The perfect time to discover Vancouver

With Whistler and Vancouver set to welcome the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in February 2010, now is the perfect time to discover the host city and resort as well as the province beyond the Games. From the powder filled slopes of the interior to the ski in ski out resorts of the BC Rockies, a wealth of new developments and activities await the visitor.

Revelstoke Mountain Resort Readies for a Record Smashing Season on the Slopes: As the newest kid in town, Revelstoke Mountain Resort is garnering more than its share of buzz. And there’s little wonder why. In just its second year, the resort is set to unveil brand new terrain - and take its place in the record books in the process. This season, Revelstoke will offer the longest vertical lift-serviced skiing in North America – at a whopping 5,260 feet - thanks to an 885-foot extension to the Revelation Gondola from the village base up to the Day Lodge.

Additionally, a new high speed quad chairlift, “The Ripper,” will be servicing the 1,240-acre North Bowl area, which has been extensively gladed and cut with new trails this season. These developments, paired with an existing express quad chair, “The Stoke,” are sure to make for one memorable mountain adventure. A difficult task? Not really.

After all, the resort is nestled within the Selkirk Mountain Range in the Kootenay Rockies region – one of the snowiest, most legendary destinations in BC. Off-slope, Revelstoke Mountain Resort has even more on its agenda this season, thanks to the opening of Nelsen Lodge. Operating as the new base area for the resort, the lodge will offer skier services, rentals, retail, a café, a spacious, family-friendly 125-seat restaurant, and 59 ski-in/ski-out units.

Also calling the lodge home, the new Revelstoke Guides Bureau proves a perfect point of origin for any adventure on the mountain, including private guided trips, multi-day group adventures and backcountry educational programs. Think that's it? Not by a long shot. Future development plans will make way for 18 additional lifts, over 100 ski trails, on-hill eateries and a host of residential units. All ensuring that Revelstoke will continue to be the talk of the town for countless years to come. Revelstokemountainresort.com

Whistler Blackcomb Promises a December Debut - PEAK 2 PEAK: Groundbreaking. Innovative. An engineering marvel. Few projects can share such accolades - even fewer can live up to them. This winter, Whistler Blackcomb’s highly anticipated PEAK 2 PEAK gondola, a daring venture that will unite the two towering mountain peaks that define this destination, is ready to take on that challenge. Set to revolutionize visitor experiences on the mountain, PEAK 2 PEAK will make its ski season debut December 12 - an unveiling poised for the record books.

Need some stats? How about 17 (the number of engineers dedicated to the project), 4,344 (the total cubic metres of concrete utilized in the construction), and 28 (the line-up of Swiss-designed Sky Cabins that will boast a bird’s eye view of Fitsimmon’s Valley at 436 metres or 1,430 feet below – the highest lift of its kind). If those figures fail to impress, then take a moment to mull the expanse to be traversed.

Spanning 4.4 kilometres (2.73 miles) in total distance from mountain to mountain, the Doppelmayr 3S tri-cable gondola promises the world’s longest unsupported span of 3.024 kilometres (1.88 miles) between the furthest length of the two towers. Total ride time is 11 marvel-filled minutes, with a lift capacity of 4,100 passengers per hour. And did we mention that two of the Sky Cabins boast glass bottoms? You’ll be hard pressed to keep your eye to the sky with the views, literally, underfoot.

And while winter will welcome skiers with greater access and even more opportunity to carve tracks in a single day, summer is sure to prove no less spectacular. Either way, Whistler Blackcomb is set to soar. PEAK 2 PEAK. Whistlerblackcomb.com/peaktopeak

It’s Sea to Summit at Mount Washington Alpine Resort on Vancouver Island: Think winter play is all about snow? Perhaps a little face time with Old Man Winter on the wild west coast is just the thing to shake up your cool weather routine. Here’s a start: Vancouver Island’s blend of rugged shores and alpine peaks make for an ideal marriage of snow and surf - and then some.

At Mount Washington Alpine Resort, set to celebrate its 30th year this season, a Summit to Surf adventure will blend both brilliantly with two nights at the resort and two nights at coastal Middle Beach Lodge in Tofino. To understand why this makes for such an exalted mix, one has to appreciate a few fabulous facts. First, with a backdrop that borders scenic Strathcona Provincial Park to the west and the deep blue waters of Georgia Straight to the east, Mount Washington is blessed with rugged west coast beauty amid a vast depth of natural snow.

