Canada is home to some of the most fantastic ski and snowboarding resorts. It’s a world famous destination for skiers and snowboarders of all abilities, and hosts some of the most spectacular snowboarding events each year.

During the winter season, the country is bursting with various snowboarding events for any boarder to marvel at. There are so many different events from local to regional and national snowboarding championships that it would be impossible to name them all.

There are however, the biggest, best and most popular events to name. The start of 2011 is slap bang in the middle Canada’s ski and snowboarding season, which culminates towards the summer months (these can vary between locations as Canada is such a vast country).

So what are the 2011 snowboarding events in Canada? Well to start off, there’s the FIS (International Ski Federation) Noram Cup. The North-American Cup, or Noram Cup as its better known, is part of the Canada Snowboard Tour. The first event in the FIS Noram Cup is the snowboard cross event. This takes place on the 15th and 16th January at Big White Ski Resort in British Columbia. This particular event is hosted by BC Snowboard.

The Noram Cup continues in February on the 12th and 13th in Le Relais, Quebec. This time the events covered in the competition include the Parallel Giant Slalom (PGS) and Parallel Slalom (PSL). This particular event is hosted by Snowboarding Quebec.

Next up we have the LG Snowboard FIS World Cup, arguably one of the biggest and most popular events on the snowboarding calendar. To start off we have Snowboard Cross, the Half Pipe, Big Air and PGS covered on February 17th – 20th. This takes place in Stoneham, Quebec. The LG Snowboard FIS World Cup event continues a couple of weeks later in Calgary, Alberta on 24th – 26th February where the Half Pipe and Slopestyle will take to the stage.

Then we move onto the national championships, the favoured for any patriotic Canadian, as this is the pinnacle event of the season. There are two events that cover either style or speed.

First up we have the Canada Snowboard Nationals covering style. This event takes place between March 14th and 20th at the Canada Olympic Park in Calgary, Alberta. The type of snowboarding styles competing will be the Half Pipe and Slopestyle.

Finally rounding off the season, there is the Canada Snowboard Nationals, focussing on Speed. This event takes place on Lake Louise in Banff, Alberta and runs from April 7th to April 11th. The events competing in this one are Snowboarding Cross and PGS.

So there you have a number of key national and international events taking place in the heart of Canada’s ski and snowboarding season. These are huge events, watched by the world over so if you are thinking of spectating at one, then it is advisable to book well in advanced.

For more information on any of these events you should either visit the organising bodies website, so for example the International Ski Federation or Canada Snowboard. Alternatively you could visit the website of the host of the event, for example, Snowboarding Quebec or BC Snowboard.

There is a plethora of alternative snowboarding events right down to regional and local level. Understandably the standard and ability will not be as high as the national or international events, but are nonetheless just as entertaining.

If you’re either a beginner just starting out or a seasoned snowboarder, watching these types of events can give any budding snowboarder the motivation to take to the piste and maybe compete themselves one day!

If you are planning your next adventure between November and May, the timing is right for your turn at alpine ski holidays. Clean air, open spaces and sense of freedom flying down the mountain await the beginner through to the expert at the top North American ski resorts in Canada and the States.

Destination Canada attracts some serious ski Banff enthusiasts for the perfect mountain conditions and resort amenities touted as the best in the west. Skiers of all shapes, sizes, ages and fitness levels have plenty to do from mastering the beginner’s bunny hill to challenging their skills on the expert slopes.

The ski Banff experience begins and ends with the slopes, however, persons who have never skied and aim to take a whack at it have every resource at their fingertips to ski with success. Banff resort is located approximately 135 km from Calgary International Airport in Banff National Park. Equipped with over 3000 acres of superior skiing terrain, Banff operates a comprehensive ski and snow boarding school to take you from zero to hero with expert instruction and workshops for all levels of expertise. In addition, your little ones can take part in the action with the Banff Tiny Tiger Daycare for child minding and quality educational time to learn about alpine sports.

Although Alberta, Canada is a ski lover’s paradise, your snow holidays in North America are simply not complete until you have experienced skiing in New Hampshire. Downhill racers flock to the steep and rugged slopes of New Hampshire’s most challenging courses for a wild ride down the mountain like nowhere else in the region. Take your stance at the gate: three, two, one, go. Skiing New Hampshire takes extreme sports to the limits with notorious mountain courses and breathtaking scenery by day and a hip and trendy village life to retreat to by night.

Ski holidays are the number one choice for a winter escape whether you are a master down the Matterhorn or a madcap misadventure waiting to happen. Skiing is great exercise, opens up the cardio-vascular system and can release more pleasure popping endorphins than you ever dreamed possible. Ski for sport or swish about for laughs, a ski holiday brings out the kid in you and reminds your body what it feels like to have childlike fun.

Skiing is a universal sport that draws its people together with competition on the slopes and good times in the pub at night. Expert and novice alike bond like glue creating one of the friendliest and close-knit holiday environments to relax and unwind with like-minded people. Once a skier, always a skier, so if you haven’t tried it yet, your time has come. It’s never too late to learn or take part in ski village life, so make your reservation and join the club. Once you’ve tried it, skiing is sure to become a lifelong love affair and you’ll wonder why you waited so long.