About an hour outside Calgary, in Alberta, Canada are two of the Canadian Rockies hottest skiing destinations. The Banff and Jasper areas are among the most visited busiest regions in both summer and winter months.

If you really want to see what makes the area so remarkably popular however you should spend your time touring the three ski resorts of Banff. After only a couple of hours on the slopes you’ll understand why the town and the region were tapped as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The most well-known spot is the Lake Louise Mountain Resort which is set close to the town of Lake Louise itself. Here visitors will find the crowds, both on weekdays and weekends, but it is hard to skip the scenery. Conditions on the mountain are known to turn icy, but the view from the top is unmatchable.

Of course travelers are always told to head where the “locals” go, and this usually applies to things like restaurants and bars. In Banff, however, it applies to the skiing and anyone with only a day or two on the slopes should go where the locals enjoy their downhill skiing – Ski Norquay. You might hesitate because the hill is at a lower altitude than Lake Louise, but its views of the town and its excellent long runs make it one of the most enjoyable hills in the region.

Sunshine Village is the “mid-road” between the two mountains and offers incredible scenery, and some expert-class terrain. It isn’t as close to town as the others, but is just as popular and busy, so well worth the trip.

What is important to remember about the conditions in the Banff area is that they are always “good” or better. There are very few mountains that can claim such good luck, let alone an entire region. Most would say to head to this area for some Canadian Rockies skiing, especially if time is limited. With only about an hour’s drive from Calgary, the city could easily be used as a base from which to travel. This might be a good idea since rooms in the Banff area can be quite slim during the busy season and only Sunshine Village provides “on hill” accommodations.

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Winter is when skiers start to think about booking their skiing holiday. In Europe there are hundreds of destinations to choose from. France, Switzerland and Austria all have very popular ski resorts, but if you are looking for a bargain then try Eastern Europe. Borovets in Bulgaria and the high Tatra mountains in Slovakia are attracting increasing numbers of skiers. A survey by pricerunner.co.uk and travelex.co.uk revealed that not only are the Eastern European resorts much cheaper than the popular destinations in the Alps, but they are also rated quite highly. Bansko in Bulgaria, Jasna in Slovakia, Zelezna Ruda in the Czech Republic and Kranjska Gora in Slovenia all got a mention.

If you are unsure which resort to pick, companies such as Forbes create a list of the top ski resorts in the world. The list will contain many Western and European resorts primarily because of the quality of the snow and the village atmosphere. New England has snow, but it won’t feature much on the list. This is because its snow tends to be icy, not powdery like the snow in Europe which is better for skiing. However, skiing holidays are about more than the quality of the snow. Resorts such as Aspen are hugely popular and the slopes are crowded, meaning that you probably spend more time waiting for the chair lift than on the slopes. Another consideration is the après-ski scene. For some people this is the best part of the holiday. There should be plenty of opportunities for dining, drinking and swapping stories in front of a log fire. It is also a good idea to choose somewhere that has activities other than skiing, just in case your legs need a rest from the slopes. Your accommodation is also important and should be comfortable with easy access to the slopes.

Ski holidays can be expensive, but there are ways to save money. When you book your holiday you should consider a package deal as these often work out cheaper. A single lift ticket can be very expensive.  Try booking at the last minute and stay in catered accommodation to save on eating out. Book your ski pass and ski hire online and always pay in local currency.

Ski resorts that regularly make it into the top 10 lists are:

Aspen: Located in the beautiful state of Colorado, Aspen always features on the list of top ski resorts due to its excellent ski runs that are suitable for skiers of all abilities. It is also the place where you have the chance to ski with the rich and famous although the downside of this is that it is not cheap!

Cortina: Another top choice is this stylish Italian ski resort which hosted the Olympic Games in 1956. Cortina was one of the world’s first ski resorts. The Cortina Ski World is located in the Alps and is one of the most scenic places in the world, with 120 kilometres of ski trails and 52 lifts.

Mont-Tremblant:  Canada’s best known ski resort first opened in 1939 and has recently been given a $1 billion facelift. It is a compact ski resort lying in the pretty Laurentian Mountains. The village has a distinctive French feel to it and it has a number of cafes and bistros in cosy log cabins, as well as boutiques and restaurants. The skiing is suitable for mixed groups and there is a good ski school. Another plus for this resort is that it is just one hour from Montreal for those who would like to do some sight-seeing along with their skiing.

