Ski Tours in Canada 2010

Ski Holidays Canada have just released details on two of their ski tours which they'll be offering for winter 2010. These smaller personalised ski tours will take you away for the hustle and bustle of larger ski resorts to smaller "secret" ski resorts.

These ski tours can be adjusted for specific ability levels.

Please contact Ski Holidays Canada for more information or to book.

Their FREEPHONE number from the U.K. is 0800-567-SKI2

Their FREEPHONE number within North America is 1-888-747-6259

They are on MOUNTAIN STANDARD TIME (GMT-7 hours)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ski Tour #1: Soft Snow Adventure

Duration: 11 nights 10 days of skiing

Supplier Ski Tour Overview:

This adventure will take you some of Canada’s best-kept secrets. This is about Big Snow, Small Crowds and Cool Towns.

We visit Kimberley, White Water the town of Nelson, Red Mountain and the town of Rossland. These ski resorts average 15 to 40 feet of snow a year. These ski resorts are away from the hustle and bustle of the large ski resorts short line are all we see.

We recommend this ski tour to start with a pick up from the Canadian Rockies International Airport (formally known as Cranbrook airport) - this airport is only 45 min to Kimberley Alpine Resort.

Daily flights to the Canadian Rockies International Airport are available from Vancouver or Calgary.

The ski adventure would start with a Saturday arrival to the Canadian Rockies International Airport and end with a Wednesday departure from the Canadian Rockies International Airport. We suggest either flying Air Canada or British Airways to the hub city of either Vancouver or Calgary. From there, Air Canada will take you to Canadian Rockies International Airport which is only 45min to Kimberley Alpine Resort. This is were the ski adventure starts.

For your return, Air Canada will take you back to the hub city of Vancouver or Calgary via the Canadian Rockies International Airport. Rossland is only 3.5 hours to the airport.

Ski Tour Summary:

- 11 nights 9 days skiing

- 3 nights Kimberley Alpine Resort 3 days skiing

- 3 nights in Nelson - 2 days skiing White Water

- 5 nights in Rossland- 4 days skiing Red Mountain Resort

Ski Tour Itinerary:

Saturday (Day 1): Fly UK to Calgary or Vancouver, then on to Canadian Rockies International Airport were the experience ski guides will there to meet you. Kimberly Alpine Resort is only 45 minutes away. After check in your experienced ski guide/host will meet you in the Kelsey Restaurant pub.

Sunday to Tuesday (Day 2 to Day 4): For the next 3 day skiing Kimberley Alpine Resort with your experienced ski guide, on Day 4 you will leave the resort around 2 pm and travel to Nelson (travel time 3 hours).

Tuesday to Thursday (Day4 to Day 6): You will check into the historic Hume Hotel. After check in you will meet in Mike’s place pub then off for dinner. The next 2 days of skiing is at White Water your experienced ski guide/host will meet you for breakfast then drive to White Water about 20 minutes away. One of these days will be an off day. If you would like to ski on your "day-off" there will be an extra cost.

Friday (Day 7): Early morning move to Red Mountain about 1 hour away at the end of the day stop at one of our favorite place for a beverage. Then check into the Prestige Hotel in Rossland then off to the historic Steam shovel pub.

Saturday to Wednesday (Day 8 to 12): The next 4 days are skied at Red Mountain your guide will meet you after breakfast and take you to Red Mountain. Red is about 10 minutes away, from the hotel.

Day 12: You will be taken you to the Canadian Rockies International Airport. There are 2 or 3 flights daily to Calgary and Vancouver. Recommended as the drive to Calgary is about 10 hours.

