What You Need to Know Before Skiing in Canada This Winter

Dania Rashid

November 29, 2023

       

Calling all skiers and snowboarders: the hills are waiting for you!

          

Are you ready for ski season this year? Get ready to carve through pristine powder and experience the exhilarating rush of winter skiing and snowboarding! Grab your gear, your ski pass and feel the crisp mountain air. The slopes are calling, and the season promises to be nothing short of legendary.

         

The Epic Pass

The Epic Pass is offered by Vail Resorts and allows access to local and international resorts with one pass. It comprises one-to-seven-day passes, regional passes and specialty passes. The all-season Epic Pass itself starts at $1,025 US for adults and $505 US for children, providing unlimited access to all resorts including Vail, Breck, Park City and Whistler Blackcomb with no reservations required. The Epic Local Pass allows 10 days of access to Vail, Beaver Creek and Whistler Blackcomb, but excludes peak dates. This pass is $795 US for adults, $597 US for teens and $385 US for children. All Epic passes also offer 20 per cent off food, lodging, rental and group lessons with Epic Mountain Rewards. The new My Epic app allows you to skip ticket lines and scan your pass hands-free.^Unsplash

       

The Ikon Pass

The Ikon Pass is offered by Alterra Mountain Company with access to beautiful destinations like Aspen Snowmass, Jackson Hole, Big Sky and even international options—like Thredbo in Australia and Niseko in Japan. Similar to the Epic Pass, the Ikon Pass has different variations including the Ikon Base Pass—with limited destinations and dates and the Ikon Session Pass—with two, three or four-day options. With more than 50 destinations, 16 of which have unlimited access (such as Steamboat in Colorado, Blue Mountain in Ontario and Tremblant in Quebec), this pass is $1,309 US for adults aged 23 and up, $1,009 US for young adults aged 13 to 22, $429 for children from four too 12 years old and $149 US for kids under four. Some benefits include 25 per cent off for friends and family and 15 per cent off food, beverages and retail.

Both Epic and Ikon passes may have blackout dates during peak times. Additionally, pass holders often enjoy other benefits than those mentioned, such as access to partner resorts and various discounts on services and accommodations.^Unsplash

      

Rocky Mountain Passport & SkiBig3

The Rocky Mountain Passport allows exclusive access to seven resorts: Banff Sunshine, Lake Louise, Mount Norquay, Fernie Alpine Resort, Kimberley Alpine Resort, Nakiska and Marmot Basin. For adults, the pass is $3,489 CAD, $2,479 CAD for youth aged 13 to 17, $1,419 CAD for children aged six to 12 and for children under five, it’s $50 CAD. There are separate prices for students, seniors and even a family package. Pass benefits include various discounts on rentals, dining and accommodations but only at Banff Sunshine, Lake Louise and Mount Norquay. The SkiBig3 ticket is another way to gain access to Banff Sunshine, Lake Louise and Mount Norquay. This ticket allows you to book a single pass for all of the adults and children joining you. Benefits of this ticket include discounts on accommodation, lessons, rentals and transportation.

      

Mountain Collective Multi-Resort Ski Pass

With access to resorts in five different continents, 24 total resorts included and a 48-day pass, the Mountain Collective Multi-Resort Ski Pass offers two days at each resort, unlimited half-off days and no blackout dates. Some of the resorts in North America include Banff Sunshine, Lake Louise, Sugarloaf and Revelstoke. For adults, this pass is $650 US, $530 US for teens and $210 US for kids aged 12 and under. Some passes come with additional benefits, such as access to winter festivals, discounts on accommodations and other perks. ^{Andy Vathis}

      

The L’EST GO Card

The L’EST GO card offers access to four Eastern Townships ski resorts: Mount Sutton, Bromont, Owl’s Head and Mount Orford. This card is valid on days, nights and weekends with no blackout dates and allows you to buy two to eight days’ worth of lift tickets with up to 34 per cent off on rates. The prices are divided into two categories: tickets for two to three days and tickets for four to eight days. For the presale (which ends on December 8) the four to eight-day ticket prices for adults are $69 CAD, $52 CAD for students and seniors and $39 CAD for kids aged six to 12. ^{Mount Orford}

       

Canadian Ski Resort Opening Dates

British Columbia:

• Sun Peaks: open now
• Whistler Blackcomb: open now
• Big White: November 30
• SilverStar: November 30
• Grouse Mountain: December 1
• Fernie Alpine: December 2
• Hudson Bay Mountain: December 2
• Revelstoke: December 2
• Mount Washington Alpine Resort: December 8
• Panorama Mountain: December 8
• Kicking Horse: December 8
• Cypress Mountain: December 8
• Whitewater: December 8
• Apex Mountain: December 9
• Red Mountain: December 9
• Mount Seymour: December 9
• Manning Park Resort: December 10
• Kimberley: December 15
• Mount Baldy: December 16
• Sasquatch Mountain Resort: December 16
• Mount Timothy Recreation Resort: December 27
• Powder King: TBD

    

Alberta:

• Lake Louise: open now
• Marmot Basin: open now
• Mount Norquay: open now
• Sunshine Valley: open now
• Nakiska Ski Area: open now
• WinSport: open now
• Castle Mountain: December 1
• Rabbit Hill: December 1
• Pass Powderkeg: December 1^Unsplash

               

Saskatchewan and Manitoba:

• Timber Ridge: open now
• Duck Mountain Ski Area: open now
• Asessippi Ski Area & Resort: December 8
• Table Mountain: TBD
• Mystery Mountain: TBD

      

Ontario:

• Searchmont Resort: open now
• Calabogie Peaks: December 1
• Lock Lomond: December 8
• Mount Pakenham: December 9
• Blue Mountain: December 14
• Horseshow Resort: December 15
• Hidden Valley: December 16
• Mount St. Louis-Moonstone: December 18
• Glen Eden: December 26
• Antoine Mountain: December 27^Unsplash

       

Quebec:

• Tremblant: open now
• Mont Ste-Marie: open now
• Mont Sutton: December 1
• Mont Sainte Anne: December 1
• Stoneham: December 1
• Le Massif: December 2
• Owl’s Head: December 8
• Mont Cascades: December 8
• Camp Fortune: December 15
• Mont Orford: December 16
• Vorlage: December 17
• Massif du Sud: December 22

      

Atlantic Canada:

• Ski Wentworth: TBD
• Ski Ben Eoin: TBD
• Crabbe Mountain: TBD
• Mont Farlagne: TBD
• Sugarloaf Provincial Park: TBD
• Smokey Mountain: TBD

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