Alberta's six major-league resorts have just released early bird programs and cost-saving bonuses for the savviest of skiers. Those in the know always book now, save a mittful, surrender and go.
There's a swoosh of snowy heaven that slices through the Canadian Rockies in Alberta, from the northern spires in Jasper National Park all the way south to the border of Montana. This winter don't let those dry, fluffy flakes bask in the sun by themselves. Can't you see yourself slowly carving S-turns through them, sullying up all that silky, untracked terrain?
Sunshine Village Ski and Snowboard Resort
Where: Sunshine Village is a 90-minute drive west of Calgary or 8 km/5 mi west of the town of Banff and lies smack in the heart of Banff National Park and the Canadian Rockies.
Season: Opens Nov. 8, 2007. Closes May 19, 2008. Lift ticket: $73.96 (Cdn).
Bragging Rights: You won't find any snow guns blasting you with that stick-to-your-skin-and-freeze stuff – Sunshine scoffs at such fakery as it sits at more than 2,134 metres/7,000 ft. on a throne of natural snow. Sunshine also has the longest ski season in Canada, offers the only on-hill accommodation in Banff National Park and its annual spring ski party, known as the Slush Cup, was just ranked by Skiing Magazine as one of the Top 3 Spring Parties in all of North America. This zany weekend-long fest doles out prizes for the Best Belly Flop, Awesome Air, Wacky Costume and so forth.
Save Now: For as little as $54.50 per night, per skier, you can bunk down on the hill and revel in the amenities that come with a $4-million price tag. The newly updated historic Sunshine Inn offers ski packages all season long. Selected rooms can accommodate up to five people making them even more of a scoop for family getaways. Amenities include an outdoor hot tub, European sauna, massage and aesthetic treatments, fitness facility, internet service, custom-made furniture, Starbucks cafe and fine dining and a superb First Tracks program that begins in January.
Special offers are available throughout the season and often just pop up on Sunshine's website under Lodging and Packages. Listed now are Winterstart Specials (for early birds, keen to ski between Nov. 9 and Dec. 20) that include deep discounts at swanky properties such as the Fairmont Banff Springs — now advertising a three-night/three-day tri-area lift pass package for as little as $408. Even cheaper are similar packages at the Inns of Banff, Ptarmigan Inn, Caribou Lodge and the new Fox Hotel and Suites. Besides early season discounts, the next block of deals occurs during "Value Season," Jan. 7-Feb.7, 2008.
Ski Norquay
Where: On the skirts of the Banff townsite in the heart of Banff National Park, about a 90-minute drive west of Calgary.
Season: The first resort in Canada to open last year, on Nov. 1st, Norquay could follow the same track if the snow flies early but typically it opens mid-November and closes around Easter. Lift Ticket: The same as last year's $49 tag.
Bragging rights: Norquay is widely considered to be Banff's best family ski resort with a long tradition that snakes back to 1926. Not only does Norquay have the only night skiing in the Bow Valley but at Norquay, you can ride the only lit terrain park. If you are a family of four, or only have two hours to ride, Norquay is ideal as it is the only resort to offer skiing/riding by the hour.
Save Now: Buy a mid-week deal, the $99 Me and My Friends pass. This is a cool deal if you know of a group of four who wants to ski between Monday and Friday. Each person pays $99 and skis . . .and skis and skis (for almost free). Must book by Sept. 30. After that the price rockets to $349. There is a blackout period during Christmas.
Lake Louise Mountain Resort
Where: Canada's largest single ski area is a gorgeous two-hour drive west of Calgary or 45 minutes west of Banff.
Season: Opens Nov. 9, 2007; closes late April. Lift Ticket: $72.
Bragging Rights: Consistently ranked No. 1 for scenery in North America, Lake Louise also snared "Best Steeps," "Best Scenery," "Best Terrain Park" and "Best New Off-Piste Tour" by Ski Canada Magazine in 2006.
Save Now: At "the Lake," as it is known to locals, early bookings (by Nov. 15, 2007) usually translate to at least a 25 per cent swipe off tri-area lift tickets (‘tri' meaning Lake Louise Mountain Resort, Sunshine Village and SkiBanff@Norquay) plus lots of value-added perks such as a free adult ski/snowboard lesson, free nights' accommodation, even a kids-under-12-ski-free deal. Different bargains have different deadlines.
Take this package at the new Fox Hotel & Suites . . .book four nights before Sept. 30 and you'll get the fifth night free (not applicable over Christmas or spring break). Purchase lift tickets with the Resorts of the Canadian Rockies (RCR) group before Oct. 31 and kids under 12 can ski for free at Nakiska, Fernie and Kimberley – all season long.