This ski tour includes the following:

- Ground transportation

- Accommodations in 31/2 to 4 star hotels

- Breakfasts

- Lift tickets

- Ski Guide/host

- Group Photo

Available Dates:

- Jan 16th to Jan 27th 2010

- Feb 6th to 17th 2010

- March 13th – 21st 2010

Rate:

$3199.00 + 5% GST per person (Total: CDN$3,359 / Approx £1,775*)

*Exchange rate correct at time of publication. Visit XE.com for up-to-date exchange rates.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ski Tour #2: Ski and Wine Adventure

Duration: 11 nights / 12 days

Supplier Ski Tour Overview:

On this 12 day, 11 night tour, we are going to ski Sun Peaks and Apex Mountain Resorts, both located in beautiful British Columbia. It includes 6 nights with 5 days skiing at Sun Peaks and 5 nights with 4 days skiing at Apex Mountain.

Sun Peaks is the true meaning of ski-in and ski-out. It has something for everyone, from its 5 mile beginner run to the steeps of the Berfield chair, all contained in a warm and friendly mountain village setting. Apex Mountain Resort is one of Canada’s hidden gems with a great mix of terrain, lots of sun and lots of fresh dry snow.

Both resort have great “off piste” skiing within the resort area boundaries for the intermediate to advanced skier. The average area temperatures range from -4c to -10c (12 F to 25F). Sun Peaks and Apex Mountain both average 20 feet of snow a year - this is more snow than a 2 story house!

The ski tour would start with a Saturday arrival to Sun Peaks and end with a Wednesday departure from Apex Mountain Resort. We suggest you either fly Air Canada or British Airways to the hub city of either Vancouver or Calgary. From there, Air Canada will take you to Kamloops for the start of the adventure at Sun Peaks. For your return, Air Canada will take you back to the hub city of Vancouver or Calgary via Kelowna, a short 1.5 hour drive from the Apex Mountain.

Ski Tour Summary:

- 6 nights 5 days skiing Sun Peaks

- 1 day of wine tasting as we travel to Apex

- 5 nights 4 days skiing Apex Mountain Resort

Ski Tour Itinerary:

Saturday (Day 1): Fly UK to Calgary or Vancouver, then on to Kamloops and a 50 minute bus ride to Sun Peaks Resort. Check into Cahilty Lodge. After check in, your experienced ski guides will be in the lobby for anyone that would like an orientation walk around the village of Sun Peaks.

Sunday to Thursday (Day 2 to Day 6): For the next 5 days you can ski with your experience ski guide/host. Sunday after your day of skiing a reception is held with one of Canada’s most recognized athletes, Nancy Greene and her husband Al Raine.

Friday ( Day 7): Depart for Apex Mountain around 9am with stops at 2 vineyard along the way. We will stop in the town of Penticton for supplies like beer/wine and munchies. We will continue the short drive to the resort and check into Apex Mountain Inn and Spa.

Saturday to Tuesday (Day 8 to Day 11): For the next 4 days ski with professional, experienced guides.

Tuesday evening your rap up dinner is in the gun barrel saloon.

Wednesday (Day 12): Check out of the hotel and off to Kelowna for the flight back to the UK.

Other Winter Activities:

There are many other great activities besides skiing. Below are activities that are not included in the itinerary, some of these activities will have extra cost involved.

- Dog sleighing (Sun Peaks only)

- Horse sleigh rides

- Canadian Junior Hockey Games (Sun Peaks only)

- Snowmobile tours

- Snow tubing

- Mountain Fondue dinner followed with a torch light ski down (Sun Peaks only)

- Ice skating thought the forest on a well maintained 1 km long loop with a large bone fire going as well. (apex only)

- Day of Wine tours and local brewery tour. We will need a minimum of 10 people. (Apex only)

- Snow Cat skiing: Is like helicopter skiing except you are taken by grooming machine on roads that are used in the summer by logging trucks. These grooming machines can seat up to 11 people.

This ski tour includes the following:

- Ground transportation

- Accommodations in 31/2 to 4 star hotels

- Breakfasts

- Lift tickets

- Ski Guide/host

- Group Photo

Available Dates:

- Jan 16th to Jan 27th 2010

- Feb 6th to 17th 2010

- March 13th – 21st 2010

Rate:

$3299.00 + 5% GST per person (Total: CDN$3,463.95 / Approx £1,831*)

*Exchange rate correct at time of publication. Visit XE.com for up-to-date exchange rates.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Space is limited on these above ski tours so Contact Ski Holidays Canada to book before they fill up!