Stowe: Located in Vermont, this is another American resort famed for its picturesque setting. It has the largest vertical drop in the area and is famous for its double-black diamond ‘Four Front’ trails, suitable for experienced skiers. However, it also offers trails suitable for intermediate skiers and beginners. Away from the ski slopes it has over 90 shops and 60 restaurants.

Chamonix Mont-Blanc: Situated in the French Alps, it played host to the first Winter Olympic Games in 1924. It lies at the foot of Mont-Blanc, the highest peak in the Alps. It is renowned for its vertical drop of 9,209 feet and for having one of the world’s longest runs, the Vallee Blance, at 13.7 miles.

Banff/Lake Louise: This ski resort in Alberta, Canada is located in the Banff National Park. It is one of the most scenic mountain resorts in North America and has very reliable snow conditions. Covering 4,200 acres it offers tree-lined runs, smooth slopes and plunging bowls, providing ideal skiing for everyone from the novice to the expert.

Vail: Another ski resort in Colorado, Vail claims to be America’s favourite resort. With 5,300 acres of skiable terrain it has the largest ski area in the USA. Vail also has a lot to offer besides skiing with art galleries, ballooning, dog sledding, museums, ice skating, hockey and snowmobiling.

Zermatt:  Switzerland’s top resort is a picturesque village and a car-free area at the foot of the Matterhorn. It has the second biggest lift-served vertical drop in the world. Zermatt has large snowfalls and the longest skiing season in the Alps.

Kitzbuhel: The most famous resort in the Austrian Tyrol. Skiing began here in 1892 and the 700-year old village still retains its traditional charm. Kitzbuhel is home to the Hahnenkahm the most dangerous and famous of the downhill ski races and is Austria’s winter entertainment capital. It has excellent skiing and snowboarding, but due to its low altitude snow may be lacking on the lower slopes.

Whistler/Blackcomb: This resort in British Columbia provides the best skiing in North America with the biggest vertical drop. It has 8,171 acres of skiable terrain and has been voted North America’s Favourite Ski Resort by OntheSnow.com visitors. The village has cafes, spas, galleries, international stores and over 100 restaurants that feature cuisines from around the world including French, Chinese, Italian, Mexican and more.

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Ski holidays don’t have to be expensive and they are great fun no matter what your level of ability. So whether you are a novice or an expert, looking for cheap ski deals or a luxury holiday you will be able to find something.

We planned on an afternoon of skiing at Sunshine Village, one of the largest ski resorts in Canada. It is located just 15 minutes from Banff, going west on the TransCanada Highway. Sunshine Village is a pretty historic place and as a ski resort it dates all the way back to 1936.

With over 3,300 acres of skiable terrain Sunshine Village is one of the largest ski resorts in Canada. The top elevation is 8,954 feet (2730 m) and the base elevation is 3,514 feet (1070 m). It receives a huge amount of natural snowfall: up to 33 feet or 9 m. Skiing usually lasts from mid November all the way to late May.

This resort straddles the Continental Divide and some of the runs are in Alberta and some in British Columbia. 107 runs spread out over 3 mountains (Goat’s Eye Mountain, Lookout Mountain and Mt. Standish). The whole area is serviced by a high-speed 8 passenger gondola that whisks you from the parking lot up to the main village. In addition, there are also 5 high-speed quad chairs, 2 quads, 1 triple, and 1 double chair and 2 magic carpets.

Sunshine Village also offers extreme terrain for really expert skiers. Delirium Dive is an expert ski area that requires special safety equipment and precautions such as being equipped with an avalanche transceiver, a shovel and having at least one other person with you. Goat’s Eye Mountain offers a number of highly challenging double-black diamond runs that should be mastered before you even consider venturing into this area.

At our level we decided to stick to the blue runs, which on this snowy day with lots of accumulated snow were plenty challenging enough for us. Every trail had turned into a mogul run, with all the extra piles of snow that had been carved into bumps by the other skiers. It was basically snowing the whole day with the sun peaking through in between the snow flakes. The night before 10 cm of fresh snow had fallen, and during the day several more centimeters got added. All the extra snow made this a really great workout, and we had to work really hard to push the white powdery stuff around.

The Banff National Park is unique in that it restricts development and there are no sprawling condominiums at the base of any of the 3 Banff area ski resorts. It is almost a throw-back to an earlier time when skiing was less commercialized. The only ski-in/ski-out accommodation is at the recently renovated 84-room Sunshine Inn, located in the main village of the Sunshine Village Resort at an altiude of 7082 feet. Ski Canada has referred to the Sunshine Inn as “the best rooms with a view in Canada!”.

