Lake Louise / Banff Skiing & Snowboarding

For Snowboarding there are 4 areas which to choose from in the Lake Louise, Sunshine Village, Norquay, Lake Louise and the new, Kicking Horse Resort. The new Kicking Horse resort is an hour's drive from Lake Louise just over the British Columbia border in Golden, BC. This is not your typical resort town like Whistler or Aspen however Kicking Horse Resort does offer some unbelievable snow and terrain. If you are looking to ride uninterrupted bowls, steeps and champagne powder this is a must. With a maximum height of 8033 ft it is Canada's second highest vertical drop with 4,133 feet. You can find heli-skiing conditions for the price of a lift pass, now that is impressive!

The Lake Louise ski area is straight across the valley from the Chateau Lake Louise has over 3000 vertical feet and with a total area of 4200 acres. The hill is divided into 3 areas Front Side/ South Face, Back Bowls, and the Larch Area an impressive playground. These back bowls have some great hiking and riding area. The variety of free riding is endless given the vast expanse of the back bowls. The front side favorites among the beginners and intermediates are Deer Run and Wiwaxy. The Larch Area, which is on the backside of the Mountain, includes some great tree riding. For Carvers most of the south facing blue and green runs are groomed daily. This is an impressive hill that requires a good week to find some treasured spots. If you're not a hiker you will soon get the itch when you realize what you are missing out on at Lake Louise.

Sunshine Village is also an impressive board haven. With 3200 acres of terrain, and 100% natural snow, Sunshine is a snowboarder's paradise. The hill has something for everyone for big turns to catching big air off the half-pipe, or going neck-and-neck with your buddies down the boarder cross course, Sunshine Village is a gold mine of activity.

For extreme boarders, Sunshine Village offers something unique "the Delerium Dive", SkiCanada Magazine's 2001 Best Freeride Terrain award winner. The Dive offers the ultimate boarder terrain with a vertical relief from peak to treeline of approx. 1575 feet and a vertical relief from peak to valley 1919 feet. The average incline of the main Delirium Dive bowl is 39 degrees, with a top section in excess of 40 degrees and some areas approaching 50 degrees. A few requirements must be met before hitting this run including a partner, helmet, avalanche transceiver, shovel, probe, and avalanche awareness.

Norquay's slopes and trails make for excellent riding. The area has carved a sensational halfpipe that is sure to be a hit with the experts. The park also features gap jumps, table tops, 1/4 pipes for all levels of riders. Lake Louise is constantly ranked number one by Ski Magazine readers for scenery, however the real beauty lies in the abundance of terrain and areas which to be explored.