Junior Free Ski event at Kimberley Alpine Resort Kicks off 2007 Series

Calgary, AB - January 22, 2007 - The 2007 RCR Junior Freeski Series will kick off at Kimberley Alpine Resort on January 27 and 28, 2007. The event provides the opportunity for youth between the ages of 7 and 18 to develop and showcase their skiing skills in a fun and supportive environment. The event is part of RCR's ongoing commitment to providing active and healthy pursuits for youth. The Series is the only one of its kind in Canada.

The Kimberley Junior Freeski will be split into age categories of 7-11 years, 12-15 years, and 16-18 years, for both boys and girls, with prizes for all categories.

The event schedule is as follows:

Saturday, January 27

7am-8am: Bib Pick Up (Stemwinder Bar and Grill)
8:00am: Competitors' Meeting
10:00am: 3:00pm: Competition
4:30pm: Awards of the Day
7:00pm: Competitors, friends and family are invited to view and celebrate the day's events (Trickle Creek Golf Resort Clubhouse).

Sunday, January 28

8:00am: Competitors' Meeting
10:00am: Competition Finals
3:00pm: Awards

The event entry fee is $50, and competitors may register in advance. Advanced registration is recommended, as space is limited to a maximum of 75 competitors, and registration is filling up quickly. Competitors also receive 20% off lift tickets for the event dates. Helmets are mandatory.
The event is part of the RCR Junior Freeski series, with upcoming events including the Lake Louise Junior Big Mountain Challenge on February 17 and 18, and the Fernie Junior Freeski on March 10 and 11. There will be a combined category prize for competitors that participate in all three events.

It's Official - Lake Louise Mountian Resort is having its best season ever

2006/7 Beating Out All Previous Epic Winters – What Are You Waiting For?


Calgary, AB – January 10, 2007 – Lake Louise Mountain Resort has received more snow, generated a deeper snowpack, and opened more terrain earlier than any previous year on record, making 2006/7 the best year to date.

The Resort surpassed the 3 metre (10 foot) mark for accumulated snowfall on January 6th, which is the earliest in 38 years of record keeping. This was two days ahead of the epic season of 98-99, which had previously been the benchmark ‘best snow year’…until this year.

As of January 10, Lake Louise has had 3.28 metres (11 feet) of accumulated snowfall, as measured at the treeline, which is 168% above average for this time of year. The resort received 20cm (8 inches) overnight last night and 44cm (17 inches) in the past week. All lifts and 139 of 139 runs are open.

Says Matt Mosteller, Senior Director of Business Development for the world-famous Resort, “There’s no better place to be right now than the Canadian Rockies for an incredible skiing and riding experience. The conditions have been terrific since our opening day in November, but the continued record snowfall has taken the Lake Louise experience to a whole new level. People are enjoying some of the best ski days of their life right now.”

Visitor Daniel Hobachi, of Toronto, Ontario, enjoyed the champagne powder on Tuesday and said, “I’ve been snowboarding for 10 years and have traveled around the world looking for the Ultimate Ride. The snow at Lake Louise blew my mind and is by far some of the best I’ve experienced. Beautiful scenery, challenging terrain and wonderful people – What more could anyone ask for?”

Australia's Best School Skiers to compete at Sun Peaks

The action takes place January 12-14, 2007!

January 9, 2007 – Sun Peaks, BC – Award-winning young Australian skiers are traveling to the Canadian ski resort of Sun Peaks to claim the inaugural Sun Peaks Family Cup.

2007 is the first year for the Sun Peaks Family Cup, sponsored by Ski Tours Canada, a ski & snowboard race open to any school aged student in Canada and around the world. Parents can also compete in races that cover everything from fastest time to most spectacular fall.

The Sun Peaks Family Cup is a perpetual trophy awarded to the country which scores the highest combined point score from their countries competitors. The competitors may also form their own team by family, region club or association for the “Regional Cup Award or Family Cup Award”.

The Sun Peaks Family Cup is based upon the same program undertaken by the Scots College in Australia. The Scots Cup has been held annually in Perisher Blue (Australia) since 1992, initially for Sydney’s Scots College students until it was opened to all school aged skiers (4 to 19 years) in 2001. Its popularity led to the event expanding to Canada four years ago as the Scots Fernie International Interschools Cup.

The event program has now been expanded to include Sun Peaks Family Cup with the inaugural event running January 14, 2007. With over 200 competitors expected from Australia, Canada and many other countries the event is expected to provide a high level of competition from both local Canadians and the visiting Australians.

The event program begins Friday January 12th, with a welcome cocktail reception at the Hearthstone Lodge for adult competitors. Saturday’s events include skiing with Olympic Champion Nancy Greene and a parade through the village at 4:30pm. The races take place on Sunday. Course inspection is set for 9am, the two-run race beginning at 10am. Prizes will be handed out at Masa’s at 4pm.

