Wild West run not for the faint of heart
SUNSHINE VILLAGE
The Wild West is finally open. Located just off the Goat's Eye Express, Sunshine Village's infamous extreme freeride zone has been given the thumbs up for the season and is ready to welcome experienced skiers and riders. Like Delirium Dive, the Wild West section requires that skiers and snowboarders ride with a friend and have avalanche gear with them (a beacon, probe, shovel and pack). With ton of snow, though, some of the best lines you'll find anywhere in the Rockies are now ready to be explored at Sunshine.
Like every other resort, we strongly suggest that anyone going to Sunshine Village takes some time to review its COVID-19 protocols before they head to the mountain.
Face coverings are required in all lineups and indoors and social distancing is a must.
Current conditions absolutely make a day at Sunshine worth the trip, though. With an incredible 58 centimetres of fresh powder falling in the past week, the season total now sits at 699 cm. @Sunshinevillage
COP
The country's best curlers are competing at Winsport right now without fans, but for those of us who aren't in the Scotties Tournament of Hearts bubble, there's still a whole ski and snowboard hill to enjoy.
Two-hour lift tickets are now available for anyone who needs to get out of the house and get some exercise, with tickets going for $32 each for all age categories.
They must be booked in advance and online.
Just like everywhere else, it's important for anyone planning on spending the day at Winsport that they take some time to review the rules and regulations that have been put in place to help prevent the spread of COVID -19. There are no spectators allowed on the hill, for example, and Winsport is not currently able to offer equipment rentals.
There are also mandatory protocols regarding face coverings, the storage of bags — leave them in your vehicle — and physical distancing. Passholders need to book a time online with Winsport's reservation system, too. winsport.ca
@Winsportcanada
NORQUAY
Now that the brutal polar vortex that hit the region a couple weeks ago has finally moved on, it's like the snow gods decided to reward skiers and snowboarders who patiently waited out the horrible temperatures. At Norquay, they delivered the fluffy white stuff. In fact, the last seven days saw 7 cm of fresh snow fall on the Banff mountain, and the season total now sits at 304 cm.
It's worth remembering that all lift tickets need to be purchased in advance and online. They're not selling lift tickets on site. And while you're doing that, do everyone a favour and read Norquay's robust safety procedures designed to prevent the spread of COVID -19. It will help keep you and everyone else at the mountain safe.
The tubing park is open, too, but families planning on spending time ripping down Norquay's long lanes need to book their tickets online. banffnorquay.com
@Mtnorquay
MARMOT BASIN
Calgarians likely aren't making the trip to Jasper for a single day, if we're being realistic. But with smaller crowds than you get at most resorts, Marmot Basin is absolutely a destination for multiday trips. And for anyone planning on taking a mini-vacation to Jasper for a few days on the slopes, we'd recommend going mid-week.
Not only does that guarantee small crowds and plenty of parking — which tends to be the only thing that restricts Marmot Basin in terms of capacity — but you can also save money on mid-week lift tickets when you book online through Marmot's new dynamic ticket pricing system.
Like everywhere else in the province, Marmot and the rest of Jasper National Park have had warmer temperatures descend on the region in the past week. Along with those temperatures came more snow. How much? Well, the last seven days saw 11 cm fall on Marmot Basin, and that brought the season total to 356 cm. skimarmot.com
@Marmotbasin
CASTLE MOUNTAIN
Like so many resorts in Alberta, Castle Mountain has been encouraging skiers and snowboarders to try to come out mid-week this season. The crowds are smaller and that helps everyone keep their distance and help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Castle is even incentivizing mid-week stays by offering big discounts on lift tickets — up to 20 per cent — when guests book in advance and online, which makes sense given that Castle has instituted a daily cap on ticket sales to help limit crowds and keep the pandemic in check. While you're booking your ticket on the resort's website, review the COVID-19 protocols.
Castle Mountain saw an amazing 59 cm of new snow fall in the past week and the season total now sits at 618 cm.
ACROSS THE B.C. BORDER
The B.C. government is discouraging non-essential travel across the B.c.-alberta border.
Panorama: Open
Kicking Horse: Open
Fernie: Open
Kimberley: Open
Big White: Open
Revelstoke: Open
Sun Peaks: Open
Silver Star: Open
Red Mountain: Open
Whistler-blackcomb: Open