Incredible powder snow, unspoilt nature, friendly locals... Canada is a true winter wonderland and it's every skier's dream to go skiing in Canada at least once during their lifetime. Why not make it this year? Ski holidays in Canada are easier than you might think, thanks to direct flights and friendly exchange rates. Here are 5 reasons you should book your ski holiday in Canada this year.
Canada sounds far, but how often have you slogged it out for 8+ hours in the train to get to the Alps? Direct flights to skiing hubs like the Vancouver and Calgary international airports will get you within easy reach of some of the best ski areas that the Great White North has to offer. Once you're there, everything will be in Canadian dollars, which are worth just 0.61 pound sterling at the time of writing. So it's not even like spending real money, amirite?
The single most important part of a ski holiday is the snow, and you can be assured of some of the world's best powder in Canada's Rocky Mountains. Most ski resorts in Western Canada get upwards of 10 metres of powder snow every year. Since there's so much of the white stuff, many of the pistes are secured against avalanches but left ungroomed, so on certain days you're literally floating through powder on your skis - amazing! The ski areas in Canada might not boast the endless kilometres of pistes that you can find in the linked ski areas of the Alps, but with so much freedom it doesn't matter - you'll never get bored even if you do the same run all day.
Most ski resorts in Canada still lie blessedly off the beaten track, so you won't encounter hour-long queues and completely full mountain restaurants like you would in the Alps (just stay away from Whistler at Christmas). Even Sun Peaks, the second-biggest ski resort in Canada, barely gets crowds most days. We know, because we spent a whole day there riding powder on a lift that we had all to ourselves!
If you're tired of being screamed at to BEND ZE KNEES! then Canada just might be the perfect destination for you. Everybody here speaks English! From the lifties to the restaurant staff to the ski rental shop to the ski instructors, everyone will just... understand you. It just makes the ski holiday that much easier.
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The Rocky Mountains rival the Alps for stunning-ness, and when you're not busy taking in the views from the comfort of the chairlift, you'd better be doing some day trips within the national park to get the most out of your Canadian holiday. Age-old glaciers, towering summits, sparkling blue glacial lakes and of course a plethora of exotic wildlife await! Plus, Canada is chock-full of fun activities for days when your thighs can't take any more skiing. Rent a fatbike and explore the forest, go ice climbing in the Maligne Canyon or visit an ice rink and cheer on the local team - maybe you can even catch a Vancouver Canucks or Edmonton Oilers game! It's completely feasible to combine your ski holiday with a city trip to Vancouver or Calgary and spend some time exploring the local culture and nightlife.
Born and raised in the ski paradise of Vancouver, Canada, I learned to ski before I can remember, balancing precariously on my parents’ skis as they sailed down the hill. I started snowboarding in my teens and am now delighted to be exploring everything Europe’s ski scene has to offer!
