Spring Into Sun Season - Ski Through May!

By Travel Alberta,

travelalberta [at] raremethod . com
www1.travelalberta.com

Spring skiing is considered to be the prime time for snow conditions and fun. In Alberta, you get bathed in sunshine and a particular type of powder that comes with the season.

"Where we were filming near Calgary was very beautiful and very isolated...at times you felt you left the whole world behind, you were somewhere else," Brokeback Mountain star Heath Ledger told the Calgary Sun.

Ledger's talking about Kananaskis Country, less than an hour's drive from Calgary, which is the international gateway city to the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Kananaskis Country is a provincial park and the home of ski resorts including Nakiska and Fortress.

You can ski there

Here are some insider tips on where to spring ski where the lines are short, the runs long, the amenities nearby and the deals worth checking out.

Nakiska's Spring Dream

Brett Braaten has been skiing at Nakiska for more than five years and spring is his favourite time of the year because of the high afternoon sun and the seasonal snow.

"The late day sun is incredible and the patio that sits out on the front on the upper level is a great way to see everything and everyone," he says. "And there are upslope storms that come in the spring that dump up to 80 cm in February and March especially."

Braaten recommends North Axe as "a great cruising run for intermediate and advanced skiers, running beneath the Silver Chair in the late day sun." In the spring if you're looking for bumps, you'll find them on Little Hunter and Eye Opener.

Nakiska in Kananaskis Country was built by the Alberta government to host the XV Olympic Winter Games. It features excellent snow making facilities with mostly intermediate and cruiser runs, though you can find steeps near the mountain top. The Canadian Alpine ski team trains here.

The Kananaskis Village and its lodgings are only a few minutes' drive away from the ski mountain. The village was built for the Winter Olympics, offering state of the art and deluxe accommodation at both the Delta Lodge at Kananaskis and the Executive Resort at Kananaskis.

If you're looking for deals, there are lodging packages available now and deals on the way for spring.

Nakiska's closing date this year is April 16, earlier than some of the other Alberta resorts, which can run through May.

Fortress Mountain Revived

The other Kananaskis Country ski mountain, Fortress Mountain, opened late this year but has great snow and is readying its ski-in, ski-out on-hill accommodations for spring skiing. The backside double chair just opened with more than 700 acres of fresh snow. Fortress is also just a quick drive away to the Kananaskis Village hotels and amenities.

Lake Louise's Spring Episode and Deals

Lake Louise is consistently voted tops for scenery and if you want "the best way to take a beginner for a ride" (Best of Skiing In Canada, Ski Canada magazine, Winter 2006 issue), Lake Louise's six-person gondola is a great bet for spring skiing. The Grizzly Express opened last February and gets you to the top in one 10-minute go.

The Lake Louise Spring Episode '06 (April 29-30) is an unforgettable time of terrific spring skiing at Lake Louise. You can enjoy the spring skiing, live music, on hill activities and beer gardens, among other activities.

Sunshine Village 's Slush Cup In May

At Sunshine Village, the spring skiing goes until almost the last weekend in May! And it's all natural snow. The biggest and best event at Sunshine for spring skiing is the Slush Cup on May 22. There is also the Spring Concert Series that runs every weekend from April 22 to May 21. You can find ticket and accommodation deals for spring as they're added here. While there are on-hill accommodations at Sunshine, the ski area is very near the cosmopolitan mountain town of Banff and is in Banff National Park.

Marmot Basin : Spring Worth the Wait

Marmot Basin won some serious nods in the Winter 2006 'Best Of' issue of Ski Canada magazine, including being mentioned in the best grooming, best scenery and best snow last season categories. Marmot is near Jasper in the Canadian Rockies, providing good deals along with great ski packages this season. Many skiers and boarders find the best way to access Marmot and Jasper is through Edmonton , which is the international gateway to the North.

Grant Helgeson, Marmot's marketing and sales spokesman, says a good deal for spring is the Jasper family ski card: "It's unique and great for families who ski during spring. At just $46.69 (Cdn) it can get them 20% off lift prices every day and savings at hotels in Jasper."

If you're dealing with a travel agent, it's worth mentioning and they could get you one, he says.

The spring snow season is worth the wait, he says: "Spring is when we have our best snow here. March and April are when the traditional big storms come through. To get some true powder skiing in, Jasper has uncrowded slopes. You can come up here and the only trails you cross are going to be your own. It's a laid back feeling and in the spring there are virtually no lift lines. And with our spectacular vistas and clear days with sunshine, it's absolutely amazing."

For coming events, try this website as well as www.skimarmot.com.

In Jasper, you'll find a wide range of accommodation choices, and ski and snowboard packages are available at all 14 Ski Jasper properties.

Castle Mountain: The Deep and the Steep

It's looking very, very good for spring at Castle Mountain. Andrew Rusynyk, Director of Marketing and Snowsports and Development, says: "The way it's going this year it will be spectacular spring skiing."

In March, Castle has the King of Castle Dual Slalom Race open for everyone to try and on March 26 the World's Longest Slalom is also open to everyone (try a top to bottom slalom race with 2,700 ft. vertical steep; average time is 4.5 minutes of leg burning)!

For the best deals, Rusynyk says: "Our ski n sleep packages start at $55 and they don't go up for March break, so they are worth a look." Also check out Castle Mountain Accommodations.

He says that during the spring, "there are no lift lines and only fresh lines." Castle is famous for powder and Warren Miller will be filming there during the spring.

Norquay's Groomed for Spring

Ski Banff @ Norquay in Banff National Park is home to Thomas Grandi, Canada 's World Cup GS two times champion. It offers the only night skiing in Banff . Because this hill is so close to Banff and it is in Banff National Park , it is a great choice for spring skiing, particularly if you enjoy groomed runs. Check out the website for spring deals as they are added.

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Travel Alberta (http://www.travelalberta.com) is the destination marketing organization for the Province of Alberta. Guided by the Strategic Tourism Marketing Council, Travel Alberta is the steward for the effective delivery of tourism marketing programs. For information about our organization, please visit our Travel Alberta industry web site at http://industry.travelalberta.com