S-Magazine | Winter 2013

snowsportsculture.com S–Magazine 1

Canada Post PubliCation agreement # 42084025

winter 2013 $4.95Volume 7, number 2

The power of moo poo

Vermont resorts turn to renewable

energy

+All in

The fAmilyBig White

continues to get families’ winter

groove on

GLORY IN THE HIGHEST Basking in the picturesque Banff resorts

*insides-competition magazine

catch me if you canThe Lindsey express Train roLLs on

DreAm bigDreAm Deep

B.C.’s iconic interior – the

headquarters for heli-ski

dreams

quinTessenTiAl issue

skiing’s besT-kepT

SECRET kicking horse: the pinnacle of must-conquer destinations

plus hoT in

The ColD TOp 10

TRENdS fOR 2013

2 S–Magazine snowsportsculture.com

© 2012 Columbia Sportswear Company. All rights reserved.

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DPS S Magazine

The 2013 Audi S8 is here. S isn’t just a letter. It’s the promise of an incomparable driving experience. The S8 fulfi ls that promise in every measure: a powerful 520 hp engine, the breathtaking traction and control of Audi quattro®, and Cylinder-on-Demand technology that shifts from four to eight cylinders as needed. We put more into every S8, so you get the most out of every S-turn. audi.ca ©

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Departments 10 Ed NotE Quilting a ski portrait

13 firSt load Moo poo power

58 SlopEStylE Top 10 trends and finds

62 BODY fuEl Avoiding the bad stuff

64 tipS up Silky smooth rhythm

66 partiNg Shot Yodeling bandits strike

in this issue winter2013

28 44

→on the cover: The Lodge of The Ten Peaks at Lake Louise during the Winterstart World Cup races in December 2012. Photo by Michel Painchaud. 58

FeatUres19 QuiNtESSENtial iSSuE

20 Skiing’s best-kept secret: Kicking Horse Resort

28 dream big, dream deep: B.C. interior heli-skiing

34 all in the family: Big White Resort

44 glory in the highest: Picturesque Banff skiing

52 CatCh ME if you CaN The Vonn Express Train is not slowing down any time soon

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new gear: Fancy new toys For the ski hill. see page 16.


editor’s note quin·tes·sen·tial [kwin-tuh-sen-shuh l]. The essence of something.

Trev

or B

rady

Gordie Bowles, editor

there’s something about the letter Q that I love. Always have. It’s the most elegant letter in our somewhat flawed English language. It’s a mysterious and seldom-used letter (Wikipedia states that Q is the second-least-common English letter, used in just 0.09 percent of words). But it’s a high-scoring Scrabble tile. Quaint, quash, quoth, quadrable ... OK, perhaps not ski terms, but undeniably cool and classy words. So it seemed fitting that Q became, in a way, an inspiration for this issue of S-Mag.

In the spirit of not-so-common expressions and elegant style, The Quintessential Issue celebrates the best of the best of skiing today, from Kicking Horse Resort (“Ski-ing’s best-kept secret,” page 20), B.C. interior’s best heli-ski outfits (“Dream big, dream deep,” page 28), the family ski mecca of Big White Resort (“All in the family,” page 34) and the epic mountain culture of Banff (“Glory in the highest,” page 44). Speaking of elegant, Lindsey Vonn can fit that bill as well (“Catch me if you can,” page 52).

Our ever-funny ski fashion writer, Michael Mastarciyan, again delivers his take on slopestyle fashion (“Hot in the cold,” page 58), where, lo and behold, “shiny and quilted” sit at No. 1 (love that Q!). Ryan Stuart’s Fuel column (“Snack Attack,” page 62) offers a few insights into maximizing your experience on the hill. And Josh Foster brings his latest installment of ski tips (“Silky and Smooth,” page 64), serving up advice for establishing flow in powder snow. You will not regret any of these reads.

As ever, we aim to prepare you for your next ski adventure, to give you something to query or question the next time you get in the lift queue. Remember to quantitate your successes and avoid getting yourself in a quandary if you’re skiing in the outer quadrant. And, always end your ski day feeling quenched but hungry for more.

editoriAL /art / prodUCtion

EDITOR Gordie Bowles

ART DIRECTOR (ON LEAVE) Lisa Thé

ACTING ART DIRECTOR Doris Cheung

MANAGING EDITOR Don Cameron

SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER Paul Morrison

SENIOR WRITERS Michael Mastarciyan,

Ryan Stuart, Steven Threndyle

Editorial & dEsign

Fresh Air Publishing

contributors

Kirsten Skarsgard Bowles, Trevor Brady,

Max Dalton, John Evely, Josh Foster,

Julie Nieuwenhuys, Michel Painchaud,

Sheila Reesor, Mike Ridewood, Edith Rozsa,

Graham Roumieu, Caroline van ‘t Hoff.

Publication Agreement No. 42084025

Canada Post No. 7309575

ISSN: 1913-9861

AdVertising

Mark Kristofic [email protected]

snoWsPorts mediA inCorPorAted

PRESIDENT Chris Robinson, [email protected]

VICE PRESIDENT Mark Kristofic, [email protected]

CONTROLLER Lisa Crowley, [email protected]

S-Magazine is an independent publication of

Snowsports Media Inc. 87-B Hurontario St.,

Collingwood, Ont., L9Y 2L9.

Phone: (416) 840-6615

E-mail: [email protected]

www.snowsportsculture.com

In the Early Winter 2013 issue (Vol. 7, Issue 1), in the feature story titled “Plotting Paradise,” S-Mag incorrectly identified “Gray Rocks/Mont Tremblant” as a dream trip destination. Gray Rocks, in fact, is no longer in business. Also, in “World’s Best Ski Adventures,” Pin Rouge, Québec, was incorrectly identified as the highest in the Maritimes. S-Mag regrets the errors.

Quilting a portrait of ski country elegance

Winter 2013, Vol. 7, No.2

CORRECTIONS

quin·tes·sen·tial [kwin-tuh-sen-shuh l]. The essence of something.

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SML_SMEDIA_1012®_Layout 1 10/15/12 12:40 PM Page 1


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→People, news, gadgets and other chairlift ramblings

Beware of the power of moo poo. Vermont ski resorts have added some fire power to their lineup, using innovation, local renewable resources and a lot of cow dung. Vermont dairy farms have been converting manure to methane (natural gas), in turn driving an electric generator to create enough electricity to power lifts at areas like Killington. With 13 farms across the state participating in the Green Mountain Power “Cow Power” program — roughly 10,000 dairy cows producing 300,000 gallons of manure per day — the volume of this local energy source is luring new farms to the program. The leftover manure is used as an enhanced fertilizer.

Vermont resorts TurNS TO cOW POWer


Bored? Ski the deSertThe same ‘ol powder in the same ‘ol cold weather getting you down? Try skiing the desert. Visitors to Ski dubai resort – connect-ed to the Mall of emirates, south-west of the Burj Al Arab – can escape to the balmy confines of 40 degree plus weather. The world’s biggest indoor ski slope, Ski dubai has five acres of ski-ing and a vertical drop of 200 feet. downside? After one or two runs you’ll likely be bored stiff. But then again, how many can say they skied in the desert.

New Hampshire’s largest ski area is also one of New England’s most stun-ning. Likely not a regular stop for the adrenaline-seekers but for those seek-ing scenic perfection at the foot of Mount Washington, then here’s your place. The luxurious Mount Washington Hotel, a century-old grand lodge, provides the ski area a magnificent greeting as well as a slopeside experience.

