 Poster: A snowHead
|
I noticed a change of venues for club ski compared to last year. It was LakeLouise on day1, followed by Sunshine and Norquay last year, but the website has it down in a different order this year.
http://www.skibig3.com/school/clubski.cfm
Anyone been there this season who can confirm the first day is now in Sunshine ??
Only 20 sleeps to go 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
|
|
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?
|
Double check it again on the day that you get there. I got caught out a couple of years ago when they switched venues and I missed the first day. Club ski operate from a shop on the main street in Banff. Can't remember exactly where but it's roughly half way up the street.
Banff is still the best place I've ever been.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
| Quote: |
Club ski operate from a shop on the main street in Banff. Can't remember exactly where but it's roughly half way up the street.
|
They operate out of SkiHub just down from where we are staying (mount royal). We booked the club ski through crystal so expect they will have details when we arrive.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
Is Club Ski worth the money (no, I’m not having a go, just very interested).
We are going to Canada early next year (2 adults, 2 kids 8 & 9, all low to middle intermediates) and will be in Banff from 24th to 28th January, and think this would be a better idea than ski school lessons. We have never been to any Banff ski resorts (1st time in Canada), so it would be good to be guided throughout the day, with some additional lesson added. Is it basically a 4 hour guide throughout the resorts (2 hours morning, followed by lunch, with a further 2 hours in the afternoon), with some additional lessons thrown in to help improve (not full on lessons like during ski school). Also is it a case of finding your own way to the resorts and meet up with the instructors at designated locations, with having to organise your own 3 day lift pass prior.
Sorry if the above seems a dumb question, but never asked never known.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
You meet at the resorts each day, very easy to find the Club Ski instructors. You get the same one each day. As a beginner the Club Ski was all instruction on how to Ski. Last year (our 2nd) it was more of a guided tour with some intermadiate coaching
For kids it looked excellent, you get 4 hours babysitting per day and the kids are with others there own age
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Celts88,
Club Ski is definitely worth the money. The instruction is good, and I wouldn't differentiate it from "ski school lessons".
Over a six year period, Club ski took me up to and over the "intermediate plateau", while their top level class can be full-on gung-ho. (Not recommended for the timid: mad Japanese instructor called Adsushi (sp?)).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Celts88 Our group actually thought it was better than European ski schools. The get together at the end of the 3 days at the Banff Springs hotel with videos, photos and a meal is great (costs extra). Not as good this year as last but still worth it. My buddy enjoyed it so much, he signed up for an extra 3 days (3 days for the price of 2) and enjoyed it immensely.
He's got the instructors e-mail and is going to do the same again in February. He says it's the best ski instruction he's had. (previously a week in La Plagne)
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
Most people seem to rate it. Met up with some friends and their group who'd just doen it once & tagged on to the dinner & everyone seemed enthusiastic. Sociable and instruction by stealth while touring the mountain seemed to be the recipe.
The alternative might be to do some semi private lessons and take the free mountain tours which some people love for the scosiable aspect (don't know if kids are allowed). Lift pass is I think extra (& most visitors have a multi resort Big 3 pass anyway I think)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Celts88, when I used them last year (April '06) there were five people in my group, and 8 in 'Er Indoors' group. I skied with Neil Trevis, and he was superb. As I recall Club Ski prices were extremely competitive. The dinner at the Club Ski Fairmont was also excellent.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
Thanks for all the replies
I like the idea of the Club Ski being more of a guided tour with discreet lessons thrown in as required. As we will only have 1 day at each resort then I would rather spend more time seeing the place than spending to long with lessons. Yes, I realise that there are free mountain tours, but with an 8 & 9 year old in tow it is worth the extra to pay the money for the Club Ski and enjoy it ‘KIDS FREE’. I don’t mind the sound of the dinner at the end of the 3 days as this will be good to see others away from the slopes (we are in Canada not only for the skiing, but also the cultural change).
We may go to Panorama for 2 days further skiing after this, and then back to Banff for the last 3 days of our holiday (will finish of at Banff due to it being an easier car trip back to Calgary for the Flight home).
As an aside, where would be the best place to stay in Banff (2 adults, 2 kids). Not looking for the most luxurious, but clean, tidy and not to noisy (road or crowds). We have a car for the trip, but don't want to always have to drive into town each night for a feed and seeing the sights.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
Celts88,
| Quote: |
we are in Canada not only for the skiing, but also the cultural change
|
HaHaaaa! You won't get that in Banff, then: it's got one of the largest populations of Aussies outside Sydney! 