A similar deal applies to kids who want to ski at Louise, Sunshine or Norquay with a booking deadline of Nov. 15 (blackout periods apply). Aimed strictly at U.S. citizens, there is a fifth-night-free program at both Fairmont properties in Lake Louise and Banff (valid from Nov. 11- April 30, 2008). Numerous other packages, from early bird to last-minute, are available online at SkiRCR or by calling 1-800-258-7669.
Nakiska
Where: Nakiska is less than a 50-minute drive west of Calgary in the 4,000-square-kilometre/2,485-square-mile mountain playground of Kananaskis Country.
Season: Opens: Dec. 8, 2007 Closes: early April. Lift Ticket: $55
Bragging Rights: The site of the alpine events in the '88 Winter Olympics, Nakiska is now most noted for its family friendly layout and programs. Its proximity to Calgary makes it a favourite half-day ski getaway and it is also known for its state-of-the-art grooming machines that keep slopes in buttery corduroy shape.
Save Now: Early bird specials and Getaway Packages are just rolling out for Nakiska, which is part of the RCR group. The closest properties to the mountain are the Delta Hotel and the Executive Hotels & Resort, which usually offer pre-season savings. Here's one: Save 20 per cent at the Delta if you stay two or more nights, between Sundays and Thursdays, between Dec. 7-13 and Jan. 2- April 6. You must book by Nov. 30.
Marmot Basin
Where: In the heart of Jasper National Park, about a five-hour drive west of Calgary; four hours from Edmonton.
Season: Opens mid-Nov.; closes late April.
Bragging Rights: You'll hear how uncrowded and unspoiled the resort of Marmot Basin is long before you arrive in the sleepy little alpine town of Jasper, a short drive from the ski resort. That's when friendly locals will also dazzle you with statistics.
Jasper is the largest Rocky Mountain Park, covering 10,878 square km/6,759 square mi; Jasper is home to the Athabasca River, a Canadian Heritage River; Jasper has the last fully protected caribou range in the Rocky Mountains; Jasper is home to the highest mountain in Alberta (Columbia Mountain, 3747 m/ 12293 ft); Jasper is home to the Miette Hot Springs, the hottest in all the Canadian Rockies and on and on.
Save Now: Jasper National Park in the winter offers excellent value to visitors, especially during its Jasper in January festival, running Jan. 12-27, 2008. Unlike other resorts, Jasper's off-season is winter time which results in great deals on accommodations, dining and a huge variety of activities. If you intend to ski for a few days, be sure to buy multiple day passes instead of singles. Not only do you save money but you don't have wait in the queue every morning. Check out Jasper's Ski 3 for 2 lift and accommodation packages at Ski342.
It goes without saying that the best deal after a day on the slopes is Happy Hour, feted at most bars in the Canadian Rockies. Snap down one of our blue five-dollar bills and you'll leave with change tinkling in your mitt.
Castle Mountain
Where: A 2¼ hour drive south of Calgary on highways 2 and 22.
Season: Opens on Dec. 15 (weekends-only prior to that). Closes: early April. Lift Ticket: $59.
Bragging rights: Castle was the only ski resort in all of North America that opened up an entire mountain last season. Yep, Mt. Haig is finally accessible to more than backcountry skiers. The new Huckleberry Chair opened up fields strewn with untouched powder. Castle is also known for its relentless fall-line skiing . . . 863 metres/2,833 feet of vertical.
Save Now: Buy a mid-week season's pass, even if you just intend to ski for four or five days during the season. This $275 bonanza jumps to $345 after Sept. 30. Although Central Reservations is now taking bookings (this place gets packed out at Christmas and the Family Day Weekend, third Monday in February) many of their jaw-dropping deals aren't yet posted. Remember last year's $60 Ski & Sleep packages that included a lift ticket and accommodation — at both the Highwood Motel in nearby Blairmore and the Country Encounters B&B in Coleman? Andrew Rusynyk, director of Marketing and Snow Sports, says they'll be back with just a slight increase.
More slope side digs have been added to this budget skier's gem, topping out at about 126 units. This current number includes 10 hostel and 10 hotel rooms at the base as well as about 15 different condos and chalets, now part of the rental pool. If you don't mind a 30-minute drive you could opt to bunk down in the town of Pincher Creek at the Heritage Inn (which will have a new pool and fitness centre by Christmas) or at the Super 8 (additional rooms have just opened).