Snow so plentiful that it can only be described as epic (Mount Washington is home to Canada’s deepest snow pack). And in Tofino on the wild west coast, a mere four hour drive from the resort, winter months pledge only righteous waves; beaches here rank amongst the best in Canada for bringing out the long and shortboards. Indeed, chilly temperatures, particularly November through March, routinely beckon the big ones (and the surfer dudes), to BC’s shores. Snowboard. Surf board. Pack them both…and take in the best of the Island’s snow and surf. Mountwashington.ca

For a Big Mountain Experience, Head to Kicking Horse Mountain Resort: Soaring mountain peaks. Expansive glades. Immense snowfalls. In case you haven’t heard, skiing in the Kootenay Rockies is all about big. With a capital “B”. And where better to rejoice in the grandeur than Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, a destination renowned by expert skiers and powderhounds alike for its bountiful backcountry scapes.

It’s amid this grand setting that KHMR has introduced Big Mountain Centre Programs, a new offering dedicated to educating enthusiasts on big mountain culture by providing them with the mindset ideal for backcountry exploration. Examples? KHMR guides show the best way to approach route finding lines, the proper use of the newest powder and backcountry equipment as well as avalanche gear, and even steer the snow-obsessed to the best stashes of the in-bounds white stuff.

Opportunities to kick back and trade a few on-slope tales with your guides at the Red Bull Lounge prior to your outing are sure to prove enlightening and invigorating. In addition, this big mountain experience also offers up the challenge to take on the Burton Learn to Ride Powder Program - a vigorous expert precision guiding adventure. (KHMR is the only lift-access ski resort in Canada offering this program.)

And if you’re not quite seasoned enough to blow it out Big Mountain style, not to worry. KHMR offers a range of sessions for all levels, including introductory programs for those new to the mountain. Either way, you’re in for one big, wild ride. Kickinghorseresort.com

A Forest Scourge Carves a New Path for Skiers at Sun Peaks Resort: In recent years, the Spruce Beetle has posed a threat to the forested areas of the Thompson Okanagan region. And while this has brought about a marked change to the landscape, Sun Peaks Resort is determined to create life from what was lost.

Thanks to a partnership between the crews at Sun Peaks and a Registered Professional Forester, the resort’s Lonesome Fir Glade area has seen a distinct transformation for the 2008/09 season. Extracting only those spruce trees infected by the beetle, the area has experienced re-birth as a glade paradise for both skiers and riders.

In a massive 70-acre section, 20 lines have either been created or expanded to allow all skill levels to revel in the dynamic feel of glade skiing; the new terrain means you can literally choose your grade of glade, with experts taking on the steeper, tighter lines, while intermediate and novice skiers have access to adjacent gentler pitches. And what’s become of the discarded trees? Some 150 tonnes of logged spruce will be ground into shavings in nearby Kamloops for use as horse bedding, while additional remnants will be sawn at a mill operated by a local First Nations band, marketed for log home building, or pulverized for pulp.

Back on the slopes, a trek up the Sundance Express Chairlift to the newly-expanded Lonesome Fir Glades is sure to showcase first-hand why Sun Peaks is renowned for its expansive terrain. Even when the runs have been sculpted in a less conventional fashion. Sunpeaksresort.com

Red Mountain Resort blends Free-spirited Festivals and Championship Challenges: When a powder haven is celebrated as Western Canada’s original ski resort, there’s little wonder why skiers and boarders flock to its slopes for a mix of play and hard-edged competition. Add some 890 metres (3,000 feet) of incredible vertical, 1,685 skiable acres, abundant snow and big lines (without the big line-ups) and you’ve got the makings for a definitive on-slope adventure - Red Mountain Resort-style.

Situated in the west Kootenay region of southeastern BC, just five kilometres from Rossland (noted as Canada’s “Alpine City”), Red Mountain Resort draws the daredevils and fun-seekers with equal fervour. First, the daredevils: Returning for its eighth season, the Canadian Open Freeskiing Championship will boast some of the world’s best competing for domination of the steeps, deeps, chutes and cliffs on rugged Mt. Roberts. Last season, Red’s own Dane Tudor blew the competition away and claimed the title in the Men’s Open category.

This year, titles are open to new challengers, with the Junior event slated for January 8 – 10 and the Senior Open, January 14 – 18, 2009. Presented by Ledcor, this is one gathering that promises plenty of thrills, serious competition and a great after-party.

