Where to go?

Hi there,

I'm from the Netherlands and my family and I usually ski in Europe every year (last week in Les Arcs). Now me and my brother had this plan to surprise our dad with a ski trip to Canada next year. My dad and I are very good skiers and my brother is a very good snowboarder and we would like to go for the "ultimate" skiing experience (1 m of powder, no waiting lines for lifts, off-piste possibilities, maybe heli-skiing).

So here are my questions:

1. When to go? Not high-season preferably, but when's the best time?

2. Where to go? So many possibilities, problems finding the right info on the internet.
We don't need fancy shops/clubbing/luxury, just good snow and a challenging mountain...and if it's possible easy access with a rental from a nearby airport.
Also we would prefer a simple appartment instead of an expensive hotel, have no clue if that's possible in Canada?
And in Europe we are used to a short or no walk at all to the lifts, but is that also possible in Canada?


Well, I'll probably think of many more questions later, but for now these are the most important ones.

I'm looking forward to some good tips!!

kind regards Dieke Hoftijzer

Dieke,

I need some more information about time you want to go, however based on what given I think I know what you are looking for.

You have two choice unitially.
The east which is Quebec Province

or

Western skiing

If you want no lines lots of snow and variable ski runs, may I suggest inner British Columbia. Why? Most people do not know but there is a weather pattern which is called 'chinook" which brings warm air from Japan via Pacific! All ski resorts in western BC get lots of heavy heavy wet snow! I even srayed for 4 days in Whistler with rain everyday! That they do not tell you! The Selkirks area is east of Rockies and gets softer ligther drier snow! Visit Bc tourist sites or ski sites! Big White has an excellent DVD they will send you!

Big White is a starter!

I would avoid Whistler due to road works for olympics and also over-priced lodging!

Another excellent choice is Panorama. very "hiding" resort that most Europeans do not know,yet has great skiing, cheaper lodging in village and very very well groomed!

Hope this helps!

Dieke,

I need some more information about time you want to go, however based on what given I think I know what you are looking for.

You have two choice unitially.
The east which is Quebec Province

or

Western skiing

If you want no lines lots of snow and variable ski runs, may I suggest inner British Columbia. Why? Most people do not know but there is a weather pattern which is called 'Chinook" which brings warm air from Japan via Pacific! All ski resorts in western BC get lots of heavy heavy wet snow! I even srayed for 4 days in Whistler with rain everyday! That they do not tell you! The Selkirks area is east of Rockies and gets softer ligther drier snow! Visit Bc tourist sites or ski sites! Big White has an excellent DVD they will send you!

Big White is a starter!

I would avoid Whistler due to road works for olympics and also over-priced lodging!

Another excellent choice is Panorama. very "hiding" resort that most Europeans do not know,yet has great skiing, cheaper lodging in village and very very well groomed!

Hope this helps!

I can recommend Big White, i'm in Big White right now and have been since 10th Dec. Awesome resort, brilliant snow, unfortunately no challenging skiing really with the Cliff being still closed, but on a normal year it would be open. Plenty of good snow, 38cm powder day last week, 22cm last night made for a great day today as well, and obviously its really light dry powder! Silver Star is nearby though, its where i get my steep skiing fix! probably gonna go back next week and ski the backside where all the double blacks are!! Gowabunga is the steepest run i have ever skied!

kicking horse is supposed to be awesome as well, but i've never skied it although im desperate to!

OK, thanx, this is already very helpful!!

I thought maybe March was a good time to go, because maybe it is a little less cold, but I actually have no clue what to expect of the weather. We are not bound to a special time, so Jan, Feb and March are all fine; which ever is the best month.

I'll go and look on the tourist sites of these places you both recommend.

Dieke