 Poster: A snowHead
|
Hi Guys,
I'm looking for a bit of advice on location for a 2013/2014 season in Canada (we're early planners) for myself and my girlfriend. We're novice skiers but looking to spend a season getting better!
We were first looking at Whistler as I spent a month there in Summer 2010 riding downhill bikes so I'm quite familiar with the area. After a bit of research I soon found a lot of people complaining about lift ques and bad weather (and prices). We started looking at other places as a bit of research before we jumped in and found Fernie - it does look good in terms of quieter slopes etc, but as we're not seasoned skiers (yet) will there be enough there to keep us busy when we're not skiing?
Secondly the shuttle from town to slopes puts us off a little vs having the slopes and town on the front door in Whistler.
Just looking for what you lot think - bearing in mind we're not hardcore skiers so would be looking for more things to do.
Cheers
Tom
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
If you're doing a season you'll find Fernie no different to Whistler in terms of taking a bus to the slopes. Unless you've got a colossal budget you won't be living in the village at Whistler - best you can hope for is ski in/out ish somewhere around Creekside/Nordic or upper Blackcomb. Whistler no doubt has more stuff, its easier to pop down to Vancouver for a couple of days. Something to bear in mind until you get good the groomers are limited in Fernie - the good stuff is off traverses, over saddles, in trees and chutes. There's more than enough to keep good skiers happy for a season but some tourists do moan that they don't have mile after mile of featureless cruisers.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
Thanks fatbob, I guess that's what we're going to want to start with though - the featureless cruisers.
How do you find the line for lifts?
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
been to fernie twice, never queued. Been to whistler twice, had the occasional queue - usually when waiting for lifts to open first thing or when an area's been closed after snowfall. NA queues are incredibly well organised when compared to euro-queues, remember
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
Were you in whistler in really busy times? Been looking quite a lot today and I think we're leaning towards Whistler. Just trying to work out visas and things form the UK. I'm a freelance web designer so will be working "from home". I've found that I still need a visa - does anyone (probably form the UK) know how early I can apply for a visa for 2013 winter season?
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
tom24, no, we tend to avoid the busiest times. Whistler gets a lot busier at weekends, as it's a pretty easy day trip from a major city
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| tom24 wrote: |
| Were you in whistler in really busy times? Been looking quite a lot today and I think we're leaning towards Whistler. Just trying to work out visas and things form the UK. I'm a freelance web designer so will be working "from home". I've found that I still need a visa - does anyone (probably form the UK) know how early I can apply for a visa for 2013 winter season? |
What sort of visa? - working visas require you to be sponsored I believe. Not sure about BUNAC.
if you are working for a UK company (ie yours), no idea what visa you need, but you should probably check it out otherwise you run the risk of being sent straight back on the next plane (there is a program on TV at the moment about YVR border security, and they seem to send lots of Brits back for trying to get in and work without the right visas)
Whistler can get busy at weekends, particularly when the upper mountain is still be opened up, because half of Vancouver is there (tskk!  ) but in the week is much quieter except for the major holidays (spring break, presidents week, easter, christmas)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
So what I can glean from your link is if you'd like to spend an extended time in BC playing and spending money in the local economy you have to apply for a visa to be able to 'work' in the UK.
My take, get  Canada.
Plenty of places you don't have to do that.
Plenty of time to apply for a visa when you actually 'need' it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fernie is a must do best 4 months of my life where spent out in fernie. Loved it so much I am now looking to live out there. Friendly locals make you feel part of the community, loads of terrain to keep you busy and most importantly amazing snow and loads of powder!!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