Then, for the fun-seekers: Red’s Kokanee Spring Fest, March 14 – 29, is a two-week tutorial on all things Spring Break. Think: boarder and skier-cross competitions, kid’s events, retro ski days, women’s camps and more. Indeed, it’s back-to-back family fun tossed in with a few one-piece fluorescent suits (and straight skis). So, c’mon. Buckle those bindings and make your way to the resort that started it all. Redresort.com; Canadianfreeskiing.com

Panorama offers up Powder-Packed Getaways for the Gals: If bonding with your best gal pals is less about fuzzy bathrobes and more about taking on the steep and deep, pack your boots and boards and head for Panorama Mountain Village. Here in the Kootenay Rockies, you’ll find plenty of on-slope programs geared specifically for the gals, not to mention a plethora of off-slope play.

This season, the 17th annual Chicks on Sticks and Babes on Boards promises instruction from the Bilodeau School of Skiing and Snowboarding – top-notch tutelage sure to set you on the right track. Beginning January 8 and running five consecutive Thursday afternoons, these outings are all about carving tracks and connecting with your girls, with a dash of après ski thrown in the mix.

For a bit of pampering, ladies can also indulge in a luxurious Spa Night at the resort, a gathering devoted entirely to manis, pedis and even a chick flick, or two. Pass the popcorn. Looking to take the adventure to higher ground? Hook up with rk heliski for three memorable days and nights...and a bit of whirlybird action. Your gal’s getaway begins with an intro to heli skiing at Panorama with the guides from Bilodeau, followed by a flight to Firlands Ranch, overnights amid a private lodge and three descents down the Purcell Mountain Range.

All menus, return helicopter transport and even an interactive cooking class with Chef Roderick Strike will ensure you hit the heights, both on and off the fat powder skis. Go girl, go. Panoramaresort.com; Heliskiingforwomen.com

At Silver Star Mountain Resort, sights are best seen Cross Country: In BC’s Thompson Okanagan, powder-packed vistas and plenty of cool terrain make for a memorable season on the snow. And who better to lead the way than the team at Cross Country Ski Camps, a Silver Star Mountain Resort institution recognized for setting nordic skiers on the right track for over 21 years. The goal? To elevate one’s ability by blending the latest in teaching techniques (classic or skate) with some of the country’s finest topography.

After all, Sovereign Lake and Silver Star are home to the trails that will welcome competitors during the 2011 World Masters Cup. Set to hit the tracked trails November 29 – December 7, Silver Star’s camps will bring on board a mix of fresh tutors blended with a few seasoned favourites during adventures which include Weekend Warrior, a two-day outing that features 2.5 hours of instruction each day, video analysis and an opportunity to stretch your legs beyond the trails.

For those eager to take it up a notch, Weekend Warrior Plus adds an afternoon session on the track. Mad Max level? Go the Distance Faster, Higher, Stronger is a seven-day dedicated program which includes daily instruction, yoga, a stretching session, massage and a National Ski Dinner and Auction. (Go the Distance Plus adds, brace yourself, even more with afternoon sessions on the skis).

There’s even incentive to gather the gals for Chicks on Sticks – your pick of any of the programs above, coached by women, for women. All packages feature full programs, on-snow instruction, meals to fuel the fire and plenty of one-on-one time with your coaches. So suit up. It’s time to hit the track. Xccamps.ca

It’s a New Day (Lodge) at Cypress Mountain: If settling in to savour a steaming mug of hot chocolate after one final run, or pulling up a chair for an afternoon of après indulgement, complete with a view of the slopes, sounds like your kind of ski day, then perhaps it’s time to re-discover Cypress Mountain.

Situated just 30 minutes from Vancouver’s bustling hub, this North Shore gem promises to open the doors to another season this winter in more ways than one. Cypress Creek Lodge, a newly constructed 48,000-square-foot timber frame day lodge nestled between the Eagle Express and the new Lions Express quad, will house it all for skiers and boarders in the heart of the mountain.

Featuring a large main floor family restaurant, space for corporate convening and a roomy bar and grill overlooking Cypress’s Super Pipe, some might be hard pressed to leave their cosy corner, and that frothy hot chocolate, for yet another run.

That is until the temptation to take on the same slopes that will host the Freestyle Skiing and Snowboarding events for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games takes hold. Indeed, Cypress has been luring adventurists for years, thanks to a host of on-mountain “mosts” - including vertical drop, varied terrain and lifts on the highest skiing and riding peak of Vancouver’s legendary North Shore Mountains.

