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Calgary at new year..which resort?

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ryhy87
Posts: 142 - Karma: 73
I would post this in regionals but it doesn't look too lively and trying to get things booked fairly soon..

Anyway, thinking of flying into Calgary just after christmas (for 10days) and can't decide on a resort. As far as i'm aware there's lake louise, sunshine, fernie, kicking horse and revy within driving distance.

We're after somewhere which isn't going to be heaving this time of year (if possible) and decent conditions. We were looking at revy and kicking horse, i've only heard good things about both, but I get the feeling there's not much in the way of park. It would be nice to ski some park, doesn't have to be amazing...as i'm no pro.

Heard Sunshine can be busy, Fernie maybe too early in the season etc, revy no park...

maybe we're better off driving around a few places..

If anyone has any thoughts on a resort or reasons for/against, that'd be much appreciated.
Cheers
Oct 4 2012 2:02PM
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807.
Posts: 74 - Karma: 27
lake louise had an insane park last year.
Oct 4 2012 2:31PM
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Download-My-Apps
Posts: 5069 - Karma: 1,017
Scumshine is a zoo over the holidays. Louise is a funner hill in my opinion but the snow is never quite as good.
Oct 4 2012 2:34PM
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Slowbro
Posts: 3863 - Karma: 21,303
Louise has fun terrain and an awesome park, Sunshine has better snow and a pretty good park, Revelstoke is by far the best for snow and terrain, and there are lots of places for booters if you want to jump. Also if you want to ski park COP is fun and is right in the city.
Oct 4 2012 2:43PM
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k-rob
Posts: 14217 - Karma: 2,891
revy and kicking horse are incredible for snow and terrain (i have yet to ski revy but i've skied kicking horse) but yeah they are lacking in park. i hear louise's park is really good but that icy man-made shit they spray all over the mountain isn't good for (my?) bases, i have to wax my skis after every trip to louise. i ski at sunshine and enjoy it, diverse terrain and good snow, but there is something wrong with their park every single season and they probably won't have the whole thing done by christmas. COP is right in town and has a good park but it isn't a mountain, just a really big hill, and i only ride there in the summer for mtb because i'm not a park rat.
Oct 4 2012 2:54PM
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Brentizzle
Posts: 1584 - Karma: 1,871
If you want super sick big mountain, good snow on average, and a killer park, go to Louise.

If you want average green/blue/black runs with a tiny bit of big mountain (thats being generous) with super short laps and an alright at best park, go to sunshine.

If you want tech ass big mountain but no park and long laps, go to kicking horse.

If you want super fun runs with everything from amazing trees to super tech big mountain and pillow with shit tons of pow, go to revy (not day trip distance from calgary) (thats where I will be for a week after xmas)

If you want a fun hill with some super sweet big mountain and everything in between but only rails in the park and can be hit or miss rain or epic pow, go to Fernie.


that pretty much sums it up. Sunshine also has the Dive which is all hyped up because you need avy gear to go in but its less or equal to as gnarly as anything on the backside of Lake Louise. Anybody who says otherwise is just biased to sunshine and only skies the front side of Louise. I skied 20+ days at both resorts one season and decided that I would just commit to Louise because it gives an overall better experience and has wayyyy more variety.
Oct 4 2012 4:03PM
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zapadelic
Posts: 483 - Karma: 48

If you wan't to ski powder kicking horse and Revelstoke get some real nice snow just make sure you check the weather. Rain in town = powder on the mountain.

Lake louise has a real sick park and it's really well maintaned. the set up there is nice because you can hit a ton of features in a row.

Sunshine has a really big park but i find it almost too wide as there is alot of features you just can't hit as many in one run, but it is a real fun mountain there. It looks like it would be real good with a lot of snow but I have never been there when it has.

Also if you're in calgary you can go to COP and ride there park i have never been but it looks real sick.

Oct 4 2012 4:22PM
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TaylorD23
Posts: 11 - Karma: 31
For Revy is it better to fly into Kelowna or Calgary?

