Topic: 2106/2017 Ski & Snowboard Thread

[Dylan780]

Damn, that sounds awesome! That is exactly what I would like to do.

I have been snowboarding since I was 7 so 19 years now and I just need a change for a while haha.

[05LGT]

I've done both, skiied competitively and snowboarded on the side a few seasons. I feel a lot more freedom skiing and find its a lot easier to get to certain spots.

[Dylan780]

A buddy of mine just moved to an acreage with a nice sized hill in the back. We just started designing/planning a DIY park set up for snowboarding this year. We may even use and old 70cc dirt bike to make a little rope tow.

If we end up getting this all done you can definitely expect a Saturday WSC winter BBQ/riding sesh 

[cmyles]

A buddy of mine just moved to an acreage with a nice sized hill in the back. We just started designing/planning a DIY park set up for snowboarding this year. We may even use and old 70cc dirt bike to make a little rope tow.

If we end up getting this all done you can definitely expect a Saturday WSC winter BBQ/riding sesh 

That sounds like loads of fun!


So, for any Calgary folk here, since this is my second season boarding, I'm not the most experienced, but do well enough to get me through the chutes and glades.

I still want to be able to board somewhere easily accessible and cheap.......... NAKISKA..
I am also teaching the girlfriend how to snowboard this year, so I want somewhere that's not going to cost me $80-100 every time I want to go.

I'm thinking of picking up a Nakiska pass to get a lot more riding time in, and easily teach the girlfriend without wasting a whole lot of money.
What are everybodys thoughts on that hill? I've been twice, once in grade 9, once on openening day last year.. it was itshay and only 1 run was open so I don't have a great impression of the hill.

But $299 for a seasons pass, if I can get out every weekend that i'm not going to sunshine or louise, I feel like it will definitely be worth it.. especially if we're supposed to have a pretty intense winter.

[Dylan780]

I have never ridden Nakiska but for $299 which is only $30 more than a local city hill here in Edmonton I would definitely go for it!

Friends of mine have ridden it quite a bit and say they really like it, plus I am pretty sure they do night riding there which is awesome!

[cmyles]

I have never ridden Nakiska but for $299 which is only $30 more than a local city hill here in Edmonton I would definitely go for it!

Friends of mine have ridden it quite a bit and say they really like it, plus I am pretty sure they do night riding there which is awesome!

I can't comment on night riding, but if there is good snow conditions it looks more than decent for a 50 minute drive from my house (NW Calgary).
Even Canada Winsport is $429.99 right now, which is ridiculous..

[Jimpreza111]

A buddy of mine just moved to an acreage with a nice sized hill in the back. We just started designing/planning a DIY park set up for snowboarding this year. We may even use and old 70cc dirt bike to make a little rope tow.

If we end up getting this all done you can definitely expect a Saturday WSC winter BBQ/riding sesh 

I'd sooo be down for this.

[Player One]

So, for any Calgary folk here, since this is my second season boarding, I'm not the most experienced, but do well enough to get me through the chutes and glades.

I still want to be able to board somewhere easily accessible and cheap.......... NAKISKA..
I am also teaching the girlfriend how to snowboard this year, so I want somewhere that's not going to cost me $80-100 every time I want to go.

I'm thinking of picking up a Nakiska pass to get a lot more riding time in, and easily teach the girlfriend without wasting a whole lot of money.
What are everybodys thoughts on that hill? I've been twice, once in grade 9, once on openening day last year.. it was itshay and only 1 run was open so I don't have a great impression of the hill.

But $299 for a seasons pass, if I can get out every weekend that i'm not going to sunshine or louise, I feel like it will definitely be worth it.. especially if we're supposed to have a pretty intense winter.

I've never been, but my old roommate said it was only good when it pukes snow out there, at which point you'd have a better time at Sunshine or Louise. Take this with a grain of salt as he's a Louise fanboy.

Winsport = C.O.P? Not a bad place for a beginner to learn esp because it's in the city and isn't very difficult. Pricing isn't great for what you get though.

[coop3422]

A buddy of mine just moved to an acreage with a nice sized hill in the back. We just started designing/planning a DIY park set up for snowboarding this year. We may even use and old 70cc dirt bike to make a little rope tow.

If we end up getting this all done you can definitely expect a Saturday WSC winter BBQ/riding sesh 

Wow, so much jealousy!

$299 for Nakiska is a good deal. My gf and I were talking about it last year but missed the deadline. I've never ridden there, but heard it's good for beginners.

[Dylan780]

Set up the new board yesterday, super excited to ride this thing!!!

Untitled by dylan juneau, on Flickr

Untitled by dylan juneau, on Flickr

Untitled by dylan juneau, on Flickr

Untitled by dylan juneau, on Flickr

[toutman]

That sounds like loads of fun!


So, for any Calgary folk here, since this is my second season boarding, I'm not the most experienced, but do well enough to get me through the chutes and glades.

I still want to be able to board somewhere easily accessible and cheap.......... NAKISKA..
I am also teaching the girlfriend how to snowboard this year, so I want somewhere that's not going to cost me $80-100 every time I want to go.

I'm thinking of picking up a Nakiska pass to get a lot more riding time in, and easily teach the girlfriend without wasting a whole lot of money.
What are everybodys thoughts on that hill? I've been twice, once in grade 9, once on openening day last year.. it was itshay and only 1 run was open so I don't have a great impression of the hill.

But $299 for a seasons pass, if I can get out every weekend that i'm not going to sunshine or louise, I feel like it will definitely be worth it.. especially if we're supposed to have a pretty intense winter.