For those with an appetite Sunshine Village offers a variety of culinary options: the Creekside Bar & Grill is located the gondola base. The Deli, Alpine Grill and the Lookout Bistro are all located in the Day Lodge in Sunshine Village. The Java Loft Coffee Bar and Chimney Corner Lounge are located in the Sunshine Inn while the Mad Trapper’s Saloon can be found in the Old Sunshine Lodge. Goat’s Eye Gardens is located right next to the Goat’s Eye Express and offers cafeteria style food.

An interesting feature of this resort is that it offers a SnowHost program, an absolute free program for visitors, that are welcomed by a team of frontline ambassadors for Sunshine village, all dressed in yellow and black outfits. Every day at noon the SnowHosts take skiers / riders out on tours using blue runs and show them how to access this monstruous ski area.

We spent most of the afternoon in the Lookout Mountain (top elevation: 8954 feet or 2730 m) and Mt. Standish areas, going up the Angel Express and the Wawa Quad Chair. There are many blue and green runs available in this area which was helpful on this challenging day. After a rest in the Goat’s Eye Gardens cafeteria and a sinfully filling portion of poutine, a truly Canadian culinary treat that combines French fries with curds and gravy, we felt strong enough to tackle Goat’s Eye Mountain which offers mainly single and double black diamond runs. By that time it was about 3:30 and after getting safely down the mountain we decided to make our way down to the Gondola Base. We skied down a picturesque green run called Banff Avenue all the way to our car, surrounded by peacefulness in the forest.

On our way back to Banff the sun finally came out and we stopped the car several times because the scenery was so breath-taking. The Rockies do have a way of sucking you in….

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.

Lake Louise is a beautiful mountain lake in the middle of Banff National Park in the Alberta Rockies region of Alberta, Canada. The lake is surrounded by snow-capped peaks, and at the far end is a large glacier. The lake is quite isolated, but provides a magnificent setting for a luxury resort, the Chateaux Lake Louise. This resort is currently undergoing major expansion, and a large conference wing is being constructed on the ‘inland’ side of the hotel. There is a very small town of the same name at the base of the mountain.

Lake Louise Mountain Resort is a ski resort located in Banff National Park, in the village of Lake Louise, Alberta. It can be reached from Banff, from where it is almost a one-hour drive 57 km (35 mi) west on Trans-Canada Highway.

The resort is situated on the southern slopes of the Merlin Ridge of the Slate Range, between the heights of Mount Richardson, Ptarmigan Peak, Pika Peak and Redoubt Mountain, all around 3000 m (10,000 ft) high. The base of the slopes is defined by Pipestone River, a tributary of the Bow River, immediately north of the intersections between Highway 1A (Bow Valley Trail), Highway 1 (Trans-Canada Highway), and Highway 93 (Icefield Parkway).

PLACE TO VISIT

The main attractions at Lake Louise are the vibrantly coloured glacial lakes and Victoria Glacier at the head of Lake Louise. The lakes to stop and explore are: Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, Bow Lake and Peyto Lake.

On the shores of Lake Louise is The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. During the summer you can canoe on the lake and in the winter months they offer ice skating around the ice castle or horse drawn sleigh rides. Every January there is an international ice carving competition held called Ice Magic.

Also Lake Louise Mountain Resort changes with the seasons, a world class ski resort in the winter and a Sightseeing Gondola in the summer.

If you are interested in hiking or climbing you’ve got lots of access to all sorts of trails in this area.

Mount Norquay, Sunshine Village and Lake Louise make up the three ski areas of Banff. All three resorts are unique in their own way with Mount Norquay being the closest to town, a quick 15 minute drive from downtown.

Mount Norquay is particularly popular with ski racers and locals who like steep fall line skiing; this is what the resort is really all about. Although the ski area is relatively quiet with a spacious and charming lodge, the skiing is not really suited to beginner and novice skiers. Unless you are a competent parallel skier, the trails at Norquay will seem daunting. My advice as a former ski instructor in the area would be to recommend this resort to “seasoned’ skiers” who like the challenge of steeps, bumps and hard pack conditions.

Sunshine Village is the next resort closest to town and can be found by driving West on Highway 1 towards Lake Louise. The drive takes approximately 30 minutes but can take longer on stormy days. Once you arrive at the car park you must ride the gondola to reach the ski area. This takes about twenty two minutes normally. Sometimes on very cold days (Often in December and January) the gondola will not run first thing probably for safety reasons. There are also occasions when windy conditions affect the time duration of the gondola ride.

he skiing conditions at Sunshine Village are generally excellent from early December (and often earlier) until late May. This is primarily due to its location and relatively high altitude which is comparable to high elevation European resorts.