Bretton WoodS

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AVAlAnche airBag SyStemSnowpulse heli 22 avalanche airbag system. Beacon, shovel, probe. Those three items have been the staple safety tools for backcountry skiers for decades. But airbag systems have made a big push to join that list as backcountry essentials, and a handful of companies have targeted perfecting the technology. Snowpulse has created a lineup of bags for different purposes, such as the Heli 22 Backpack, a low profile but extra holding capacity to carry a day’s worth of gear on longer tours. The system features a one-hand-activated float and protection in the event of an avalanche. $1,074 ($899 without cylinder), snowpulse.com

Skiers visits down – Source: SIA

47%

10.2%

Reverse camber ski sales up

GOOD NEWS

BAD NEWS


The year 2012 marked a significant turn-ing point in the history of the Canadian Ski Patrol. Not only did long-standing Executive Director John Leu retire after 35 years (54 years as a patroller), a new CEO/national president, Colin Sarava-namuttoo, stepped in to guide this great system of 4,500 professional lifesaving volunteers into the future. As significant a change for some as transitioning from straight to parabolic skis, you could say that the Canadian Ski Patrol now has a new pair of high-performance twin tips. Still well-rooted in 70+ years of history and knowledge in this industry, the na-tionwide system is embracing the future and making fresh tracks as the leader of snow-sliding safety and rescue in this country. It’s a new, exciting evolution that will only serve resort operators and the skiing/sliding public even better over the next seven decades. – Sheila Reesor

Ski Patrol BoSS STepS doWn

jumBo plAnSThe B.C. Government has approved develop-ment for Jumbo Glacier Mountain Resort. Located near Invermere, B.C., the soon-to-be monster ski area will boast four glaciers and an expected 1,750 metres of vertical and 5,925 hectares of skiable terrain. Once complete, it will feature up to 23 lifts, a 3,000-metre-high gondola and a ski village with more than 6,000 units. jumboglacierresort.com

Vail cIrcA 1962If you’re planning a trip to colorado, try this uber pamper package. notoriously luxurious, the service-oriented Four Seasons resort Vail is offering the Vail 1962 package, which includes a one-night stay in executive suite, 50-minute massage in the spa, $50 (US) credit for the Flame restaurant, and two 1960s classic cocktails at the Fireside lounge. fourseasons.com/vail/offers/1962_package/

BeSt of the eaSt Top 10 reSorTS In eASTern norTh AMerIcA1 Stowe, Vt.2 Le Massif, Que. 3 Jay Peak, Vt.4 Mont Sainte Anne, Que.5 Killington, Vt.6 Tremblant, Que.7 Waterville, Valley, N.H.8 Whiteface, N.Y.9 Sunday River, Maine10 Marble Mountain, Newfoundland

BeSt of the reStBlue Mountain, Ontario; St. Sauveur, Quebec; Mont Sutton, Quebec; Ski Bromont, Quebec; Snowshoe, West Virginia; Mountain Creek, New Jersey; Loon Mountain, New Hampshire; Sugarloaf, Maine; Smugglers’ Notch; Vermont; Stratton, Vermont

From

top:

don

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obe

rti r

esor

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ign


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Pro-tec B2 audio helmetThis helmet hooks up to most music players with a twist-locking connection so it won’t jerk out of your helmet, and volume and mute are controlled by a large dial on the outside of the ear pad that can easily be operated with gloves on. pro-tec.net/helmets

Blizzard BonafideThis wood-core, sandwich-constructed all-mountain ski is geared toward more aggressive skiers. The 98 millimetre waist gives ample stability for motoring through crud and the slight tip and tail rocker add a little fun to this all-around ski. $850, blizzard.com

BeSt new AppS

epicmix racingThe latest from Vail Resorts’EpicMix lineup, the racingapp focusses on the speeddemons. Vail teamed up withalpine superstar LindseyVonn, where she sets the pace. Top finishers for the season will be invited for an end of season race with Lindsey at Beaver Creek. (Free, iOS and Android). SkiPhoneKeep this app runningwhen you’re on the slopes to avoid fumbling with gloves.(Free, Android). SkiPursuitRecord speed, descent,distance and time skiing,and produce averagesfor the day. (Free, iOS).

SnowhereNothing replaces the ava-lanche beacon, but it can’t hurt to have a backup like this new app, which uses GPS to turn your phone into a beacon that other users can track. ($9.99, iOS).

kestrel 3500 Pocket weather meterPocket weather meters have been around for years, but Kestrel’s lat-est gives precise data such as snow temperature, wind speed, wind chill, altitude and pressure trends. $194. kestrelmeters.com

oakley airwave goggleTech-savvy skiers will be loving Oakley’s latest creation: a GPS-enabled goggle that instantly delivers information such as distance, airtime, speed and altitude delivered real-time to a heads-up display. The goggle can also be connected to a smartphone and all its features. $599.95. oakley.com

lytro cameraThis new teeny tiny camera takes lightning-fast photos, even in low light, and allows for refocussing after you take the shot. $499 (16MB) lytro.com

EDITOR’S PICK

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S h h , d o n ’ t t e l l a n y o n e a b o u t S k i i n g ’ S b e S t - k e p t S e c r e t K i c K i n g H o r s e , o r t h e d e e p , f l u f f y d r e a m S o f b . c .’ S H e l i - s K i o u t f i t S , o r t h e f a m i l y S k i m e c c a a t B i g W H i t e , o r t h e m o u n t a i n c u l t u r e a r o u n d B a n f f . k e e p a l l t h i S t o y o u r S e l f.

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embarrassing that the answer was always no. Truth be told, I did ski the Whitetooth ski area in the early 1980s, the old city-owned and operated ski hill that was located in the same general location as the modern day resort. Then again, that was a one-lift operation where the skiing was over shortly after it started and the ATCO-trailer-style day lodge was colder inside than it was out. Even deeper into the nostalgic archives, my roommate for this trip, re-nowned photographer Paul Morrison, confessed it was his first-ever stop at this soon-to-be mega re-sort. The same held true with Smithers-based pro skier Claire Challen, the third-component of our travelling road show. Paul worked as a rock blaster in the late 1970s in the nearby town of Golden, B.C., and reminisced about his escapades at Mary’s Mo-tel (it’s still there, we drove by!). But no skiing. So I didn’t feel so bad; Paul is one of the most published ski photographers in the industry (translation: he’s skied everywhere). So here we were, winding up the 13-kilometre mountain road, a photographer, pro skier and an editor with a few decades of turns between us exploring a new mountain, and all its possibilities, for the first time. Awesome.

Arriving at Kicking Horse Resort gave us a hint a European ski village vibe (forgetting that we just drove for nearly 10 hours, much of it white-knuck-ling, the equivalent of crossing Austria and half of Italy; not a typical European drive). Not of the Verbier or Chamonix ilk — where your senses are overwhelmed by cultural and landscape magnifi-cence — but more like Les Deux Alps, in France, or St. Anton, Austria. Small and unassuming, but approachable. Don’t get me wrong, at this point I was already shaking out my travel-weary legs knowing that by this time the next day they would be destroyed after attempting to keep up to this mountain. Unassuming yes, approachable, we’ll wait and see.

