri-Area Sightseeing Lift Pass from Ski Banff Lake Louise Sunshine allows non-skiers and boarders to enjoy the breathtaking scenery from the top of the mountains without having to hurtle back down. At £25 - the pass allows visitors to enjoy a trip on the chairlift to Mt. Norquay's historic teahouse,  a round-trip on the Grizzly Express Gondola at The Lake Louise Ski Area to the spectacular lookout, or a round-trip on the high-speed gondola at Sunshine Village to the Day lodge and Angel Express Chair. The pass also includes complimentary return transport from downtown Banff and Lake Louise hotels, as well as a food and beverage voucher, valid at participating resort restaurants. skibig3.com /banfflakelouise.com 

Lake Louise Winter Start including:

Men's World Cup - 24th and 25th November and Women's World Cup 30th Nov - 2nd Dec 2012

Two of the first world cup events of the season are held without fail in Lake Louise because of the guaranteed quality and quantity of the snow. Excellent opportunity at the start of the season to enjoy world class conditions and see elite skiers. banfflakelouise.com

Ice Magic Festival, Lake Louis, 18th - 27th Jan 2013

Now in its 19th year, this Banff National Park classic is more popular than ever. Experience Lake Louise at its winter finest during the Ice Magic Festival. Centerpiece to SnowDays, a new month-long celebration of winter in Banff National Park, activities include the International Ice Carving Competition, speed carving events and the Little Chippers. The Ice Magic Festival has something for all ages. banfflakelouise.com

New! Fancy following in the footsteps of Will and Kate? Then look no further than Skoki Lodge which was the chosen spot for some R&R by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge during their visit to Canada last summer. Inghams has introduced a two day add on excursion out to Skoki Lodge by snowshoe new for this season. Accessed by an 11km trail up the Skoki Valley, this remote but luxurious backcountry lodge can only be reached by snowshoe, cross-country skiing in the winter or helicopter if visitors actually are the Royal couple.

With breath taking views over mountain ridges, and alpine lakes, Skoki Lodge offers guests the opportunity to explore five different adjoining valleys and so truly enjoy some fantastic back country skiing right at the heart of Banff National Park. Skoki Lodge was the first lodge to be built specifically to cater for ski-tourists in Canada, with the first guests arriving in the summer of 1931. The main lodge today has three surrounding cabins providing accommodation for twenty-two guests. skoki.com

News and events from Marmot Basin, Jasper:

Last season Marmot Basin shattered it's all time record snowfall with a whopping 21 feet of snow that allowed the ski area to remain open until 6th May.

Visitors to Marmot Basin, Jasper can enjoy the $25 million budget spent so far on new developments and infrastructure including, state of the art ski lifts and an award winning environmentally friendly snowmaking system. Plus there is a new website and online store for purchasing seasons passes, make rental and lessons reservations and get all of the latest information about snow conditions and specials skimarmot.com

New! Canadian Rockies Snow Battle, Jasper: 24th - 25th November 2012

Jasper's newest sport: Yukigassen, Japanese for "Snow Battle", is a truly Canadian sport, perfect for all ages and skill levels. The sport has been around for nearly 25 years in Japan, but it is just hitting Canada and came to Jasper in January 2012. Jasper has signed on to host the Canadian National tournament for the next five years, with the winning team earning a place at the World Championships in Japan. jasper.travel 

Jasper in January - 11th - 27th January 2012

The Jasper in January Festival is held each year throughout the town of Jasper. Great signature events like Family Day, The Street Festival, Walk of Lights, Fireworks, The Mountain Park Lodges Chili Cook-off and the dog-sledding demo, to name a few, is what you can look forward too over the two full weeks of packed events. January in Jasper is chalked full of daily canyon walks, wildlife tours and snowshoe hikes for the outdoorsy type, live music for the soulful and plenty of opportunities to hit the slopes up at Marmot Basin and capitalize on all of the great deals. jasper.travel

News from Nakiska, Kananaskis County:

New event at Nakiska as the world's ski cross and snowmobile freestyle stars come together on December 8, 2012 for the Audi FIS Ski Cross World Cup and Monster Energy Snowmobile Freestyle headline the Nakiska Snowdown - with a festival atmosphere visitors will be able to enjoy world class ski cross and also the out of this world antics of the freestyle snowmobile. 2012 will mark the birth of the Nakiska Audi FIS Ski Cross World Cup stop. As the first race on the ski cross World Cup circuit, the event will set the stage for the upcoming season. One-hundred and ninety of the world's best skiers, from 25 nations, will be vying for $30,000 in prize money awarded to the medallists. skinakiska.com