And should your pursuits be less vertically inclined, Cypress caters to cross country fans with over 19 kilometres of groomed ski tracks (seven lit for night skiing) and an ample network snowshoeing trails. That is if you can fight the temptation to pull up a chair to sip and savour…and take in the view. Cypressmountain.com

New Air Service = More Play Time on BC's Powder-Packed Slopes: Getting to the snow just got a whole lot easier, thanks to new direct air service between Salt Lake City and the Canadian Rockies International Airport in Cranbrook, BC.

On December 17, Delta Airlines will ready the runway for its first direct flight to the Kootenay Rockies destination - and that means easier access to BC's bountiful snow at family-favourites Fernie Alpine Resort, Kimberley Alpine Resort and Fairmont Hot Springs. An added bonus? With Fairmont and Fernie just a 60 minute jaunt away and Kimberley even closer at a mere 20 minutes from the Cranbrook airport, one can fly the friendly skies and buckle the bindings all in one day. And that's just the beginning. For the ultimate road trip, hit the Powder Highway, a scenic circle tour that links some of BC's best alpine resorts, and the ideal route for discovering even more Kootenay Rockies gems.

Whitewater Ski Resort, Red Mountain Resort, Panorama Mountain Village, Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, Revelstoke Mountain Resort, and of course Fernie, Fairmont and Kimberley - along with over 50 backcountry operators offering snow-cat skiing, heli skiing, backcountry touring and nordic adventures - can all be found along the Powder Highway.

Add in fun activities like dog sledding, snowshoeing and igloo dinners, and you'll understand why the Powder Highway is travelled by devotees the world over. And why not? With the world's highest concentration of powder possibilities like these all wrapped up in one great destination, you're no more than a flight, a shuttle and a shush away. Kootenayrockies.com; Powderhighway.com; Skifernie.com; Skikimberley.com

Big White Brings on Big Family Fun in BC: With a host of excursions and shin-digs geared for all ages, Big White Mountain Resort beckons Mom, Dad and even the smallest skier to its family-friendly slopes. Indeed, with the resort’s abundant lineup of outdoor play, Big White has carved its niche as a kiddie haven, with plenty to keep the folks equally amused.

Here’s a snapshot: Mom and Me and Dad and Me offer a cool way for the young ones to carve their first tracks. With either parent at their side, these two-hour, semi-private lessons beginning December 7 (Sundays only) supply Mom and Dad with some helpful tips, while utilizing games and fun activities as part of the instruction. Free Ride Parents allows the folks to tag along with their speed-loving young ‘uns – and mingle with like-minded parents – accompanied by a pro. Available January and March, only one challenge will be remain: try to keep up.

For entertainment off the slopes, there’re plenty of distractions to tempt at the Happy Valley Day Lodge. Wii Nights, Big White Idol, roaring bonfires complete with steaming hot chocolate at the Happy Valley Tube Park and even a Carnival Night capped off with fireworks will gather the gang together for a bit of family folic. And let’s not forget our tiniest tykes, sure to be well taken care of, thanks to a newly expanded daycare centre, now doubled in size, allowing for greater access and improved programs. Big, small…and everyone in between. It’s one big family adventure. Bigwhite.com

Have a Hankering to Heli-ski? Head to Northern BC: With a region that encompasses more than half the land mass in Canada’s westernmost province, and showcases some pretty gnarly mountain terrain in the process, Northern British Columbia is a heli skier’s powder dream. Don’t know where to start? Bring on the grit…we’ll point the way.

Follow the signs to Last Frontier Heliskiing; whether it’s a first venture or an annual pilgrimage to Northern BC, Last Frontier Heliskiing prides itself on offering flexible (and fabulous) adventure. Based from two Northern BC locations - Bell 2 Lodge, on the remote Stewart-Cassiar Highway and The Ripley Creek Inn in Stewart – Last Frontier brings on the powder with three to seven day all-inclusive tours.

Still have a taste for the steep and deep? Make your way to Skeena Heliskiing, just north of Smithers, and learn first-hand that size does matter. Skeena Heliskiing supplies the adrenalin with the use of either a B2 or Bell 407 helicopter, selected for their exceptional lift and smaller size, guaranteeing a personalized adventure on the horizon. With a ratio of five skiers to one guide (maximum), it's all about a little one-on-one with the mountain, Skeena-style. No matter your choice, one thing is certain: For an exhilarating heli-ski excursion, head to Northern BC. And take to the sky. Lastfrontierheli.com; Skeenaheliskiing.com.