After a leisurely start to the day, sipping tea and reviewing our plans, the mission began. My

i r e a l ly c o u l d n ’ t t a K e a n o t H e r “ y o u - H a v e n ’ t - s K i e d - K i c K i n g - H o r s e ? ” c o m m e n t. B e i n g a K o o t e n a y K i d ( r a i s e d i n f e r n i e ) , i t W a s d o W n r i g H t

Vertical1,260 metresSkiable acreage2,800 acres eleVationtop of mountain2,450 metres

terrain128 runs85 in-bound chutesbeginner 20%intermediate 20%advanced 45%expert 15%

kicking horse by the nuMbers


t r a v e l t i P t H e B e s t t i m e t o t r a v e l t o K i c K i n g H o r s e i s r i g H t a f t e r t H e c H r i s t m a s B o o m , W H e n t H e m o u n t a i n s l o W s d o W n , t H e s n o W i s c o n s i s t e n t l y d r y a n d l o d g i n g m o r e a f f o r d a B l e .


first site offloading the Golden Eagle Express gondola – besides the glori-ous Eagle’s Eye lodge which sits on the perfect perch – was mountains, snow, more mountains, more snow. When you ski here, you’re amongst very fine archaeological company. I’m speaking of the ever-flowing Dogtooth range in the Purcell mountains, that seems to rise and drop from every angle. Six national parks surround the resort (Banff, Glacier, Kootenay, Yoho, Mt. Revelstoke and Jasper) giving the feeling that you’re being watched by millions of years worth of rock and ice.

Deciding which direction to go was about the toughest decision of the day. And of course, before my first turn, it was a hike. Fitting. Had I turned left and pointed tips down I would have been loving the first taste of Kicking Horse snow but turned right (up) to seek out a drop that was just a little bit nicer. And it was.

Our first turns were on the south side of Terminator Ridge, T1 to the locals. The fall line from 7,900 feet dropped quickly, drifting directly into

Super Bowl, a wide open bowl that fun-neled back into the main area and towards the village base. Spotting the well put together base of the resort – a “village” in its embryonic stages – reminded me of the effort and resources that have been poured into this project. A far cry from the colder-on-the-inside days of past.

This transition from a locally-owned ski hill to a bonafide mountain resort was likely not an easy transition. Golden’ites supported the initial development phase – almost exclusively – and since have seen an additional $100 Million invested into the multi-decade “master plan”, which in-cludes expansion in accommodation, com-mercial properties, summer-based options (including a signature 18-hole golf course) and the addition of 11 new ski lifts. Eventu-ally, the skiable terrain will reach 4,188 acres. Big business. And to throw a wrench into the complexity of these ambitious fu-ture plans, the resort was purchased early last season by the Resorts of the Canadian Rockies — owners of Fernie, Monte-Sainte-Anne and three other Canadian resorts — from Ballast Nedam, the initial owner and developer of Kicking Horse.

Bread-and-butter Carving our a resort’s “niche” is no simple task. Ultimately, it’s the vision of the devel-opers that will dictate which clientele the marketing efforts will cater to. Will it be an

affordable hard-core ski mountain? Luxury oriented travel destination? Approach-able family stop? The planners must have grappled long and hard over the vision of what Kicking Horse would become. When they launched the resort in 2000, there were already plenty of established options competing for international and regional travel dollars. The closest international airport, Calgary, has seven quality ski re-sorts (Lake Louise, Sunshine, Mt Norquay, Nakiska, Fernie, Kimberley and Kicking Horse) all within a three-hour plus drive.

The identity of Kicking Horse was not obvious, at least definitively. Like an over-achieving teenager, brimming with poten-tial, but not yet a crystal clear direction on future aspirations, Kicking Horse has huge goals and a long way to go.

But if I was to pull out one potentially-defining characteristic, I would lean towards family skiing. Catering to the needs of the multi-generational traveller is a smart move for any resort and appears to be a focus here. Most resorts constantly adjust and fine-tune their family offer-ings. Where Kicking Horse might have an upper hand is that the mountain is big, but without the intimidation factor of other big mountains, like Revelstoke and Whistler. Crowds are few and far between and the positioning of the beginner area at the base, next to the après patio’s and restau-rants is smartly placed.

try the boutique hotels, like the vagabond lodge, which finds a balance between luxury and practicality, along with a splendid breakfast and after-ski snack. the spacious rooms feature private bathrooms and some (like ours) with loft-style bedrooms. it’s easy to feel at home at the Vagabond. other options: highland lodge, a rustic Scottish-inspired cabin, or the rustic Winston lodge, decorated throughout in hand-crafted, solid wood furniture. vagabondlodge.ca

w h e r e t o s tay ?


a l M o s t c l e a r f u t u r ethere are many uncertainties re-garding the future of kicking horse resort. entering its 13th season in 2013, the mountain continues to announce new offerings and up-grades as it forges ahead along its well-thought-out path. but the one constant that will keep the owner’s grounded, the beds full and opera-tions humming along, has nothing to do with business or planning. it’s the snow. untracked, undiscovered and yielding beneath your skis, occasion-ally flying up into your face, causing pause to catch your breath. you’ll need it as this resort is moving fast.

l u x u r y at t h e h i g h e s t next to family skiing, i would suggest the luxury offerings at kicking horse are a stand-out. the eagle eye pri-vate suite package, located at 7,700 feet the top of the hill, is a luxury op-portunity like no other. perched high on this rugged summit swan-folded napkins rest on the 1,000-thread count sheets, setting the stage for an out-of-this world-view-from-bed, overlooking the columbia Valley. a private butler and small service staff at your beck and call (go ahead, or-der some fries at midnight) while you frolic, play and sleep at the top of the world. Sweet stuff. but save energy for that next morning for the coveted first tracks with a mountain guide, as the mountain is all yours to ease in the day.

t H i s t r a n s i t i o n f r o m a l o c a l l y -o W n e d s K i H i l l t o a B o n a f i d e m o u n t a i n r e s o r t W a s l i K e l y n o t a n e a s y o n e .

the name itself is perplexing. kicking horse resort? Sounds a bit more like a Wyoming namesake, than a ski stop in the b.c. interior. as legend has it – and there’s lots of legend in these parts – the ski area’s roots began from adventure and exploration, over 100 years ago. it was 1858, to be exact, when John palliser was dispatched by the imperial government to determine a feasible passage from the prairies through the mountains, in order to extend the canadian pacific railway. a geologist, named Sir James hector, was among those on the expedition team. as the story goes, hector suffered a vicious kick from his own steed, and was unconscious for so long that his three aboriginal guides were convinced he was dead and decided to bury him. as they were carrying hector’s lifeless body to a grave he suddenly came to, giving his guides an understandable shock. im-pressed by his tenacity, they gave him the name “kicking horse”. as if destined to be a permanent part of the makeup of the land, hector recuperated and explored the valley, eventually discovering the pass that would become the route through the mountains. the pass and river were eventually dubbed “kicking horse” in hector’s honour. So it was hector who we’re indebted to for this extraordinary passage to the canadian west, to the kootenay’s, which in my humble opinion, has the best skiing this side of the atlantic. –g. bowles

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b y J u l i e n i e u w e n h u y s

t H e g l o b a l H e a d q u a r t e r s f o r H e l i - s K i i n g i s i n t H e b . c . i n t e r i o r , w H e r e d r y c H a m p a g n e p o w d e r b l a n K e t s t H e b i g g e s t o f d r e a m s


H e l i - s K i i n g i s l i K e s e x ; W H e n i t ’ s g o o d i t ’ s g r e a t , B u t e v e n W H e n i t ’ s B a d i t i s s t i l l p r e t t y d a m n n i c e , ”

our guide Jake mischievously jokes before i climb into the helicopter. the adrenaline races through my body as the pilot clamps on his headphones and the propel-lers begin to rotate faster as formidable mountains loom in the distance. the pilot flies straight to a ridge, skilfully swings the tail around and lands on a tiny pla-teau marked by a stick with orange tape, which turns out to be the landing zone. Kneeling, we watch the helicopter as the snow whips up and stings our faces. slowly, the humming fades and a deafening silence fills the air. my ski buddy caroline and i, two dutch skiers, are standing on the top of a mountain, hundreds of ki-lometres away from the nearest ski lift, ready for our first powder shot of the day.

yeah, sing with me, sing for the yearsing for the laughter, sing for the tearsing with me, just for today.