Most British tourists who visit Sunshine Village fall in love with the scenery, light snow and skiing. The resort is of average size (compared to European and US resorts) and the trails are suitable for all levels except experts. If you are a “die hard” skier who has skied some of the serious resorts of the world you may find Sunshine unimpressive. This is because the trails are relatively short and not particularly steep. Delirium Dive is the one exception but this area is often closed for much of the season for safety reasons.

If you are a beginner skier you may find the learning area small and often crowded on weekends and holidays. However once you graduate away from this area you will find many enjoyable “green trails” to keep you happy.

For Intermediate skiers who make parallel turns or semi parallel turns Sunshine Village is a perfect place to ski. The vast majority of trails here are ideally suited for this level of skier who will love the wide open slopes and great conditions.

Sunshine Village is a truly beautiful resort to see and ski at. Most people who come here have a positive skiing experience and except for the cold weather (December and January particularly) it is hard to fault Sunshine.

The last area that makes up the ski areas of Banff is Lake Louise. Lake Louise is particularly good for intermediate to advanced skiers. Although the ski area is relatively big most of the trails are not particularly suited for beginner and novice skiers. The initial learning area however is very good (with the exception of the T-bar lift which most beginners and novices dislike). However once this area is mastered (usually between one and three days) the next step is relatively large.

Although there are many “green trails” on the front side and backside of the mountain, most of them are not particularly easy. What compounds this problem is that the front side is often hard packed and scraped due to the artificial snow that is made here. The backside does not suffer with this problem however the only trail down the mountain is a narrow path which is often intimidating for novice skiers.

For most intermediate skier’s Lake Louise is normally a wonderful experience with an abundance of long trails. In my opinion the better skiing is to be found on the backside particularly the Larch Area. Advanced skiers will also love the backside particularly on a “powder day”.

To sum up my analysis of the three areas and where one should ski when visiting Banff this is my recommendation.

Mount Norquay

Mount Norquay is ideally suited to competent parallel skiers and not beginner or novices.

Lake Louise

If you are a first time skier Lake Louise has the best learning area of all three mountains. Except for the T-bar lift, most beginner and early novice skiers make good progress here. Lake Louise is not so good for the same skiers after two days of learning as the next step up the mountain is quite challenging for most. Many of the Lake Louise “green trails” are steep, narrow or hard pack. The front side of the mountain (especially lower down nearer the bottom) is often icy and hard packed due to man made snow. The backside of the mountain is usually much better for most levels of skier.

Sunshine Village

Sunshine Village is ideal for most skiers except experts. The resort has a small beginner area that gets busy on weekends and holidays. The scenery and snow at Sunshine Village are breathtaking and except for the early season (December and January when it can be very cold) Sunshine skiing is hard to fault.

If you are a competent parallel skier I would suggest you try all three resorts and decide for yourself which is your favourite. Happy skiing this winter.

Banff National Park has an location of roughly 2,564 square miles, and attributes incredibly beautiful views of glaciers and ice fields. The park also boasts a thick forest with Lake Louise on it, and a number of the most incredible and exclusive wildlife population.

Deemed to be probably the most beautiful landscape in Canada, Banff National Park is situated about 70 miles on the west aspect of Calgary, AB. The park was established inside the year 1855 and is considered as the first ever national park in Canada, although it is the third national park ever developed worldwide. You will find about five million tourists that pay a visit to the Banff National Park, and have contributed about six billion dollars of earnings to Canada’s economic system.

All in all, Banff National Park has a total of 3 ski resorts and functions both Nordic and alpine skiing, best for ski enthusiasts of all skill levels. The park also has a 27-hole golf course inside the location, along with a considerable quantity of day hikes. Hiking by way of the park will give you an chance to witness probably the most incredible views of the terrain along with the wildlife area.

Another interesting activity that you can do in Banff National Park is bird watching. The park is property to more than 280 bird species, and examples are the red tailed hawks, falcons at the same time as the golden eagles. Yet another enjoyable activity that Banff National Park offers is rock climbing, which draws attention from adventure seekers across the world. You may also try horseback riding which is one of the best techniques to knowledge Banff National Park.

