Ski / Snowboarders - Where do you go!?

[Addison]

I got a a pass with Blue Mountain last year, and I'm looking to get another pass for this year.

In the past 10 years I've only been to Blue Mountain.

Anyone have some input on the some other resorts within a 2-3 hour driving range?

[Unoriginalusername]

you should have bought before the early bird specials ended lol... i go to kelso in milton for a mid week outing (very small hill) and blue on weekends

[dimsumboi05]

For 2-3hr range, Mt. St Louis Monstone or Horseshoe is not bad either. Mind you Blue Mountain is the best resort in Ontario by far. However for some big powder go east as I recommend Mt. Tremblant, Quebec! I do a big 'board trip over there once a year. You know your on a serious mountain when...you have to ride a gondola to the summit!:chuckle

[Addison]

Yeah... I did get the early bird pricing last year. I would have again, but I couldn't nail down my work schedule until this week. :(

[S.F.W.]

I primarily go to Blue as the drive is reasonable, and the 5*7 pass is a decent value. Went to horseshoe a few times, and never want to go again. Haven't tried Mount St. Louis in years, but kind of want to.

[Impressive]

Blue, St Louis is really nice as well, but if you can afford it Vermont, or Mount Tremblant is the way to go speaking from personal experience.

[dimsumboi05]

I actually taught a couple friends last season how to 'board at Mt. St Louis. It's not as intimidating as Blue but the hills are long enough for you to teach them properly on how to stop, etc.

[crazyfast82]

Blue has the best variety of terrain in the area. The thing is that the 5 x 7 has become so popular that Saturday and Sunday nights are bordering on pandaemonium. I'm all expecting crowds at 2pm on a Saturday afternoon, but waiting 15min every lap is growing tiring. Blue Mountain on a Tuesday afternoon is a whole different story. Louie is fun for how close it is.

[Fuyuzora]

Not a practical option for regular visits, especially not from the GTA, but my personal favourite mountain for snowboarding is Jay Peak, Vermont.

Great powder, beautiful area, and if you're a skier (or daring boarder) they have some fantastic glades as well.

[Unoriginalusername]

Not a practical option for regular visits, especially not from the GTA, but my personal favourite mountain for snowboarding is Jay Peak, Vermont.

Great powder, beautiful area, and if you're a skier (or daring boarder) they have some fantastic glades as well.

Yeah Jay Peak and Stowe have some really great tracks. Whiteface is great value (NY) and is even closer

[loganm3]

mmmmmm Jay Peak, how I miss you. I went to Bishops so I pratically lived there for 4 years, and I still go out there 2-3 times a year.

I leave on a Friday and I drive home on a Monday, trip is 6-7 hours with fuel/food stops. Hotel is about $80-100 a night, lift tickets are $50 a day....all in a weekend in Vermont with a girl dings me $500ish plus booze and food (drive to the general store at the bottom of the hill) and it's even cheaper if you get a bunch of friends. We rented a chalet once for a week and skied everyday and the entire trip was $1000.

Another option: My buddies do this, take Porter in the AM to Tremblant and fly home in the evening. They told me once they got a round trip for $100

[Sean80]

Jay Peak is awesome! Banff and Mt. Washington are also wicked! In Ontario, Blue is your best bet. Once you board outside Ontario, you won't want to come back.

[froggy]

Jay Peak is awesome! Banff and Mt. Washington are also wicked! In Ontario, Blue is your best bet. Once you board outside Ontario, you won't want to come back.

yeah I was told that also and boy do I regret it. Took my first trip to Tremblant a few years ago and when I came back I was like "huh??!! whats' this? someone use a bulldozer to make these hills?"

[Jackal]

I go to Blue Mtn. Beavertails at the top ftw.

[tycho81]

if anyone ever heads out to banff/sunshine area. It's worth the trip up to Jasper/Marmot Basin. Not as big as sunshine, but it's a really nice place to ski/board. It's WAY up in the mountains, from the summit you can see BC over the mountain range, pretty cool. And the bowl is pretty fun to ski in. Also, due to the fact that it's in Jasper, it's relatively quiet compared to the really big mountains further south.

I got to stay at the fairmont for a week (visiting family that was working there), so I was a little spoiled ;)
Did you know the Queen has her own personal cabin at the fairmont in jasper? damn, what a nice place.

[froggy]

if anyone ever heads out to banff/sunshine area. It's worth the trip up to Jasper/Marmot Basin. Not as big as sunshine, but it's a really nice place to ski/board. It's WAY up in the mountains, from the summit you can see BC over the mountain range, pretty cool. And the bowl is pretty fun to ski in. Also, due to the fact that it's in Jasper, it's relatively quiet compared to the really big mountains further south.

I got to stay at the fairmont for a week (visiting family that was working there), so I was a little spoiled ;)
Did you know the Queen has her own personal cabin at the fairmont in jasper? damn, what a nice place.

For us non connected people what would a typical weekend of skiing/boarding and accomodations run per room, not the best but something decent. Plus what airport would you fly into?

[tycho81]

For us non connected people what would a typical weekend of skiing/boarding and accomodations run per room, not the best but something decent. Plus what airport would you fly into?

There are lots of reasonably priced hotels in town, ~$100/night +/-.
yeah, that's the problem, you'd have to fly into Edmonton and it's about a 5 hour drive/bus ride west to Jasper.

I only mention because I know people take trips out to whistler for a week of skiing. But for the added time (it's about twice the distance compared to vancouver->whistler) and a rental car (esp if you're in a group) it's worth the trip. Spend a few days in jasper then head down to the banff/lake louise area, then home. much more relaxed I think than the hustle and bustle of whistler.

take an extra day on each end for travel.

Just don't go in the dead of winter, though the skiing will be better, you run the risk of highway closures. Which happen regularly in Feb. :P

[froggy]

how is it usually for late season? I was thinking march break trip

[tycho81]

on quick check for first week of march at the best western. ~160/night for 4 person occupancy, 2 double beds. = $40/night per person.
5 day lift ticket is close to $300. give or take, depending on age, student rates etc..

got me thinking now. haha.

[froggy]

on quick check for first week of march at the best western. ~160/night for 4 person occupancy, 2 double beds. = $40/night per person.
5 day lift ticket is close to $300. give or take, depending on age, student rates etc..

got me thinking now. haha.

wow that's really not bad throw in food and "beverages" you're looking at about $140/day plus transportation costs.

anyone thinking what I'm thinking?

[little_wheelz]

Locally you can also try Ellicottville NY. It is typically where people in the West End of the GTA will go... They normal take CAD at par (not that it is that much different now).

Jay is great, Tremblant is the coldest place on earth!

I do 2 big trips every year. This yr is Utah and Chamonix (France) ... btw Snowbird in Utah has 10ft of snow already!! woot... be there in 2 weeks

[rukus]

ive been regularly riding holiday valley (ellicotville, NY) for the last decade or so. i love it there. ive ridden the west coast, but HV is the best in the area IMO. only 1 1/2 hrs from niagara falls (where i live)