DetailsSkeena Heliskiingwww.skeenaheliskiing.comnorthern escape Heli- Skiing www.neheliski.comSelkirk tangiers Heli Skiingwww.selkirk-tangiers.com

*Depending on conditions, you can expect to ski between 18,000 and 24,000 vertical feet in a single day.

heli ski by the nuMbers

q u i n t e s s e n t i a l / H e l i s K i i n g


all-you-can-ski buffetAfter dreaming nonstop about every freerider’s ultimate fantasy, the time has finally come to sample an all-you-can-ski buffet of unlimited dry champagne powder. The guide calmly briefs us on the imminent run. The wait is finally over and I am about to experience the descent that I have al-ready skied hundreds of times in my mind. The powder curls over me like a giant wave and at every turn the snow explodes in my face. Gasping for air, I ski at full throttle through the ghost trees. The extreme snowfall and cold have transformed the snow-covered trees into eerie silhouettes. With aching legs and a massive grin, I ski towards the sound of the chopper.

sky h ighThe amount of powder we ski is beyond comprehension. Over the course of the day, the stoke grows sky high. By the time the pilot cranks up Michael Jackson’s “Don’t stop ‘til you get enough” I’m on sensory overload. On the way back, the pilot decides to put on a show, making a hairpin turn right before we reach the lodge, where the shot of the day awaits in

the après-ski bar. In addition to drinking, typical après-ski activities include clay pigeon shooting, snowmobiling, an ice hockey match and of course a soak in the hot tub. Okay, maybe that’s not typical. Every evening a three-course dinner is laid out for us. But if you aren’t careful, you might end up with a heli-belly around all that tantalizing food. Heli-skiing is not just all-you-can-ski; a more accurate description would be all-you-can-wish-for ... and more.

mountains of powder, mountains of goldOur adventure began eight months ago with endless research. There are more than 15 different heli-ski operations with a total of 26 lodges in British Columbia alone, which is where 95% of the world’s heli-skiing takes place. But despite the wide array of choices there are plenty of misconceptions about heli-skiing. Most people are under the impression that you have to jump out of the helicopter; that heli-skiing is the exclusive domain of the rich and famous; and that every company offers the same thing. It is best to carefully

compare the outfits based on your specific needs – price, group size, location and terrain. And don’t worry, you don’t have to jump out of the helicopter.

it ’s deeper up hereThe Skeena Mountains are just a two hour flight away from Vancouver. Thanks to the proximity to the coast, the average annual snowfall is 20 metres. The only “drawback” is that you might be temporarily grounded due to a snowstorm. At Northern Escape, you still get to ski powder every day: in the event of a down day, they simply take you to Catland,which is as big as Whistler, where two snow cats guarantee that you will score face shots even when it is dumping! You could easily mistake the surroundings for Alaska or a scene from the Match-stick Productions film “Attack of la Nina.” Venture further into these spectacular, inhospitable mountains and you will arrive at Skeena Heliskiing’s warm and inviting Bear Claw Lodge, hewn from giant tree trunks. Up here, you are more likely to encounter a moose than another human being. Everything is impeccably organized: After you are roused with a cup of tea in

q u i n t e s s e n t i a l / H e l i s K i i n g


bed, you have time to gently wake up during stretch class before tucking into a deli-cious breakfast of homemade delicacies. Everyone on the team lavishes attention on you throughout the day, from the fun-loving chef to the extremely professional guide and owner Jake, who, BTW, is a pro at throwing a party!

Of course, if this all of this luxury sounds a bit much, you can go heli-skiing just for a day. Opting out of an overnight stay in a five-star lodge will save you a ton of money without depriving you of the ultimate ski experience! Selkirk Tangi-ers is practically around the corner from Revelstoke, and with numerous 11-seater choppers flying each day you don’t have to book months in advance. This gives you the option to decide at the last minute in Revelstoke whether you want to go. Watch out though: heli-skiing is highly addictive and before you know it you will have skied right through your savings!

dream on or game on?The experience that suits you best depends on your personal preferences. But you can be sure about one thing: you will most likely ski more powder in a single day than you have ever skied before. The choice is yours: are you the type of person who stays home daydreaming, or are you going to turn your dream into reality?

t h e h i g h l i f e : b i g h o r n l o d g e When we arrived at the ultimate in ski luxury accommodation is nestled in the forest of revelstoke, b.c., leesa, the british lodge manager, gave us the grand tour of bighorn lodge. it felt like we set foot in a Scottish hunting castle with an abundance of wood and plaid details. not to mention the spectacular views of the columbia river and breathtaking mountains. the timber-framed lodge and its 1,400 square meters of pure indulgence and supreme comfort, includes luxuries beyond your wildest dreams. the bonus is a private helipad from where you can access some of the best heli-ski terrain in the world. Who knew it was possible to climb into your private helicopter just meters away from the outdoor hot tub? bighorn was the concep-

tion of two young brits, chris and michael kirkland, both avid skiers who designed the number of bedrooms (8) around the number of skiers that can fit into an a-Star helicopter. they wanted to bring a european luxury chalet to the heli-ski capital of the world and included a private chef serv-ing gourmet meals. leesa and her husband pete make sure we instantly feel at home and ask us if we would like to relax in the hot tub before dinner, while enjoying one of his cheeky cocktails. With a sunset on snowcapped moun-tains of the monashee Valley and a mojito in hand, it is crystal clear; life just doesn’t get any better than this! –J. nieuwenhuys

H e l i - s K i i n g i s n o t j u s t a l l -y o u - c a n -s K i ; a m o r e a c c u r a t e d e s c r i p t i o n W o u l d B e a l l - y o u - c a n - W i s H -f o r . . .


q u i n t e s s e n t i a l / f a M i l y s k i i n g


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Someone else is shopping, eating, drinking. Hot-tubbing, bon-firing, ice wine-sipping. Others are getting their groove on.

Oh right, did I mention skiing?Big White is a family ski vacation mecca. Its brilliant blend

of activities leave nothing to chance. Bad weather, no problem, flip open that fat resort activity rolodex. Kid meltdown? No worries, a gazillion turn-that-frown-upside-down things to do.

There’s no question that Big White, with its small village character and intimate size, is all about catering to the the multi-faceted, complex world of family travel, helping manage expectations and interest levels that come with varied generational interests.

a t t H i s v e r y m o m e n t s o m e o n e a t B i g W H i t e i s l a u g H i n g . s o m e -o n e e l s e i s s K a t i n g . s o m e o n e i s p a r t y -i n g . i c e c l i m B i n g , H o r s e - s l e i g H r i d i n g , t u B i n g , p a r a d i n g , s n o W m o B i l i n g , c o t t o n - c a n d y i n g , B i g - B e a r H u g g i n g . p l a y i n g .

Vertical777 metresSkiable acreage7,355 acres eleVationSummit 2,319 metres

terrain118 named runsbeginner 18%intermediate 54%advanced 22%expert 6%

big white by the nuMbers



l o o k i n g f o r r o M a n c e ? t r y a s l e i g h r i d eif you’ve chosen big White to romance a new flame, or reignite an existing one, try a romantic horse-drawn sleigh ride (private rides can be arranged) with champagne and chocolate- covered strawberries, before dinner at the kettle Valley Steakhouse. big White also offers a cham-pagne gondola ride, a nice touch if you’re making your way around the the multi-leveled Village.

talkin’ ‘bout my generationBig White has always been a family stop, but the resort has matured significantly in the last two decades since it was just a place to drive to, ski for a while, drive back.