Ski Holidays in Canada

rocky-peak Ski Holidays have just completed their U.K. ski site: SkiHolidaysCanada.co.uk. This site has all the details you need to help plan your perfect ski holiday in the magnificent Canadian Rockies and Western Canada.

Early bird ski package deals are the best they have ever been for the upcoming 2009/2010 winter ski season. Free ski days are available at almost all the ski resorts in Canada when you purchase a ski lift pass in advance. Minimum days do apply and lift passes must be purchased in advance as part of a ski package. Other ski deals for 2009-2010 winter season include kids ski free. This can save a family hundreds, even thousands of dollars.

Ski Package Specials include ski accommodation in Canada, Ski Lift Passes, Ski Snowboard Rentals, Ski Snowboard Tuition as well as other ski holiday package extras.

Ski resorts in Canada covered include Banff Norquay, Fernie, Jasper Marmot Basin, Kicking Horse, Kimberley, Lake Louise, Nakiska, Panorama, Sunshine Village and Whistler Blackcomb.

Make sure you check out this updated ski site!

Ski Holiday Planning in Canada

Now that the ski resorts in Western Canada are closed, and most are now preparing for their mountain bike season, we thought we would provide a few tips for getting the best ski deals for 2009-2010.

The ski resorts are bracing themselves for a tough winter season and are offering wholesalers such as rocky-peak Ski Holidays excellent early-bird lift pass rates and promotions such as "kids ski free". With deposits of just 10% required for most ski packages, it is well worth getting your ski holiday in Canada booked early.

Jasper Marmot Basin this year are offering International guests travelling with rocky-peak Ski Holidays FREE ski shuttles to the ski hill when the lift passes are pre-booked as well as kids ski and rent free.

It is not just the ski resorts who are offering their best ever rates. Ski rental shops are also offering promotions such as "kids rent free" as well as price freezes and ski package discounts.

There are also great early-bird accommodation deals with the hotel and property owners wanting to secure bookings early.

There will no doubt be some last minute deals, but booking in advance will certainly save you a money!

Lake Louise Events - April 2009

Check out Lake Louise Ski Resort's exciting end-of-season events:

April 8, 2009 - April 12, 2009
Smith Optics Big Mountain Challenge

Showcasing the epic Powder Bowls for the sixth time, the Senior Big Mountain Challenge is a freeski event that lets competitors strut their stuff on the extreme terrain at Lake Louise.

Competitors from all across North America are expected to participate in the multi-day freeskiing event. Choice of line, fluidity, technique, control and aggressiveness are all factors taken into consideration by our judges. Get ready to witness some of Canada's premiere freeskiing athletes throw down huge lines that will be sure to impress and inspire. Registration began today from 9am to 4pm in the Sitzmark Lounge.


April 10, 2009 - April 13, 2009
Easter Bunny Visits the Resort!

Hop on your skis and snowboards, fuel up on some Easter eggs and try to catch the Easter Bunny on the slopes! Also, don't miss the Wilderness Adventure Park- Easter Egg Hunt on Sunday April 12th @ 11am for children 12 and under.

April 18 & April 19, 2009
The Kellyhollahans

It’s all about live music this spring at The Lake! Come and check out The Kellyhoolahans this Saturday and Sunday and get ready to boogie! From Stompin' Tom and Johnny Cash to Bob Marley and the Ramones... The Kellyhoolahans have a song for everybody! Guaranteed to keep your toe tappin' and your rump shakin!! The entertainment will kick off in the base area from 2:30pm each day, running through until 4:30pm.

April 25, 2009 - April 26, 2009
VW Lake Louise Spring Episode

Join us at The Lake Louise Ski Area as we farewell the 2008/ 2009 winter season. With tons of activities happening in the base area and on mountain, there will be something to entertain everyone! Beer gardens, live music, partner demos, Kokanee Glacier girls, just to name a few!