I've been teaching my girlfriend how to snowboard for the past couple seasons. I will say that you need to have incredible patience and know when to push her, and when to let her pack it in for the day. That being said, it's really fun having a girlfriend who I can board with.

As far as Nakiska goes, it's a great place to learn, and the price is incredibly solid. The transition from the Bunny hill to the bronze chair is perfect for learning, and the new glades on the gold chair are a pretty good time once you're up for it. I will say that my girlfriend didn't really enjoy snowboarding until we went to Sunshine though. The scenery really adds to the experience of it al.

[Dylan780]

Sunshine is decent but kind of sucks if you snowboard, WAY too many flat spots!

[toutman]

Sunshine is decent but kind of sucks if you snowboard, WAY too many flat spots!

It's honestly not that bad, I was able to find a good variety of runs to teach on with no flat spots. I might be biased though, as I've had my seasons pass there for the past couple years. I think out of the close 4 (Nakiska, Louise, Norquay, Sunshine) it's the best hill.

[coop3422]

It's honestly not that bad, I was able to find a good variety of runs to teach on with no flat spots. I might be biased though, as I've had my seasons pass there for the past couple years. I think out of the close 4 (Nakiska, Louise, Norquay, Sunshine) it's the best hill.

I agree. I wax my own board, and I know the flat spots, so I can usually tuck and get through them. I like Sunshine WAY more than Louise. I really dislike Louise tbh. I've never experienced good snow conditions there. It's always either icy, or slushy, or just not enough snow.

[Dylan780]

LOL okay, let me rephrase what I said.

Sunshine would be an annoying mountain for someone to learn on because of the flat spots etc.

I do agree that it is much better than Louise. After riding Whistler last year everything seems ittshay now haha.

[Rad_Racer]

A few years ago, I went snowboarding something like 24 times one winter. My daughter is 2 years old now and since she was born I think I've gone 3 times. Hoping I can get out at least 5 days or so this winter.

Copy and paste for next spring's 2017 autocross discussion.

[Player One]

LOL okay, let me rephrase what I said.

Sunshine would be an annoying mountain for someone to learn on because of the flat spots etc.

I second this statement. However, if I knew the mountain better, I assume that would change.

 

I agree. I wax my own board, and I know the flat spots, so I can usually tuck and get through them. I like Sunshine WAY more than Louise. I really dislike Louise tbh. I've never experienced good snow conditions there. It's always either icy, or slushy, or just not enough snow.

I've always had better conditions at Louise and prefer it to Sunshine. I find it has steeper terrain, better trees and has more terrain that doesn't funnel into crowded areas.  Again, if I knew the mountain better, that might change.

[coop3422]

That's fair, being a new boarder would suck at Sunshine. Or not knowing where to keep your speed. I do find the tree runs better there than Louise, but maybe I just don't know where to go there. It is steeper, but it's so much further than Sunshine, you might as well just go to Kicking Horse if you want that.

I road Panorama for the first time last year and enjoyed it. Fernie is usually good too.

I really want to get to Whistler, but it's so far and expensive that it likely won't be this year. This year, the new places I want and plan to get to are Whitefish, Revelstoke and Big White.

[Markkenko]

So far my plans for 2016 consist of heading to Whistler for a couple of days after exams are done in mid-december. Then on the way back I will most likely stop in Revelstoke and meet up with some friends for a day or two of riding there. Other than that, I will see where plans take me.

I am very excited to get back on the snow though... I was watching a handful of my videos that I previously made last night, and I got the itch....

[Player One]

It is steeper, but it's so much further than Sunshine, you might as well just go to Kicking Horse if you want that.


 This year, the new places I want and plan to get to are Whitefish, Revelstoke and Big White.

It is further distance, but time-wise its not much longer - 20 min tops. Louise is right off the highway where sunshine is a decent ways off on a slow road and parking there is brutal if they have the patrols out. Golden is another hour + from Louise.

Revy and biggy are two of my favourite mountains, I highly recommend both

[coop3422]

I've heard BW is fantastic. Some have told me the snow is better than Whistler. It's been on my list for a few years along with Revy and a few others. Downside to Revy it hotels there are so damn expensive.

I'm still throwing around the idea of getting a new board. Ebay used to be awesome for getting new decks for dirt cheap that were a year or two "old", but the deals aren't as good with the weak CAD.

[Markkenko]

Ended up booking a whistler trip just now. Looks like i'll be in Vancouver Area from the 16th to the 21st.

[Player One]

I've heard BW is fantastic. Some have told me the snow is better than Whistler. It's been on my list for a few years along with Revy and a few others. Downside to Revy it hotels there are so damn expensive.

I've heard it's the difference in snow. Big white tends to be drier compared to whis. The biggest problem with biggy is that it's usually pretty flat light or minimal visibility.
 Revy for a couple days is awesome. the mountain is right by the town so if you can find a cheap motel its totally worth it

[toutman]

I've heard BW is fantastic. Some have told me the snow is better than Whistler. It's been on my list for a few years along with Revy and a few others. Downside to Revy it hotels there are so damn expensive.

I'm still throwing around the idea of getting a new board. Ebay used to be awesome for getting new decks for dirt cheap that were a year or two "old", but the deals aren't as good with the weak CAD.

What are you looking for? The shop I work at still has a ton of sale boards from last season.

[Dylan780]

Which shop are you at?

I would definitely take a look at The Source out in Calgary, they have insane sales on all last years hardgoods. I believe snowboards, boots, bindings and outerwear are all 40% off. The Source is where I get all of my gear.