On the mountain today, you’ll find 16 lifts that whizz you upwards to access 7,355 acres (the equivalent of 7,000 foot-ball fields) of skiable terrain, over 118 designated trails and an annual snowfall of over 20 feet. You’ll find a village with accommodation to suit everything from economy to luxury and 18 on-mountain restaurants, cafés, pubs and nightclubs. You’ll likely be experiencing weather in the minus 5 celcius range. You’ll find a terrain park that is so big that it has its own weather system.

You’ll also find creativity for learn to ski programs, no matter the age or skill level. Mom, Dad and Me, a unique learn-to-ski program, allows the more anxious children (around age 3-6) a private lesson with parents in tow. On the opposite end of the age spectrum, “mature” skiers (seniors) have special designated zones on the mountain that are carefully monitored to ensure speed is kept to a comfortable crawl, giving elderly skiers, as well as families with small children, the chance to comfortably explore more than just the green runs on the mountain.

après: fancy schmancy or simple joeThe irony is that even though skiing and learning to ski is this resort’s specialty, the après and activity offerings are vast. The playground headquarters are located at the base of the ski

the White Spirit lodge, located atop a small plateau in the middle of the big White resort, is the dream home of calgar-ians Sherry and george Schluessel. inspired to build a family get-away, george calls the 10,000-square-foot work of art

a “hospitable castle”, with orientation that offers both sunrise and sunset views. the place-ment of the old growth red cedar log posts, most of them a metre in diame-ter and distinc-tively natural, each has its own random, gnarled char-acter. “While

the structure is massive and awesome, we also strived to create a natural, com-forting feel-ing with the way we used natural materi-als and ori-ented things,” Schluessel says. “yes, it’s massive, but i believe it’s also warm and cozy.”

w h i t e s P i r i t l o d g e

t H e i r o n y i s t H a t e v e n t H o u g H s K i i n g a n d l e a r n i n g t o s K i i s t H i s r e s o r t ’ s s p e c i a l t y , t H e a p r è s a n d a c t i v i t y o f f e r i n g s a r e v a s t .



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WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW

MAY BE YOUR BESTSKI TRIP EVER

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First time skiers to Sun Peaks are often awe struck upon arrival. The charming slopeside village slowly reveals itself as you approach and the expansive ski terrain, second largest in BC in fact, appears left, right and centre as it flows seamlessly into the village. Plentiful amenities from restaurants, cafés, pubs, shops, and winter activities will keep your days as complete as you desire.

For added excitement to your stay, plan your trip around one of many race oriented events.

SunPeaksResort.com/Race-Events

Racing season begins in Novemberat the Nancy Greene International Race Centre, training facility for theAustria National Ski Team.

SunPeaksResort.com/Race-Centre

RACE MUCH?

SKI & STAY FREE

4 FOR 3

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uSu

1.866.744.0114www.SunPeaksResort.com

vacation special

Photo: Royce Sihlis


W H e n y o u g o , f l y i n t o K e l o W n a ; t H e r e a r e n o n -s t o p s f r o m v a n c o u v e r , c a l g a r y , s e a t t l e a n d o t H e r s . B i g W H i t e r e s o r t . c o m

n a Pa o f t h e n o r t hthe only thing better than pairing fine wine and fine powder is fine local wine and champagne powder. b.c.’s wine country, which is growing up as fast as big White resort, is gaining in popularity locally and abroad. like california’s napa Valley, the wine country in b.c. runs north-south (from osoyoos to kelowna) in an arid basin that features several distinct growing regions. Some of the notable local wineries – cedar creek, Quail’s gate, (renowned for pinot noir) mission hill (ice wine, a specialty) and Sumac ridge – are a short drive from the ski resort. Suggest: Start your wine après at globe for limited-edition local wines paired with artisanal charcuterie and cheeses. from here, it’s 45 minutes to the winer-ies. or, to stay on the mountain, plan your trip around the big reds at big White event, where over 30 okanagan wineries team up with the finest chefs at big White for a night of sensory delights ($50 per person, bigwhite.com).


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Front row seats to Fantastic

All thrills!Ski and stay slopeside from $99 per night.*

*Per person. Conditions apply.

There’s just something about it. The T-Bar Grill with your mates. Frosty glasses and tale telling. The massive terrain of Taynton Bowl. The carving of endless corduroy on 4000 vertical feet of fall line perfection. The ooh’s and aah’s in Canada’s largest slopeside hotpools, right next to your ski-to-the-door digs. Latte? Down the sidewalk. Pizza? Down the gondola. Shops, dining or a skate on the lake? The free shuttle to quaint Invermere-on-the Lake. And crowds? Where? Nothing but snow-capped peaks and friendly faces in every direction... Welcome to our Village.

Call 1.866.601.7387 or Book Online at SkiPanorama.com/smedia

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area at the aptly named Happy Valley, which is surrounded by skating rinks (quality outdoor ice!), snow tubing, horse-drawn sleighs, snowmobile rides, snow biking, and a really challeng-ing 60-foot ice-climbing wall towering over it all. And not to be missed: the kiosk with belgian-waffles-to-die-for in the lower floor of Happy Valley Lodge.

The activities at Big White appeal to most ages, including the oft-neglected parents. The quaint village, which caters primarily to a ski-in crowd, features several dining and night-life options, from the intimate 6 Degrees Bistro at the base of the Stonebridge Lodge to great burgers at Johnnie Canuck’s to the more elegant Kettle Valley Steakhouse and Wine Bar. In the morning, Beano’s coffee house is a terrific stop before you hit the slopes, or for more stick-with-you power the Santé

Grille has five different styles of eggs benedict.The skiing is as diverse as the village. From the challeng-

ing, — albeit — short, glades off the Falcon Chair, like Flag Pole and Corkscrew, to the more cruisey runs off the Bullet Express, there is no wind-in-your-face shortage on these hills (speaking of wind in your face, the Black Forest side of the mountain is secluded enough for an escape on windy days).

Guests are often surprised at the quality of snow. Said one guest, “After living in Whistler for 12 years, I was a little skeptical of Big White, but not any more — 25 cms of dry OK champagne powder has made me a fan. We had fun all over the mountain. Forty runs wide at the base is no joke either.”

Yes, no joke about it, Big White is the real deal, with the snow and smiles to prove it.



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s K i t v c r e w b a s K s i n t H e c u l t u r a l l y r i c H c o n f i n e s o f p i c t u r e s q u e b a n f f a n d t H e e p i c l a K e l o u i s e , m t . n o r q u a y a n d s u n s H i n e v i l l a g e r e s o r t s

H i g H e s t

q u i n t e s s e n t i a l / m o u n t a i n c u l t u r e


P h o t o g r a P h s b y J o h n e v e l y

g l o r yb y e d i t h r o z s a

H i g H e s t


SUG_VTSKICA_1082012.indd 1 10/10/12 9:59 AM


spreads of expanding mountain resorts and resulting real estate boons. these burgeoning resort towns bust in greedy anticipation of what might be, chasing the carrot before it’s sewn. enter norquay, sunshine village and lake louise. three drastically dif-ferent mountain playgrounds that share one distinct geographic location: banff national park.