Aside from the national park, the town of Banff has numerous other fantastic deals to offer to tourists visiting their beautiful town. Banff has a total population of 8,300 residents, and has the really feel of a small and friendly town equipped with fascinating tourist activities. Amongst other intriguing places which you can pay a visit to in Banff are the Whyte Museum, Banff Center, the Buffalo Nations Luxton Museum and the Cave and Basin National Historic Web site, which will undoubtedly capture the interest of all travellers, both youngsters and adults.

Winter brings outdoor enthusiasts to Canada. It has been a popular destination because of it’s wide array of winter activities. Canada is the home for  numerous winter sports and ski resorts.The cold climate of the country is a perfect setting for various winter activities.

Here are considered top 10 winter sports in Canada:

1. Ice Skating

Probably the most common winter sport all over the world, Ice skating has become a favorite sport in Canada. Using a skating shoes as you glide the frozen ice is a perfect stress free activity. Every Winterlude festivals, the most famous Rideau Canal transform as the largest skating rink in the world. Skating enthusiasts visit Ottawa for this yearly event and experience once in a lifetime gliding across the renowned canal.

2. Ice fishing

Take a break from the usual and go ice fishing. Usually uses a hook or a spear to catch a fresh fish from a frozen lake or river. Make sure that you wear appropriate winter clothes that will warm you while waiting for the fish to caught your bait. Proper cautions should be initiated when ice fishing, after all you’ll be staying (or walking) in a frozen body of water. You have to make sure that the Ice is thick enough to support your weight. Normally you can use a small chair to sit on while waiting for the fish but for longer fishing some uses an ice shanty with a portable bunk heater to keep them warm while waiting. In Canada, various winter campground offers Ice fishing as a form of recreational activity.

3. Skiing

Canada is home for the famous Winter sport, Ice Skiing. It also features famous Ski resort like Whistler/Blackcombs in British Columbia, Mont -Tremblant in Quebec, Big White Ski Resort in Kelowna British Columbia and Banff Alberta to name a few. A ski is use for traveling across the fluffy white snow. There are many types of skiing,, two of the most famous is the alpine skiing, also called the recreational skiing or the downhill skiing which is usually available in a ski resort. Another type is the freestyle skiing, probably the most complex type since it is mainly base on aerial acrobats and balance. It usually uses tricks and variety jumps which can be done in a ski resort or all over a steeply mountain.

4. Snowmobiling

This sport uses a snow machine or or motorcycle like sled as you glide across the snow. Usually use in snowy mountain with deep snow, frozen river or lakes and even in a snowy forest. Originally it is used as a form of winter transportation but now it is considered one of the most favorite outdoor activity every winter.

5. Tubing

For families the best winter activity is probably snow tubing. Kids enjoy riding in a dough nut like tubes as the slide down a snowy hill. Canada’s ski resorts usually offers snow tubing , they have this barrier that prevents the tubes to stay away from the unguided tracks. The most famous Tube park in Canada is in Whistler Black combs.

6. Ice hockey

Is a famous sport not just in Canada but all over the world. It is usually played in a rink by a group of 6 players. Ice hockey is a physical sport that requires speed and agility thus players are required to wear protective garments like helmet, elbow and knee pads and other protection gear. The main objective of the game is to shoot the puck into your opponent’s goal using a long stick.

7. Dog sledding

Dog Sledding is actually a form of transportation for thousand of years. A sled is being pulled by a group of snow dogs to travel across frozen places. Nowadays, Dog sledding has become a recreational activity in cold countries such as Canada. Ski Resort usually offers Dog sledding activities as part of their main attractions.

8. Snowboarding

Snowboard is somewhat like skiing but instead of a ski, the person involve uses a snow board attached to his feet as he glide down the snowy hill or mountain. There are many different styles of snowboarding. The most popular style and the most common is the free ride, wherein the person glides down a snowy track with a few aerial tricks. Snow boarding is derived from other popular games like skateboarding and sledding.

9. Ice climbing

If you had experience rock or mountain climbing then you probably have an idea how ice climbing works. The only real difference is the freezing cold temperature and the slippery ice slopes your climbing. Ice climbing is a serious game thus all players are required to wear protective garments. Usually ice climbing is done on a cliff or a frozen waterfall depending on how thick the structure of the ice is.

10.Biathlon

Biathlon is a combination of cross country skiing and rifle shooting. This event can be played as an individual or a team. The player is following a cross country track and with two or four rounds of rifle shooting.

So forget  about the snow ball fight, take your car/RV keys and experience extreme adventure in Canada.