Calgary flights seem to be cheaper but I'm not sure which is easier/closer?
Oct 4 2012 4:46PM
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k-rob
Posts: 14217 - Karma: 2,891
steepest grade in the canadian rockies is totally equal to random shit at louise yep. there's obviously no reason for them to hold the freeskiing comps at sunshine and not on the backside of louise yep. also there's wild west which is gnarlier than the dive but obviously not as gnarly as random shit at louise yep. you need avy gear but not because of avalanches just because they want to hype it yep. and i'm only saying all of this because i'm super biased toward sunshine yep.
Oct 4 2012 4:47PM
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rudager
Posts: 11335 - Karma: 4,624
Much easier to fly into Kelowna to do Revy, closer drive, and you don't have to risk getting stuck in the pass. Plus Kelowna has its own resorts too with parks that look very nice. My best bet for snow of you fly into Calgary would be KH, I'll be there all break again since my parents live there. If you want a mix of park and powder terrain, go to Louise, they have the best ratio. Sunshine has never been my favourite place, I find it too open. Lastly, it's Christmas time, good luck avoiding the crowds regardless where you go
Oct 4 2012 5:08PM
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M.M
Posts: 1696 - Karma: 4,494
lake louise always has a fun park and some pretty good snow up top and there can be some pow on the back bowls, also if u go to louise its like a 30-45 minute drive to sunshine.
Oct 4 2012 5:21PM
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ONTerriible
Posts: 1210 - Karma: 126
This, I laughed when he said Revy is within driving distance. Sure if your gonna be up by 2 am to get there for opening.
Oct 4 2012 6:18PM
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RileyZap
Posts: 420 - Karma: 27
Ya even kicking horse is 3 hours away. Worth the drive for the snow if you ask me..
Oct 4 2012 6:27PM
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Spinoza
Posts: 12763 - Karma: 3,846
Lake Louise, and check out Sunshine. Don't get sucked into wastin a day at Norquay though
Oct 4 2012 6:33PM
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mode2n
Posts: 2856 - Karma: 255
This is the answer to your question
Oct 4 2012 6:59PM
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Brentizzle
Posts: 1584 - Karma: 1,871
Doesn't sound like you ski at Louise much... Don't get me wrong, I have had amazing days at sunshine that I will never forget and it's a fun hill to ski at. It just doesn't have the terrain that Louise has. I will still ski there a few days this season most likely like i do every season. But yes, it is all hype at sunshine.

OP if your doing day trips only, check out fernie, Louise and sunshine. Otherwise try and make it to revelstoke and/or kicking horse.
Oct 5 2012 2:39AM
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ChasingFlakes
Posts: 822 - Karma: 1,544
Im pretty big on sunshine. Had my best day at louise ( snow wise 40 cms in the morning any one remember that??

looked like this

Click for larger image


the shine is great because of the restriction on freeride zones plus for me i can do a few slack laps then go to work. can;t do that with louise. Also better snow fall. Both are good .
Oct 5 2012 5:46AM
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ShredMasterPlus
Posts: 1159 - Karma: 807
Pretty much what Brentizzle said, Louise for epic big mountain and a really nice park. Should be an airbag there now since monster hooked them up with a free one. (same one from last spring). Kicking horse is an epic place super steep and the runs are so long!. Only problem is that you almost always wind up back and the gondola and the place will be busy for the xmas holidays. Louise will have line-ups at the bottom lifts so park laps will be slow but the summit and paradise chair are usually never longer then 5minute waits(often you ski right on) on the busier days. Revy is awesome but your looking at almost 5hours of driving one way but you do gain an hour with the time change.
Oct 5 2012 2:05PM
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ryhy87
Posts: 142 - Karma: 73

Thanks for all the great advice on these resorts, we decided on Revelstoke for the trip, can't wait. 

Might check out kicking horse for a day or something in the middle if we feel like getting up that early.  Had a look at COP too..that looks really fun - but would have to go just for either the first or last day of the trip if we have time.

Oct 23 2012 7:59AM
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SteezyVandy
Posts: 137 - Karma: 39
Banff is a shit fight around xmas time.. Ridiculously overcrowded imo.. But then again im used to the feel of the small mountain towns of the bc interior and kootenay region. Revy isn't exactly close to Calgary but definitely worth the trip its awesome. Id suggest a road trip around the kootenays and surrounding areas.. Although not much in terms of park unfortunately. Check out red mountain that's where im at. The terrain is unbelievable and crowds r virtually non-existent
Oct 23 2012 10:10AM
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S.RUZYCKI
Posts: 498 - Karma: 28

go on a road trip and stop in louise for a few days then kickingf horse then revy

Oct 23 2012 11:34AM
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