Vertical991 metresSkiable acreage4,200 acreseleVationtop of mountain2,637 metres

terrain139 named runsbeginner 25%intermediate 45%advanced 15%expert 15%

lake louise by the nuMbers


a m u l t i t u d e o f d e s t i n a t i o n s f i n d t H e m s e l v e s s t r e t c H e d B e y o n d c a p a c i t y a s W o r d


*Price subject to change. ©2012 Vail Resorts Management Company. Trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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Established in 1885, the Park is the oldest in Canada and one of the world’s most visited. Also a UNESCO World Heritage site, royalty, vacationers and entrepreneurs have flocked here for decades to experience the awe inspiring beauty.

Rarely have I travelled to a place where the true meaning of a National Park rever-berates through the earth and inhabitants, resulting in a unique micro culture. A place where residents work hard for the privilege to live, creating a deep rooted community. It is with intention and not for everyone: uber environmentalism, conservation before de-velopment, and capped population to name a few. Imagine a place where the hoops one needs to jump through to gain approval to remove a tree is so onerous, that the odd one blows over on a calm night. Where a patch-work and cut-block forest has be-come the norm, the Banff National Park is the exception ... and I love it!

I am one of the lucky ones to be hon-oured with frequent visits to this area, and a

Ski Television shoot has sparked this most recent return. The crew has expanded to include Darryl Palmer (videographer), John Evely (photographer), Martha Marpole (co-host) and me. Both John and Martha are long-time locals, so we have built in interpreters.

Our first stop was Lake Louise. I was thrilled to be hosted at one of my favourite lodges, the Post Hotel Lake Louise, where I had stayed during World Cup week some years ago. Welcoming us was the comfort-ing smell of a wood-burning stove and the elegantly understated charm of the classic Tudor building. Hotel proprietor and in-novator of ski technique in Canada, Andre Schwartz, would be our gracious host. Sandy Best, one of the greatest story tellers I have met, would be our resort coordinator and also quite the entertainer. Both gentle-men beckoned for us to join them for din-ner: First to the bar for an aperitif and then past the cigar room to dine. After a long evening of exquisite ambiance, company,

food and drink, we retired to our rooms in preparation for the day ahead.

It was a breathtaking morning – the kind where you walk out of the hotel and your throat constricts at the drastic change in temperature and then you melt at the sight of a pink sky interrupted by the moon disappearing behind sharp peaks. It was a cold one, but with all the right gear, we were ready to take the elements on. Andre promised to meet us for lunch, so we made our way the short distance to the hill where Sandy had expertly organized our day. After many outbursts of laughter while awkwardly working through our first group on-camera shot, we clambered into the Grizzly Express Gondola and were whisked up 1,450 vertical feet in just seven minutes. From there, we enjoyed our first turn over rolling terrain towards the Top of the World 6 Pack Express.

With so many locals in the group to lead us to the massive bowls, cruising blues and greens and tipped up features that let you go as big and steep as you dare was a bril-liant start. Don’t be surprised if you come across a moose making its way across a groomed trail – that did happen to me dur-ing a World Cup race!

If you only have one day to explore Lake Louise, there is no time to dawdle. We moved around the mountain expertly guided by Sandy, past the avalanche training

Vertical503 metres Skiable acreage190 acres eleVationtop of mountain2,300 metres

terrain28 named runs16.4 km of runsbeginner 20%intermediate 36%advanced 28%expert 16%

mT. norquay By The numBers



4:24PM hot tub time

Your wild is a personal thing; something unique that’s deep inside you.Ski all day, dance all night or shop ‘til you drop. Whatever YOUR wild is we’ll help set it free. This is Canada’s Protected Playground™. Almost 8,000 acres of unparalleled terrain spread across three world-class resorts, all wrapped up in a UNESCO World Heritage Site that has

become this country’s most iconic winter destination: Banff National Park.

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Find YOUR Wild:WWW.SKIBIG3.COM/smag

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facility where guests can learn about safety in the controlled slack country of the resort and the raw back country that is becoming increasingly popular. Then, we cruised over to the Larch area on Lipalian Mountain, completely removed from the front face of Louise. There we met Andre for some dynamic turns followed by a lazy lunch at the Temple Lodge – après mid-day: Love it! Bonus: You can get back to the base area by taking just one lift from just about anywhere without traversing – that’s a “10” in my book!

Our next stop, just one hour north east of Lake Louise was Sunshine Village Resort. Many long-time skiers reminisce about the classic ski week and resort op-erators dream to resurrect it: Sunshine Vil-lage lives it. With the closest off-mountain accommodation 30 minutes away in Banff, the tastefully renovated, comfortably con-temporary Sunshine Village Hotel Resort has a plethora of amenities to keep guests entertained for days.

And the biggest draw is skiing. On this particular winter day it seemed that we had half of the resort staff ripping along with us, so Darryl got shot after shot of fresh blower powder. Goats Eye Mountain can be quite wind affected, but when the stars line perfectly you’ll be treated to some of the sweetest, lightest powder fathomable. Need more a rush? Venture into Delirium Dive for the thrill of your life, but be sure to you keep your skis under you. It is a very long, steep ride down on anything but your bases!

To help us relax after a day of breath-taking excitement, Martha and I hopped into the giant slope side hot tub for a soothing soak before dinner. Then it was up to the lounge to hydrate and rock climb before settled into the Eagle’s Nest for a delicious meal.

If you haven’t been to Sunshine Village Resort, don’t miss the unmistakeable Trap-per Jerry’s Restaurant and Bar. Stumble in and leap back in time to where the menu is comforting, the ales follow suite, the light-ing is dim, and the smell of wet ski boots and wood somehow merge to create a welcoming nostalgic experience. Although the crew was exhausted from the long day, we all agreed that a quick pint at Trappers was a tradition that had to be honoured. That particular night, many of the resort

staff were there wearing pillows strapped to their butts – random, yes: surprising, no. We went along with it.

After a restful sleep on the mountain, I threw my winter clothes on, clicked into my skis and leapt off my deck to the freshly groomed run below. Just another day in paradise! And today, our first run led us to the valley below and our next and final stop, Mt. Norquay.

Travelling north-east again, we drove to Banff and then 5 minutes up to the ski hill. I love the close proximity or Mt. Norquay to the town of Banff, and how available they have made it for locals. School aged kids ski free, and seasons passes start at $119! That’s almost laughable in an extraordinary way.

The runs of Mount Norquay offer incred-ible vistas of the town of Banff. They are host to Nor-Am races, and home to many passionate Masters racers. Thomas Grandi,

Canada’s most decorated technical World Cup ski racer, learned his craft on the runs at Norquay. Martha and I remembered training and racing at Norquay, and now I’ve had the chance to return with a new-found interest.

I discovered incredible views of Banff when we ventured up the North American lift to the far right of the mountain. A quick stop in for a history lesson and cup of tea at the Cliff House told of historic ski jumps still visible just below. They were built there for a reason – this area is steep! For those looking to do some cruising, stay right on the Mystic Express and Spirit Quad chairs. This hill skis bigger than it looks on the trail map.

At days end, be sure to head into Banff to take in the energy of this historic resort town. Whether you have three days or three weeks in the Banff National Park, every moment is a treat!

Vertical1,070 metres Skiable acreage3,358 acres eleVationtop of mountain2,730 metres

terrain107 named runs82 km of runsbeginner 22%intermediate 31%advanced 42%expert 5%

sunshine by the nuMbers



youcancatch me if

The Vonn Express Train is not slowing down any time soon…


cancatch me if

Photographs by Patrick Hoelck/Red Bull Content Pool


At the forefront is a record-setting skier who has amassed more hardware than anyone in the history of the sport. Her points total last season on the World Cup, was the greatest performance by a woman in the history of the World Cup, behind only Austrian Hermann Maier who holds the all-time record. (At press time, she is in fourth place in the 2013 overall standings, after an intestinal illness sidelined her for nearly a month, but is first in both the downhill and super-G standings). The American superstar is also honing in on the record that many felt would never be challenged, legendary Ingemar Stenmark’s 86 World Cup victories.

