 Poster: A snowHead
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My inlaws from Glasgow have decided to learn to ski, having heard me and the Mrs rave about it for years.
They will be celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary next year and want to do something special - they want us to come on a ski holiday with them to E. Canada Easter 2007, because "it's the up and coming area and good value" so they say.
Sounds great to me, the Mrs has already said we can have 2 ski hols next year  !
So any recommendations ?
I have told them to get to the Bearsden dry slope for starters
Newbies ages 45 & 50 and two 20 somethings.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Good for them. Persuade them to stay on the 'plane for another couple of hours to Calgary or Vancouver and ski over there. If you're crossing the Atlantic to ski, you might as well do a propoer job.
The only E.Canadian resort of real note is Mt Tremblant, although there are loads of other smaller ones. I have no personal experience (I've been to Mt T in summer and could see that it's pretty modest in size, but that's all), but every Canadian skier I've spoken to has said 'don't bother, head west'.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Yeah, I could do with a trip to Whistler !
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Who can turn down a second trip. If I was going all that way i'd prob want to try banff, whistler or one or two other of the canadian resorts but nor would i turn down a trip to tremblant (are you being v.lucky and they paying)
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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For the avoidance of doubt, I wasn't suggesting turning down a trip to Mt T (or anywhere else), just a bit of urging further west.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Personally I wouldn't do Whistler with novice skiers - it's liable to RAIN there at the village level, so if they don't take to the skiing they might find it a bit miserable.
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If you are going to Eastern Canada why not stay in Quebec. Apart from the local ski areas there are the delights of the old walled city, the St Lawrence River (try a trip on an ice breaker for $4 return), and the Village des Sports (a frozen water park with ice slides to die for).
I've skied mostly at Mont Sainte-Anne which is pretty good (don't expect the 3V) with spectacular views of the St Lawrence. Stoneham and Le Massif are also worth a visit.
Be aware that the temperatures tend to be very low - lots of thermals needed. Also the resort catering is not wonderful, more like a school canteen. Very few queues, almost none if you avoid the weekends.
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When the inlaws said they wanted us to come with them, they didn't mention that they were paying for the trip, I'll have to work on that one. 
Having had a scan around, E Canada doesn't look like a good bet, I'd be rather bored.
Whistler, yep, my last experience was rather damp at village level.
If they have their heart set on Canada, I like the look of Banff or Lake Louise, but according to "Where to ski & Board 2006" both can "seem full of Brits" is a -ve comment they mention !
With the amount of snow falling in Scotland, they can have a taster of skiing at the weekend, lucky Fockers.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| Sarge wrote: |
If they have their heart set on Canada, I like the look of Banff or Lake Louise, but according to "Where to ski & Board 2006" both can "seem full of Brits" is a -ve comment they mention !
With the amount of snow falling in Scotland, they can have a taster of skiing at the weekend, lucky Fockers. |
Not too many Brits areound Silver Star / Big White / Sun Peaks if you want to go a bit further and hit the BC interior (lots of Aussies though!). And the resorts are close enough together to do more than one in the same trip, and see a little bit of the country while you're at it.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Sarge, I've been to Banff and LL many times, mostly in school Easter hols. There are fair number of Brits, but they don't stand out in the way they do in Europe. This may be in part because of the language and in part because, they are on average, a different, ahem, type of Brit from the type who (apparently) infest Val d'Isere on the one hand and wear 'sports leisurewear' on the other. I wouldn't let the prospect of Brits put you off.
Panorama is a good spot, although it has a reutation for often being icy (as it was the week we were there), probably for 1 week rather than 2. Jasper is also pleasant, again for 1 week.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Sarge, it may be a bit chilly on the Eastern seaboard for beginners, but if they like the skiing at Cairngorm that won't be a problem 
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Not bothered about the number of fellow Brits, thanks as ever you lot for all the good info.
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FAQ