There are a lot of hotels in Banff: they are all clean tidy and quiet. The trick is to choose something near to the centre, otherwise you're faced with a bit of a trek downtown. Banff sprawls along a main road (Banff Avenue) with a network of sidestreeets off it. Most of the hotels are on Banff Avenue, but this doesn't mean that youre constantly disturbed by traffic noise or drunken revellers: the sound insulation is pretty impressive.
I've stayed at the Mount Royal quite a few times. It's very central. Also well located are the Banff International (opposite Safeway, and they gave me a room upgrade) and the Ptarmigan (Next door to the BI). All three are comfortable and reasonably priced.
Panorama is not my favourite hill, but it depends on the conditions.
Finally, note that January can be very cold: a neoprene face-mask is a good investment.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Celts88, the hotels along the far end of Banff Avenue are cheapest but as Acacia says it is a bit of a trek. I am happy to stay that end in March/April (Inns of Banff) but it would be far too cold to walk it in January. That said a taxi is only a few dollars - I wonder if the little shuttle (road)train is still running? wherever you decide check out the location on the street map. Town to Inns of Banff is 25 minutes walk (for a lard like me).
I would suggest something slightly out of the centre rather than Mount Royal (BI and Ptarmigan as previously suggested are well placed) for ease of parking and quieter for the family - you could PM cathy - she is a regular visitor to Banff.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
Oh gosh, thanks holidayloverxx, I feel very important now but I'm not really a regular Banff visitor, just been there twice and was thinking of going again this year 
We've stayed at the Ptarmigan and it was fine, nothing special but clean and close to the central shops and restaurants. Have also stayed at the Caribou which was a nicer hotel but was a bit of trek to walk in to the restaurants. Personally I think the hotels are all much of a muchness and because they're not half-board like you would get in Europe, it's not that critical which one you pick. I did like the bar in the Ptarmigan which was handy for having a drink off the slopes and meeting up with others. If we were going back again we'd stay at the Ptarmigan again.
If you've only got 3 days in Banff I'd have thought the Club Ski programme would be fine, although I think the final day in Norquay is always a bit wasted. But at least it makes you go there which you probably wouldn't bother doing otherwise.
Acacia, yes, the OH found himself in a class taken by Sushi (?) - definitely kamikaze! And hyweljenkins, I'm pretty sure I had Neil Trevis my first time there - orange boots stick in my mind for some reason?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
Mount Rotal is a great place, there is a big car park around the back, so wouldn't think parking is an issue. Mount royal is very central.
We are also considering Park lodge for next year.
One thing to consider is the buses, if you get on at end of Banff Ave, you could sit on the bus for 15mins before getting out of town. Even the banff springs bus goes to ski hub and park lodge beofre hitting the highway
If you get a hotel down the far end of Banff Avenue it is a long, VERY COLD walk to the main shopping/food area. Took us 20mins to walk from Mount Royal to Bumpers (and I didn't rate the food that great once we got there)
Tony Romas restaurant in Mount Royal was a top place, the Keg next to the Ski Hub did great steaks, and the italian above McDonalds was excellent. The Maple Leaf was fantastic food, but quite expensive and a bit posher.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
I'd agree the Keg does great steak meals. My fave restuarant is Saltliks - mmmmmm! Although we were most disappointed - or relieved! - when we went on our second trip to find European-sized portions rather than Canadian. But lovely food. And the Maple Leaf is very expensive and I've never had a meal that I really enjoyed there. And you have to wait ages for your food!
Probably the crappiest meal I've had in Canada was at Tony Romas! We were quite a large group and all had really poor food. Perhaps they were having an off day.....
The buses going to the ski areas aren't so much of a problem cos as soon as they fill up - which could be just a couple of hotel stops - they're off. But coming back can be a pain if you're in a hotel close to town on the Banff Avenue bus drop-offs, as they drop off at the far end of Banff Avenue first and then stop at every bus stop - that can be a pain!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
| Quote: |
The buses going to the ski areas aren't so much of a problem cos as soon as they fill up - which could be just a couple of hotel stops - they're off. But coming back can be a pain if you're in a hotel close to town on the Banff Avenue bus drop-offs, as they drop off at the far end of Banff Avenue first and then stop at every bus stop - that can be a pain!
|
There are two bus routes. The bus going to Park Lodge, Ski Hub (for Mount Royal) and Banff SPring has quite a short drop off route compared to the other Banff Avenue bus. That is why we are only considering Park Lodge or Mount Royal this year.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
) 2 weeks ago. The snow was brilliant in all 3 areas. 
instead of pickups all around the town buses for Sunshine and Lake Louise leaving from a central depot with you having to make your own way there 