Next is the marketing machine that has

put a skier into mainstream consciousness. Lindsey is worth millions of dollars, not only by her competition prize money but by multiple lucrative long-term contracts with sponsors like Rolex, Red Bull, Vail Resorts, Proctor and Gamble, Under Armour, and most recently, Kohl’s.

But then there’s the darker side that quietly troubles the American superstar. Vonn split with her husband last year after four years of marriage. Thomas, had also acted as her coach, manager and equip-ment manager, was the main force that appeared to keep the Vonn Express on the rails. But then news spread of the skier’s owing more than $1.7 million in federal

lindseyvonn

is many things to many people.

By Gordie Bowles


vonn


back taxes to the IRS, a grossly misman-aged financial situation, which was re-solved quickly (Lindsey announced on her Facebook page that she’s “disappointed with this situation” and had done “every-thing in my power to settle it immediately.”)

The Vonns’ divorce unexpectedly altered what had been a story of a seemingly perfect and unpenetrable career and mar-riage. But the divorce proceedings put a dent in the public image, and triggered numerous reports that Lindsey had been dating celebrities, most notably NFL quar-terback Tim Tebow.

But at the hub of this, what appeared to be a personal meltdown, Vonn found unprecedented success, becoming the first American to win four World Cup overall titles. “I realized for the first time in my life I was skiing for myself,” she said. “I had always had a lot of people helping me — my dad when I was younger, then Thomas, and my sponsors. And sometimes, I think I skied for those other people.

Lindsey has found her groove — which is a scary thought for her competition — and will have ample opportunity to reach absolute pinnacles in her sport (next up: Annemarie Moser-Proell, 62 World Cup wins and 115 podiums).

“I do see ways to keep on improving my level and my results, there is still space for progress in many fields. In a way it’s good for my motivation and my focus as I’m a very goal-oriented-racer. I feel able to work out very hard to keep on raising my level.”

i realized for the first time in my life i was skiing for myself…”


Hot in tHe Cold ok, i’ve only got a thousand words, so no room for fancy-schmancy intros. Let’s get right down to business. Here are my top 10 fashion trends & finds – in no particular order – for the 2013 season:

Shiny and Quilted What would Barbie (the doll) or Elle Woods

(Reese Witherspoon’s character in the film Legally Blonde) wear to ski or board? Uhhh, the answer to that would be Snow Sugar, the newest and coolest women’s ski and snowboardwear label on the market today. If hyper-feminine, quilted, super shiny winter-gear (also one-pieces, après skiwear, mini-skirts, handbags) are your kind of thing – in colours like Black Licorice, Lemon Drop, White Chocolate and Bubblegum Pink – then this look, and this sexy new winter wear brand, are definitely for you. My fave, the Rocky Road Suit, is a shiny, quilted, black one-piece and the closest a ski suit will ever come to looking like a vintage Chanel handbag!

Slope Style

By michael mastarciyan

Snowsports fashion trends

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the K-Way JacKet What!! K-Way? Yes, I’m not kidding, the

K-Way rain jacket is back in fashion’s good books. The nylon, waterproof, paper-thin jacket you used to wear over sweats to go skiing 25 years ago is super-trendy again. Heck, Gucci has even gotten on the K-Way bandwagon with a super chic (and super priced) version of its own. But remember, K-Ways + sweat-clothes + physical activity = a whole lot of perspiration. Wicking sweat off your body was never this jacket’s strong suit!

the Old-timey lOOK When Swiss alpine racing superstar Didier

Cuche retired last March, he wore 1930s-inspired vintage (or faux vintage) wool ski-wear – you know, wool jacket, wool pants, wool cap – while slip-sliding down the hill in leather boots and wood skis. Turns out he wasn’t far off the mark in terms of trendiness. Thanks to ultra-chic skiwear manufacturers Moncler and Frauenschuh,

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Top 10 trends and finds for 2013

Moncler Bresle Wool Jacket

The Snow Sugar a la Mode

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WINTER’S MORE FUN HERE.

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you can now deck yourself out in ultra-modern, breathable, moisture-wicking ski jackets and pants that look like the clothes your alpine forefathers and mothers wore. In earthy grey and brown wooly tweeds and traditional Austrian lodens, these garments are definitely not the outerwear great grandma and grandpa use to wear – they just look like them!

Real SheaRling If depriving cute, fluffy little sheepies of their

pelts is not a moral issue or dilemma for you – and you’ve always dreamed of wearing shearling on the slopes – then European winter sport high fashion house Moncler has got some seriously stylish men’s outerwear you should consider. Your choices: The Evariste – a form-fitting waist-length jacket that kinda looks like a down-filled puffy jacket with shearling trim, or the Delacroix – a really cool down-filled puffy/sheepskin hybrid.

WeSteRn yOlK VeSt & JacKetS Pretty much anything

that resembles a traditional Western yoke shirt (that’s a cowboy shirt with V-shaped pattern piece on the front and back of the shoulders, for you ignorant city slickers) is hot this season. If it looks like a cowboy or a 1970s trucker would wear it, it’s “in.” The guy to thank for this is Swedish freeride superstar Henrik Windstedt, who has al-most singlehandedly brought the look back with a little retro-vibed number called the Pillow jacket made by Peak Performance.

Feline PRintS Feline prints have been very popular for the

past couple of seasons – this season is no different. With just about every ski and snowboardwear brand in the game, you can pretty much find whatever kind of faux print or stripe that tickles your fancy – from leopards to tigers. My own particular fave – Rossignol’s Snow Tiger print jackets designed by Jean-Charles de Castelbajac – with, yes you guessed it, images of tigers on the sleeves. Available for men and women, these eye-catching jackets are, as Tony the Tiger would say, “Grrrreat!”

Faux SheaRling Let’s face it, shearling jackets and winter action

sports have never really gone hand in hand. These coats are usually bulky, heavy and tainted with the negative karma that

comes from a cute and cuddly year-old lamb being savagely stripped of its pelt. But if shearling really turns your crank, boy, do the fashion geniuses at Burton have a jacket for you! The Restricted 3L Sentry Snowboard jacket looks just like real shearling but acts like a real modern day jacket with all the bells and whistles of tech fabric called Dryride Durashell – warm, fuzzy, fashionable and totally guilt-free!

high tech gOeS high FaShiOn It’s usually big-time

designer labels that branch out into the ski and snowboardwear business (i.e. Ralph Lauren’s RLX line) – not the reverse. But based on what I saw recently at Barney’s – one of NYC’s most chic department stores – the opposite has happened. Arc’teryx, the company I’ve always considered to be the Armani of outdoor clothing, has reached fashion Nirvana with its Veilance line of jackets, pants, sweaters and shirts, which it launched in 2009. Finally some high-tech, mountain-friendly, urban clothing you can wear on your way to your favourite overpriced restaurant after a long day’s slog at the investment bank on Bay Street or Wall Street.

haWaiian Style You love rip-ping down snowy slopes but have

the soul of a surfer and wish you could bring that cool ocean vibe to the moun-tains – problem solved – Bogner’s Mauna Kea collection. Skiwear in tropical colours, decorated with surfboards and hibiscus flowers, available in a wide assortment of styles available for women and men. My favourite piece in the line – the women’s Neah D hooded ski jacket that looks like a lemon, lime, raspberry and blueberry fla-voured Popsicle (and it kinda looks like my favourite pair of Quiksilver boardshorts!).

