Area ski resorts have much to offer
Over the past week at Sunshine Village, they’ve issued powder alert after powder alert, and they don’t do that at the Banff National Park resort unless the snow is seriously falling. Over the past seven days, Mother Nature has blessed the good people at Sunshine with 43 cm of fresh snow, bringing the season total to 438 cm. The snow alone is worth celebrating, but this week, they’ve got more on their party plates at Sunshine, as well. On Thursday, they’ll be going big for Robbie Burns Day, while Friday features a packed schedule for Australia Day, and there are endof-day Borgeau Bonfire Bashes set for Saturday and Sunday in the base area. www.skibanff.com @SunshineVillage
LAKE LOUISE
There’s only a couple days left for guests to get out to Lake Louise and check out one of the most unique events on the annual mountain calendar. The Ice Magic Festival only goes until Jan. 28 and is highlighted by the Ice Carving Competition at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, where world-class carvers create mind-blowing works of art from 300 lb. blocks of ice. There’s lots of snow to go along with all that ice, too, as the ski resort saw 25 cm of new snow fall on its sweet slopes in the past week and has received 391 cm so far this season. www.skilouise.com @SkiLouise
NAKISKA
Drop what you’re doing and circle Jan. 27 on your calendar — or put it in your phone or something if you don’t have a calendar because it’s 2018. On Jan. 27, Nakiska is celebrating Alpine Canada’s National Ski Day by offering 50 per cent off on lift-tickets. It’s a great deal, but anyone looking to take advantage should act fast, as there are a limited number of the discounted lift-tickets available and they must be purchased in advance through Alpine Canada’s website. There hasn’t been much new snow in the past week at Nakiska, but the Kananaskis resort still has its snow-making operation going at full-blast and has had 194 cm of the fluffy white stuff fall on the mountain this year. www.skinakiska.com @SkiNakiska
NORQUAY
The clock is ticking down until Norquay’s next Toonie Day, which means skiers and snowboarders should start getting ready to take advantage of one of the very best deals they’re likely to find anywhere in the Rockies this season. On Feb. 7, the folks at the Banff resort will be selling lift-tickets for only $2 — although a donation to charity is encouraged — in an effort to make the sport they love accessible to anyone and everyone. With temperatures sitting at just-about perfect for a day ripping down the mountain, Norquay got hit with 16 cm of fresh powder in the past week and the season total now sits at 237 cm. www.banffnorquay.com @MtNorquay
COP
Just because the kids aren’t in school, that doesn’t mean that they need to stop learning. This winter, WinSport is offering a wide range of camps for kids when the school schedule delivers up a PD Day. The Calgary hill provides full-day lessons for everything from kids who have never skied before to kids looking to refine their alreadyimpressive skills. www.winsport.ca
MARMOT BASIN
Let’s be honest, the end of January can be a pretty slow time around the big city. A couple hours north in Jasper, though, they’re in the middle of Jasper in January, one of the busiest times of the year in the mountain town. The twoweek festival showcases the very best that Jasper has to offer, and until Jan. 28, guests will have the chance to take in all the best art, food and outdoor adventure that one of the country’s coolest mountain towns has at its disposal. At Marmot Basin, meanwhile, a fresh 17 cm of powder this past week has brought the season snow total all the way up to 248 cm. www.skimarmot.com @MarmotBasin
KICKING HORSE
While a lot of resorts around Western Canada have gotten solid snowfall in the last week, they’ve apparently been living through a no-joke blizzard out at Kicking Horse. The resort’s been absolutely blasted by 70 cm of that sweet and soft powder over the past seven days, and it’s brought the season total to an awesome 638 cm. That’s understandably got everyone excited about hosting the only stop in North America for the world’s best big mountain ski tour. The event goes Feb. 3-9, and right now, conditions are shaping up nicely to guarantee some powder-heavy racing. www.kickinghorseresort.com @KickingHorseMTN