J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by Trav

Hey James,

Thanks for the response, we actually had to ditch the whole Canada thing because a friend who decided to come had an old drink driving which immigration just couldn't get past. We went through the whole process which took months and they charged him a couple of hundred in precessing fees but they still wouldn't let him in until at least five years had past since it happened. Seems a bit crazy and from what i could tell Canada is the only country that is that strict on it. But they are your laws and i'm not gonna sit here and bag them.

So now we are off to the good ol' US of A, it's actually worked out pretty well, we've already found furnished accomodation over the net. Our dollar is killing it against the green back as well so this is bringing costs down a bit.

Gear is way cheaper in the states, and although i'm bringing mine with me, i have brought it all over the net and ebay. I've paid 100USD on postage for a board and still got it half off our prices.

I way actually gonna move to Alberta for a while because i work in oil and gas, but when the GFC hit the jobs dried up a bit and a transfer wasn't really on the cards anymore. I work for what you'd know as Colt WorleyParsons if you've heard of them. They have big offices in both edmonton and calgary.

Out of curiosity, I was gonna try get into the Calgary office and still might in a year or so because of it proximity to Banff and the rockies, but what is edmonton like? my research suggests it is colder, flatter and further away from the hills than is really practicle for day trips? plus Calgary has the olympic park and nakiska pretty close.

cheers

Trav

Buy it there, no question. Don't worry about the solo thing, it's easy to meet people traveling. Most people are in the same boat. It's gonna be sweeet!

On the topic, i am coming to Banff for 09/10 with two friends for the season. At the moment we are due to fly into canada on the fourth of November. We based this on expecting the season to start on the fifteenth. The last post has got me worried. Will we be too late to find a seasonal let in Banff? Should this be fine or should we be looking at getting in earlier? if so, when?

Thanks Pablo, that looks cool.

So we think we might get a car now. Is parking free at louise, norquay and sunshine?

Their websites talk a lot about VIP parking but not about regular?

cheers

hey are you a local? we'll have to go ridin and get some beers if you are?

Hey what is the go with free shuttle buses from at these places?

Is it true you get free buses to sunshine, louise and norquay from banff on a big3 pass?

I hear the same to revelstoke witha a season there?

what about kh?

Is this true?

Hey pablo escobar (if thats your real name),

when is the season normally scheduled to start in Banff? i know this season it was about the 15 of november but remember seeing that this could be as early as about the 5th (ie. the first weekend about a week in to Nov.)

what about revelstoke?

planning on booking a flight in the next couple of weeks as there are some really cheap ones at the moment, gonna try get in a full week before the planned opening but just don't know when that will be?

still don't know whether going to banff or revelstoke, thinking might do banff but go to revelstoke for a month in feb, might be a bit sketchy trying to get a cheap be for only one month in revelstoke in feb though

cheers

Trav

Thanks for the heads up on Fernie, did not realise that, so let me get this straight, fully owned by RCR = no kickers, LL, Sunshine and Norquay only partially owned so have kickers?

I don't really get it, i swear i've seen more injuries on rails. Actually now that i think about it i see the most injuries on green runs, they should get rid of them! But seriously wouldn't tree runs be the worst, not kickers.

I ride hotham here in Oz, on its day it's good, but that isn't all that often, we had a good run of days where it didn't get above freezing so the snow was actually pretty good last season. There are some good yet short steeps, but pow day are few and far between. It's funny to hear people say places like whistler are crowded, i know it can get lift lines but i hear the runs are pretty good, here it is crazy busy on the runs and on the lifts.

So speaking of crowds, any thoughts on Revelstoke crowds v big3 crowds?

Also, i hear banff is renowned for consistency? what about revelstoke, is it wetter like whistler?

Snowlerblades huh? you're joking right?

Thanks for the responses guys, that bit about Sunshine riding half as big as they say was what i was expecting.

Good point about lappin' the park, didn't think of that.

The point you made about KH being really good when its good but how it can turn into a icy mogul fest is my worry. Blacks don't often get groomed and with no park what am i to do if/when we have a dry spell and there is no fresh snow for two weeks.

+the seasons in banff are a fair bit longer compared to revvy and KH. I think lifts shut pretty early at Revvy too.

I'm a bit reluctant to throw Fernie into the mix because it is less central and a long way from KH and Revelstoke, But i hear it is quite steep has some good pow and a park, albeit a bit less 'extreem'.

Such a tough decision, and yet i ride bad snow most of the time on a 300 acre hill in oz all winter and love it, guess i just don't wanna regret where i go.

Thinkin Banff is still the best option and maybe just hit up revelstoke for a week, if only it had a park...