BlacK and Red lumBeR-JacK PlaidS The “Rockers”

who hung out at the back of my high school in Laval, Quebec, in the early 1980s were apparently – much to my dismay – fashion visionaries? Those black and red lumber shirts they wore have morphed into high-tech, high-fashion ski and snowboard-wear – and are all over the slopes. Spyder, Rossignol, Burton, everyone’s in on it, and apparently all those “stoners” I used to skip class with are now top designers – go figure!

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Body Fuel

By ryan stuart

Fitness and health tips for success

snack attack

ElEvation tamEr

Foolproof way to avoid the bad stuff

Ever wonder why it’s so hard to resist fries and gravy or greasy pizza at ski hill lunch time? Try a granola bar. “Skiers who fail to snack between runs are the skiers most likely to reach for these types of energy draining food when they get to the lodge,” says Kelly Anne Erdman, lead dietician at the Canadian Sport Centre in Calgary. “Unhealthy choices are usually the first choice when you’re ravenous. By eating of-ten skiers can maintain better physical and mental energy to allow them to concen-trate and technically perform better.” Plus, you’ll be able to ski longer.

She recommends taking a few bites of food during each chairlift ride and drinking water often to fight off “central fatigue,” a scientific term referring to a loss of mental focus from hypoglycaemia (hunger). “It’s all about getting into a routine,” she says. And the best snacks? A combination of carbohydrates for a short-term boost and protein and fat for long-term output and, most importantly, make sure it’s easy to eat on a chairlift. Nuts, protein bars, fruit and veggie bars, cheese and healthy gra-nola bars are all good options.

Strengthen for SeparationYou’ve probably heard it before: body separation – keeping the upper body facing down the fall line while the lower body moves back and forth – is key to pressur-ization and other fundamentals of the ski turn. Problem is our body wants to stay in line. “You need to resist this natural inclination,” says Dr. Thomas Lam, Ontario Alpine’s fitness director and president of FITS Toronto, a training centre and sports medicine clinic. “For this the trunk matters tremendously.”

Similar to the core, trunk strength comes from keeping the spine in a neutral position while loading it with weight and holding for endurance. Lam challenges Ontario Alpine athletes’ trunks with a com-bination of Farmer’s Walks and Waiter’s Walks. “They get your heart rate going

and work your trunk muscles in a dynamic way,” he says.

Start with a weight in your right hand at your side (the Farmer’s Walk) and walk 20 metres out and back holding your spine straight. Pick a weight that you can carry the distance while maintaining a neutral spine position with your shoulders and hips in line and shoulders parallel to the floor; Lam recommends men start with 40 pounds and 25 for women. Now pass the weight to your left hand and repeat. When you get back do the Waiter’s Walk: hold a lighter weight overhead in your right hand, like a waiter navigating a busy party. Start with 25 pounds for men, 15 for women, again maintaining a neutral spine. Repeat the Waiter Walk with the weight in your left hand. That’s one set. Do four to six.

To prevent the headaches and nausea of altitude sickness on your next trip to a high-elevation resort, try drinking Acli-Mate for a few days before and during the trip. Not only is it loaded with herbs to help with acclimatiza-tion, it’s got plenty of electrolytes and vitamins to improve performance. ($30 for a 30-serving tub; acli-mate.com)

Active Relaxation

Austrian Inspired Lodging with 96 Guest Rooms & Suites

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Trailside Warming Cabin for Soup, Sandwiches & Hot Cocoa

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Horse Drawn Sleigh Rides

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S-Media Toronto FINAL_Layout 1 10/10/12 3:16 PM Page 1


Active Relaxation

Austrian Inspired Lodging with 96 Guest Rooms & Suites

100km Cross-country, Snowshoe & Backcountry Trails

Trailside Warming Cabin for Soup, Sandwiches & Hot Cocoa

Three On-site Restaurants

Nearby Downhill Skiing & Snowboarding

von Trapp Family History Tours

Horse Drawn Sleigh Rides

Trapp Family Lodge Brewery Crafting Austrian Lagers

Stowe, Vermont 800-826-7000 www.trappfamily.com

S-Media Toronto FINAL_Layout 1 10/10/12 3:16 PM Page 1


powder. it’s the stuff that skiing dreams are made of. Ski movies put it in a starring role, and endless post-skiing bar stories embrace it. It’s the holy grail of ski vacations, the epic powder day. If you’re on the quest for the steep, deep and fluffy, there are a few things to know, or it will be a nightmare of burning thighs, endless tumbles, lost skis and fogged-up goggles ... all because you’re working too hard. How do you stop working so hard? It’s not as complicated as you might think. Skiing easily and effortlessly in powder snow requires a tactical and proactive approach. Speed is your friend, turn shape needs to be considered, and flow and rhythm are a must.

EmbracE thE dEEp stuffIf it’s really deep then you’ll need a lot of speed to get going in it. Never, ever, insult the snow gods by saying there’s too much of a great thing! Pretty simple scenario here, the deeper it is the steeper terrain you need or the faster you’ll need to go. Let those skis head down the slope, this is key.

adjust thE turn shapEThe situation determines the turn shape you need. Wicked steep and deep? The big sweeping arcs on a far-off Alaskan powdery face that you’ve been inspired by in the latest ski flick require just that ... big wide-open spaces. If you do not have access to an A-Star on a daily basis and are confined to inbounds or slack-country powder, then the most bang for your powder buck can be found in a shorter- or medium-size turn shape. That being said, see the first point that

“speed is your friend.”

smooth rhythm You’ve seen a great skier on TV, on the World Cup or a mind-blowing ski movie. What sets them apart? It’s how smooth they look, how effortless they make skiing appear, or maybe how they twist and turn through the air like a cat and, like that cat, manage to land on their feet. That’s rhythm, timing and an innate sense of the surroundings. You can create flow and rhythm in your powder skiing and

learn it to lay down turns like a pro in the deep snow by being aware of a couple of simple things. First of all, timing is everything — timing of bending and extending are critical. As the old saying goes “stand up to start your turn, bend to finish.” Then there’s flow and rhythm, which is critical in powder snow. Look at it this way: Extend to the middle of the turn, bend through the end.

ski arc to arcInstead of skiing from the end of one turn to the end of the next, ski from arc to arc. Ski the middle of one turn to the middle of the next, the fall line to the next fall line. That will create “flow.” Pressure is the heavy spot on the arc; you should feel this heavy spot right in the centre of the turn.

Powder skiing is about timing and being active to create flow and rhythm. Turn shape is a choice based on the situa-tion, and speed depends on the snow and the environment. Keep these in mind and you’ll be the one with the “powder tale” at the end of the day!

Tips Up

By Josh Foster

Suggestions and tips from the pros

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Silky SmooTh rhyThmPowder skiing is not as hard as it might seem; keep your speed and rhythm to flow down the mountain

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parting shot photograph by Michel painchaud

YODELING BANDITS: Austrian World Cup skier Steffi Moser had a loud-and-proud fan club, the “Tiroler Lauser,” during the Lake Louise Winterstart women’s downhill race in December. The lederhosen-clad Austrians played instruments for passers-by for about 15 minutes before changing into their spectator clothing during the race.

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1 / James Heim airborne near Haines, AK. Shooter: Adam Clark.

2 / Pray for snow. James’ good luck charm.

3 / Finding the right line takes good binocs and a patient heli pilot.

4 / AM/PM energy drinks.

5 / “I put cilantro on everything but breakfast cereal.”

6 / I know when it snows: PowDay & MultiCam BC Highway.

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S-Magazine | Winter 2013

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