 Poster: A snowHead
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Basically, my family and I would like to go skiing in Canada. What we're looking for is a resort that's pretty much ski-to-door (no bus/coach trips to get to the runs), has a lot of runs to explore and that has areas which are challenging for experienced skiers along with good runs for beginners (only 1 week's experience or less).
Has anyone been to such a place? I'm looking for recommendatations because searching around the various agents websites is too confusing!
Cheers in advance! 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Welcomes to SHs. What do you mean by experienced skiers? Where have you been before (in Europe) & would like the nearest equivalent of?
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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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I have been to several ski-in, ski-out resorts in Canada, Big White, Silver Star, Sun Peaks, Kimberley, Panorama and Fernie. All are purpose built resorts and all have runs for all levels. The main problem I have found with all of them is the lack of off slope things to do especially if you want a wide choice of restaurant or shops, I found Sun Peaks had the most. Kimberley and Fernie are close to towns, although I found Kimberley town was very quiet.
Happy to give you more info if you want it
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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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Thanks!
Basically, there are five of us going... the three "experienced" skiers have been skiing every year for about 12 years, having been to Lake Louise, Banff, Les Menuires and a few other places.
As I'm not one of the above three, I can't be more specific about where they've been without asking them. I do know, however, that their best experiences were in Canada - but they're not overly keen on going over the same old runs they've already visited.
Myself and one other have only skied once - last season was our first trip, which was one week in Les Menuires. We were comfortably skiing the more challenging european blue-runs by the end of the week and even had a very tentative go on a couple of reds, if that gives you any idea of our skill level.
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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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The only ski in ski out place I've been to in Canada is Panorama. It's not the biggest ski area in the world, but there's some good stuff, and there's heli skiing on site. There was sod all going on off the slopes and a very limited choice of bars and restaurants. There is the Sunshine Inn in Banff, but you'd go stir crazy after a couple of days, I'd imagine.
I question the wisdom of insisting on ski in ski out in Canada (or USA), but to each his/her own. It limits your choice of resort and the drive to the hill is no big deal; roads tend to be much quieter than in Europe and parking is (in my experience) easy and well organised. Ski in ski out resorts are often, like Panorama, purpose built with very little of interest happening and a very limited choice of bars and restaurants.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Valiante, you can't miss with Whistler on all fronts but it is pricey.
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666 - there isn't a huge amount of ski-in ski-out in Whistler though - so what there is is pricey.
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Whistler will hit all the buttons (except true ski-in/out but most hotels are a short walk through the village) but expensive and can be crowded.
Sounds like somewhere like Big White might also score well, but it is a long transfer/additional flight from a major international airport.
Fernie is a compromise candidate, ski -in ski out possible, transfer not unreasonable but it is relatively small in terms of pistes and nightlife up on the hill is almost non existent. Panorama I guess is similar.
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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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Wow, what a response! SH defintely the right place to come...
fatbob - Having spoken to my fiancée (one of the more experienced skiers) I now have a little more information with regards to past locations... Sticking to Canada, they've visited Lake Louise, Kicking Horse and Sunshine Village. Their favourite by far was Sunshine, so something similar to that would be ideal, taking my aforementioned criteria into consideration.
richmond - Thanks for your comments. I see where you're coming from, but based on my experience with this group in France, I don't think the aprés ski has much bearing on the decision, simply because we didn't really indulge. It was more about being up at the crack of dawn and enjoying a full day's skiing, before chilling out of an evening in our chalet. While that may not sound like everyone's cup of tea, that's what we're aiming for - more emphasis on the ski facilities and comfortable accomodation.
Anniegirl - Of the places you visited and considering my reply to richmond, which of those resorts do you feel would most meet our particular tastes, with regards to skiing itself and the accomodation side of things?
Finally, many thanks to all for your replies - a BIG big help already.