On mountain Saturday, April 25 we will be holding the Shop Showdown ‘Slopestyle’, which will feature some of the top skiers/ snowboarders in the industry, and the Fat Tire Mountain Bike Race. We will also be hosting a FREE concert by GOB! GOB is a platinum selling Canadian pop-punk quartet hailing from Vancouver, BC. They have been on the scene since 1996 and have put four albums out to the market, the last one being the gold-selling "The World According to GOB". They have toured with Sum 41 and spent 3 years on the Warped Tour circuit.

Sunday, April 26 will see the Shop Showdown ‘Big Air’ take place, along with another FREE concert, this time by The Dudes. The Dudes formed in 1996, using their energetic live sound to grasp the support of Calgarians, the town that they call home. Today, they are winning over the hearts of all Canadians. Influenced by artists like The Flaming Lips and Weezer, The Dudes have played at festivals as large as The Virgin Fest in Calgary and the JunoFest in Vancouver. Their newest release is scheduled for May 2009. So get down to The Lake and check out The Dudes’ latest and greatest!

There are plenty of other activities happening throughout the two day Spring Episode event. So book the weekend off from work, get your friends and family together and head out to The Lake Louise Ski Area, for good times and great spring skiing!

Visit www.skilouise.com for more information and a complete schedule of events.

April 29, 2009
Summit Cup

Come on down to The Lake Louise Ski Area and get involved in this exciting Dual Slalom Race, which will take place on the Summit’s Sunset Flats. Running between 12.30 and 2.30pm, teams of four will battle it out, seeing who can snare the Summit Cup title! For further information on the event or to find out how you can get involved, contact the Lake Louise Ski School at skischool@skilouise.com or on 403 522 1333.

With so much happening in the month of April there are plenty of reasons to head out to The Lake Louise Ski Area!

Source: Lake Louise Ski Area

Canada Ski Resort Information

Introducing the new look Canada-Ski.com website!  Canada-Ski continues to provide up-to-date ski information on the main, and most popular Ski Resorts in Canada.  The following Canada Ski Areas in Western Canada are featured:

• Banff Norquay Ski Resort


• Sunshine Village Banff Ski Resort


• Lake Louise Mountain Ski Resort


• Kicking Horse Mountain Ski Resort


• Jasper Marmot Basin Ski Resort


• Fernie Alpine Ski Resort


• Kimberley Alpine Ski Resort


• Whistler Blackcomb Ski Resort


• Panorama Mountain Ski Resort


• Nakiska Kananaskis Ski Resort

In addition to the above Canada-Ski.com also makes it easier to view the live Mountain Ski Cameras for each ski resort, view Snow Reports as well as provides Canada Ski Resources which include useful links to external sites.

We hope you like the new look Canada-Ski website and any comments or suggestions please post them here.

Thank you for reading the Canada Ski Blog!

Perfect Ski Conditions!

Now the snow storm has passed through, all that is left is PERFECT SKI CONDITIONS at the ski resorts in Western Canada.

The above shots were taken from the Sunshine Village Live Webcam at 9:15am today (THU FEB 26).  What are you waiting for?!!

Kicking Horse Ski Accommodation Special

rocky-peak Ski Holidays has a sale on at the Vagabond Lodge at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort for March and April 2009. April 12 2009 is the final day of operation for Kicking Horse. 

• stay 5 nights, pay for 4


• stay 6 nights, pay for 5


• stay 7 nights, pay for 6


• stay 10 nights, pay for 8

The above ski specials only apply if space is available based on double occupancy.  Breakfast and lunch is included with your stay. Lunch is not included on check-in or check-out days.

In addition to the above rocky-peak Ski Holidays can also help you with your lift passes (save a minimum of 10%) and with your transfers to get to Kicking Horse Mountain Resort.

Alternatively, if you are staying in Banff, give the Kicking Horse Powder Express a try and experience Kicking Horse in a day!