What makes the Canadian Rockies different than other ski areas? Read on as experts disclose secret stashes and top tips for skiing and riding the Rockies in Alberta. 
First up, instructors and in-the-know skiers and riders at the province’s six major mountain resorts disclose how you can best ski Alberta powder, which is different than snow you’ll find elsewhere.
The snow is carried in by the Pacific winds and then scraped by the Canadian Rockies that run through Alberta. So the distinguishing feature of Alberta dry powder is its lower moisture content. And because Alberta is pretty much landlocked, the snow gets extra fluffiness.
You go back to the basics if you’re skiing and concentrate on your core, says Mt. Norquay ski school manager Ollie Nagy. “Stay on top of your feet and don’t lean back in Alberta powder, and always remember to keep your core strong,” she says.
Mt. Norquay is just minutes from the mountain town of Banff and it’s a favorite ski area of locals. If you’re an intermediate or expert skier, try The North American chair that leads to ungroomed and expert-only terrain with awesome bumps and powder skiing.
Over on Mystic there are nice steep race-type pitches, if you are looking for fast skiing on a perfect groomed run.
Or try Giver Grandi, a cruiser with steep terrain. Here’s how to best ski or ride it, says Nagy: “Hold on the edge, don’t give up, you have to commit to the ski -- because if you have any doubts you’ll go out as you go down.”
that restrict ski area development and thus lessen lift lines, you’re experiencing part of the so-called Alberta Advantage. So wildlife is everywhere – expect elk to roam the mountain town of Banff and watch for big horn sheep wandering the access road to Mt. Norquay.
John Ross of Lake Louise Ski Area says if you want high elevation and back bowls, go up the Top of the World (a 6 passenger chair) and over to Summit (great for blue to expert skiers) and into the back bowls.
“The westerly wind comes in and blows snowfall right into the bowls there, so you can get one
and a half times the snow that’s reported,” says Ross. His hot tip: the higher you get, the better the snow.
“In all our lesson programs we teach people to ski and snowboard with a focus on skill development and technique,” says Laver. “But as they become better skiers our lessons are experiential. So we spend more time showing people around Sunshine, where there is natural rugged landscape to explore.”
For expert skiers there is great backcountry-style skiing that is patrolled but not groomed -- try Eagle’s East. It is a very treed area with many steep chutes that work best for experts. For families, there is a real gentle progression from run to run, and there is a run for everyone, says Filliter.
Other choices in Alberta include Nakiska, a family-friendly ski area that was one of the sites of the 1988 Winter Olympic just 50 minutes west of Calgary, and Castle Mountain, in the southwest corner of Alberta and offering remarkable stashes of powder.
First up, instructors and in-the-know skiers and riders at the province’s six major mountain resorts disclose how you can best ski Alberta powder, which is different than snow you’ll find elsewhere.
Powder Packs a Punch
Alberta powder is dry, light and fluffy. That means it’s not going to stick to you or whatever you’re sliding on, and you don’t have to exert yourself as much if you try and push it around.The snow is carried in by the Pacific winds and then scraped by the Canadian Rockies that run through Alberta. So the distinguishing feature of Alberta dry powder is its lower moisture content. And because Alberta is pretty much landlocked, the snow gets extra fluffiness.
The Trick to 'Alberta Dry
So how do you best ski or ride this type of powder?You go back to the basics if you’re skiing and concentrate on your core, says Mt. Norquay ski school manager Ollie Nagy. “Stay on top of your feet and don’t lean back in Alberta powder, and always remember to keep your core strong,” she says.
Mt. Norquay is just minutes from the mountain town of Banff and it’s a favorite ski area of locals. If you’re an intermediate or expert skier, try The North American chair that leads to ungroomed and expert-only terrain with awesome bumps and powder skiing.
Over on Mystic there are nice steep race-type pitches, if you are looking for fast skiing on a perfect groomed run.
Or try Giver Grandi, a cruiser with steep terrain. Here’s how to best ski or ride it, says Nagy: “Hold on the edge, don’t give up, you have to commit to the ski -- because if you have any doubts you’ll go out as you go down.”
It Gets Wilder
When the powder falls in protected national parks that restrict ski area development and thus lessen lift lines, you’re experiencing part of the so-called Alberta Advantage. So wildlife is everywhere – expect elk to roam the mountain town of Banff and watch for big horn sheep wandering the access road to Mt. Norquay.
Ride On
The best run for snowboarders at Norquay is the terrain park, which is also available for those who want to rip it at night. Families with riders and freestylers will find the park a one-stop shop.Family-Friendly Finds
For a family that wants to ski together, you can ski off of all the chair lifts, so if the parents want to stay on the groomed runs they can -- and the kids can zip in and out of the trees. Norquay also sells lift tickets by the hour, which is great for families who might need a break and ready access to the day lodge.Hide and Sneak at Lake Louise
Let’s get back to finding that perfect powder, only at another resort.John Ross of Lake Louise Ski Area says if you want high elevation and back bowls, go up the Top of the World (a 6 passenger chair) and over to Summit (great for blue to expert skiers) and into the back bowls.
Head Up to Paradise
Then up Paradise Bowl (where there are lots of moguls), so you get higher alpine with incredible scenery and the best snow on the mountain. With these three chairs, the loop takes about an hour. The higher elevation of 8700 vertical ft. at the top gives you the stunning scenery.“The westerly wind comes in and blows snowfall right into the bowls there, so you can get one
and a half times the snow that’s reported,” says Ross. His hot tip: the higher you get, the better the snow.
Different Sunshine Lessons
Stewart Laver, director of the ski and snow board school and rental shop at Sunshine Village, says the defining aspect of the Rockies in Alberta Rockies is their beauty. After all, Banff National Park is declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. And that shapes the lessons.“In all our lesson programs we teach people to ski and snowboard with a focus on skill development and technique,” says Laver. “But as they become better skiers our lessons are experiential. So we spend more time showing people around Sunshine, where there is natural rugged landscape to explore.”
Less Is More at Marmot
Erin Filliter of Marmot Basin in Jasper National Park says Marmot is a bit off the beaten path and “as unpretentious as it is pristine, so there are fewer crowds and you can often have the mountain to yourself.”For expert skiers there is great backcountry-style skiing that is patrolled but not groomed -- try Eagle’s East. It is a very treed area with many steep chutes that work best for experts. For families, there is a real gentle progression from run to run, and there is a run for everyone, says Filliter.
Other choices in Alberta include Nakiska, a family-friendly ski area that was one of the sites of the 1988 Winter Olympic just 50 minutes west of Calgary, and Castle Mountain, in the southwest corner of Alberta and offering remarkable stashes of powder.