Whistler Blackcomb Exceeds All Time Snowfall Record

WHISTLER, BC, January 11 2006 – Following the most recent snowstorm that dropped 22 centimetres or 8 inches in 24hrs, snowfall accumulation totals at Whistler Blackcomb have reached record highs. 877 centimetres or 345 inches of snow has fallen in Whistler so far this season, which is the most the resort has seen by this time in January based on 27 years of snow data analysis. The previous record saw 827 centimetres or 325 inches fall by January 31 of the 1991/1992 season. The current base sits at an incredible 305 centimetres or 120 inches as measured at mid-mountain.

“This has been the most incredible season here, and we’ve been extremely lucky compared to other resorts on the East Coast and throughout Europe,” says Stuart Rempel, Whistler Blackcomb’s senior vice president of marketing and sales. “We’ve seen system after system blaze through this area and it seems like every few days there’s another metre of snow on the hills. It’s really quite amazing to wake up each morning to another epic powder day. We’ve been very blessed.”

With an average annual snowfall of 10 metres or 33 feet, Whistler Blackcomb is close to exceeding this by the end of January.

The Environment Canada Alpine Forecast is calling for a high pressure system to move in over the next few days bringing some welcome sunshine to the stormy resort. With the annual Whistler Blackcomb Learn to Ski Week coming up January 16th, conditions for first time skiers and riders could not be better.
Whistler Blackcomb started off the 2006/2007 season with the snowiest November on record with 416 centimetres or 164 inches of snow. The previous record was in 1994/1995 with 272cm. December received 275cm of snow. So far this season, Whistler Blackcomb has seen over 15, 15+ centimetre days.

First Time skier to North America

Skiing in North America is an exciting and unique experience and is very different to skiing in NZ. It is hassle free, comfortable and everything is organised to maximise your enjoyment on and off the slopes.
That comes as no surprise to the thousands of Kiwis who travel to North America regularly to ski. But for first time North American skiers, it is always a pleasant surprise to find a totally dedicated ski resort built for skiers and boarders, right on the mountain.

Imagine a beautiful alpine village wonderland nestled in a valley surrounded by awesome views and snowy slopes. Imagine stepping out of your hotel door, putting on your skis or board and sliding down to a modern high-speed chairlift, with no queues. Imagine gliding through soft powder snow on gently sloping glades or cruising down perfectly groomed pistes with no one in sight.

Imagine wandering around the on mountain village at the end of a perfect day on the slopes, soaking up the atmosphere as you walk to bars or restaurants for a cosy night of relaxation.

Aspen : Ski Resort Feature

When it comes to winter destinations - from fantastic skiing and riding, to cultural activities, great shopping, exciting nightlife and one-of-a-kind restaurants - Aspen/Snowmass offers the complete vacation experience.
It's not just one mountain. It's Snowmass, Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk. Decide which mountain fits your passion. Four choices and nearly 5,000 acres, on one lift pass.

Snowmass: With 3,100 acres of cruisers, steeps, terrain parks and halfpipes, splayed upon a Rocky Mountain massif with a vertical drop of 1,343 meters. Snowmass defies belief. So many runs, so much variety, and all of it fun for the entire family.
Aspen Mountain: Rising out of the heart of downtown Aspen and famous for its steeps, bumps and incredible views, Aspen Mountain and its double-black and tree runs are fun for skiers and snowboarders alike.
Aspen Highlands: Known as the locals' favourite mountain, Aspen Highlands features extreme terrain, groomed cruisers and breathtaking views of the Maroon Bells. For the ultimate ski/snowboarding experience, drop into Highland Bowl. It's as much about the hike up as the trip down.
Buttermilk: Home of the ESPN Winter X Games through to 2010 (for an unprecedented nine consecutive years!), Buttermilk is also a premier mountain for beginners. While experts frolic in the terrain park, the rest of the family can cruise on the wide, rolling trails.

More on Ski Aspen »

Phew! Where did the year go?

If you've called it quits for the ski season, packed away your board/skis and are thinking about Christmas, holidays and sunshine, think again.
Think of dry powdery snow, fast moving queues, uncrowded slopes, alpine villages right in the snow, long sasons with crisp clear days and fresh overnight snowfalls, where closures are virtually unheard of. All this is waiting for you in North America. For those of you like your powder deep, or manicured to perfection on long trails of cruising courduroy, North America is where you'll want to be.
The snow is falling in North America big time now, with big dumps reported from several ski resorts, creating an excellent start to the North American Ski season. Several resorts are opening early, including Copper Mountain, Kicking Horse and Lake Louise. Others aren't far off opening day, and by the time our Christmas holidays begin, North America will be in full swing.
Check out the latest photos of the snowfalls » then give us a call and let us book your North American snow holiday. What a great Christmas present that would make!