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If Sunshine hit he spot then I'd guess that many of the Okanagan resorts, Big White, Sun Peaks, Silver Star would do plus Panorama and maybe Fernie & Kimberley.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Valiante, Panorama is definitely worth a look. It's very proud of it's 'Extreme Dream' and 'Taynton Bowl' areas, within bounds off piste, largely tree, areas, advertised as the sort of stuff you can normally only get by helicopter, and for pretty strong skiers only. My acquaintance with the 'Taynton Bowl' was non existent, but I enjoyed 'Extreme Dream' and the easier 'Sun Bowl' on the opposite side of the area. Elsewhere at the resort there is a very good range of skiing in a small area. If you want high mileage skiing, look elsewhere, but it is an interesting spot for a week, with a week somewhere else, perhaps.
The place we stayed in was called Pine Inn, fairly low down the food chain; it was OK but basic, and very well situated indeed. There's an outdoor pool, not brilliant, at one of the buildings. The food options were pretty dreary; the only place worth eating in was the heli base.
Last edited by snowHeads are a friendly bunch. on Mon 4-12-06 15:14; edited 1 time in total
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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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Valiante, welcome to snowheads.
We went to whistler this year in March and loved it. we went with Ski indepence
It is a bit pricey but there was enough to keep us going and build our confidence (we've only done 3 weeks before goign to whistler)
report on the trip is here http://www.geocities.com/daggers_jones/skicanada2006/index.html
there is enough for the experts and intermediates
hope this helps
Rob
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Valiante, Welcome, our 6000th member. 
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You know it makes sense.
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7921st actually SMALLZOOKEEPER, but a lot don't make it the registration process.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Valiante I would go for Big White, Silver Star or Sun Peaks. It depends on how long you are going for, both times we have been to the area we went to all three resorts over 16 days.
If you only want to go to one resort then either Big White (and have a day trip over to Silver Star) or Sun Peaks. We went independantly (booked through Ski Safari) I am not sure if any of the tour operators go to them, so it was more expensive. The resorts had a good range of runs for all levels and provide an excellent transfer service from Kelowna (for Big White and Silver Star) and Kamploops (Sun Peaks) airports which are a short flight from Calgary.
If you want to go through the tour operators than we got an excellent deal last year to Kimberley and Panorama with Inghams, which included an apartment with our own private hot tub at Kimberley.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Some excellent recommendations, Anniegirl, I'll certainly be passing those on to the group.
Thanks again to all for your replies - I feel much better prepared to face the prospect of deal hunting!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Anniegirl, I'm intrigued to hear you describe Fernie as a "purpose built resort". When I was there about 5 years ago? it was an old mining town with a ski area on the outskirts, most folk stayed in the town and trucked to the hill by Kootenay bus. The Lizzard Lodge was there and a couple of houses/chalets were being built but that was about it. Sounds depressingly as if it's now been "developed" - in the doublespeak of today's world 
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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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Yoda, yes the town of Fernie is an old mining town but the accommodation on the hill has been purpose built over the last few years to give the ski in ski out accommodation the OP required
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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We stayed on the hill in Fernie last year at the Timberline Lodge Condos, what fantastic accomodation 3 Double bedrooms, lounge, kitchen, pool, hot tubs, a/c, fireplace, the lot.
2,500 acres of fantastic ski anywhere, steep & deep terrain, more than you can handle plus good easy stuff on the lower slopes. free ski hosts. The place is empty. Couple of good restaurants on the hill, "The Wood" in particular, but most of the restaurants are in Fernie town about 3 miles drive, my favourite "The Curry Bowl" You could survive if you stayed on the hill but there is no nightlife up there, but getting down to Fernie Town is pretty easy.
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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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Panorama may tick the boxes in terms of the ski-in ski-out and variety of terrain, but the off-piste offerings really are poor in terms of food and stuff to do in the evenings. The self catering condos may be lovely but as the food available for purchase in the resort store is very limited so you can't do much cooking, and eating out only offers a couple of very poor alternatives - although the Heliplex restaurant is an exception and offers good food in a lovely atmosphere.
Also remember that Panorama doesn't always get great snow...
A xx
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Welcome to snowHeads adele! 
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adele, sounds good & well done for taking the plunge! Your experience will be greatly appreciated I'm sure 
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