serge Posted March 21, 2011 Report Share Posted March 21, 2011 Hi, I am heading to Calgary for a week, and will be heading to Banff (April 11-14th). I was wondering which of the resorts have good carving runs Lake Louise, Sunshine, Norquay? or should I go to all of them :) It would also be great to hook up with any of you local to Calgary :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Puddy Tat Posted March 24, 2011 Report Share Posted March 24, 2011 Personal opinion. Nakiska is basically a carver's wet dream. Fewer runs than at the other hills you mentioned but they are all wide open with great grooming. Somebody from Calgary would have to chime in here because I can't say anything about its late season suitability as prior to riding there this year I hadn't been there in 14 years. Essentially the entire mountain is good for carving. Be mindful of straight lining racers. Norquay is the textbook defininition of steep. It's the only place I've ever been where I there was a double blue run. For whatever reason it didn't qualify as a black in their area. Any other hill in Banff and it would have easily been a black. Think of standing on a cat track with the nose of your board out over the edge, now you can look down past the nose of your board at the bottom of the run. "Rob's Run" is like that. What I like to refer to as shorts filling steep. And no I can't carve on it, but I'm sure there are people in Calgary who can. Louise and Sunshine both have good terrain for carving on. Of the two I'm more partial to Sunshine. Though they pissed me off with the whole partrollergate incident earlier this year. At Sunshine I like carving Wawa Chair, though others prefer Angel. At Louise Larch run on Larch Chair is a nice wide open blue. Though there is definitely lots of other carvable runs on both mountains. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allee Posted March 24, 2011 Report Share Posted March 24, 2011 April's getting a little late, and the conditions at Nakiska tend to get pretty soupy that late. It's closing weekend April 17 there. Sunshine would be my pick. The snow conditions there tend to hold well into April, because it's all natural. Louise will probably be good this year, as it's been cool and we've had late snow. The front at Louise tends to go off faster than the back, the back can ride well into late April. Both hills are great for carving if they've been groomed out. Norquay can get really icy if it gets warm. And it is steep, not really a carving hill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Puddy Tat Posted March 25, 2011 Report Share Posted March 25, 2011 Thanks Allee. Wasn't sure on Nakiska that late in the season, though I do remember surfing across a 60' lake at the bottom of Lower North Axe late one season in the early '90s. Totally agree with you on the rest too. I'll be out the weekend of Apr 9-11 with Les and the kids. Maybe I'll hide out at Sunshine all weekend. Or maybe Les and the kids will want to go slush boarding at Nakiska. They're softbooters, so its hard to say. Cheers, Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allee Posted March 25, 2011 Report Share Posted March 25, 2011 I'd come and ride with you, but I'll be seeing off the season in Whitefish. I'm sure some of the Calgary crew will be around though ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
serge Posted March 25, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 25, 2011 Thanks everybody! I guess I am going to alternate between Sunshine and Louise.. I do have 4 days :D Well.. if any of you head out in that area between the 11 & 15th, let me know! Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Puddy Tat Posted April 8, 2011 Report Share Posted April 8, 2011 Sweet Jebus. 40cm of fresh snow over night at Nakiska. And me in HB on the Schtub. Even the groomers felt like powder, my board was sinking in 6 to 7" and i was being gentle. It was like learning to carve all over again. I actually went and asked about renting a SB set-up, then I just sucked it up and learned how to gently, and progressively, set my edge and apply pressure. It was like carving but in slow motion (if that makes any sense) Unbelievable. Tragically they didn't groom North Axe so I didn't get one last chance to try and carve that this year. Serge the snow out here is mind blowing right now. Off to Sunshine for Saturday and Sunday. Then I'm shutting it down. What an epic season. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
serge Posted April 9, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 9, 2011 Thx for the info Dave...just landed in Calgary this afternoon...will probably spend the weekend with my relatives.... And then off to Banff for the week... Temperature looks good for next week:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Puddy Tat Posted April 9, 2011 Report Share Posted April 9, 2011 Thx for the info Dave...just landed in Calgary this afternoon...will probably spend the weekend with my relatives.... And then off to Banff for the week...Temperature looks good for next week:) I'll give you a heads up on Sunshine tomorrow or Sunday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Puddy Tat Posted April 11, 2011 Report Share Posted April 11, 2011 I was at Sunshine Saturday and Sunday. The snow up there is nothing like spring smow right now. Feels more like mid-season stuff. For carving the grooming was at times less than optimal (apparently I'm getting spoiled by Nakiska), but still carvable. I think after the weekend of getting skied on the snow should be scraped around and you would be looking at some nice hard surface for carving. BTW if you've never been to Sunshine before look ahead for where you need to keep up spped as some of the runs have nice bowls to get caught in. Have a good week, there's still some really optimal riding to be had. Cheers, Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
serge Posted April 13, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 13, 2011 I spent the last two days at Sunshine, and no spring in sight on the slope. Yesterday was my first day at Sunshine. Arrived at the base around 9'ish. There was alot of powder. Wind was blowing snow all over the place. Not ideal for carving, but still had fun. I was surfing more than I was carving at time. Some of the spots had ridiculous amount of powder. I did my first kart wheel... was a bit too agressive on a turn.. and dug the nose in the snow...no injuries:biggthump Wind was so ferocious, they closed the Goats'eye and Lookout lifts around noon. Good thing I did a few runs before they closed those lifts. Around 2:00, a blizzard blew in.. zero visibility.. So I called it quits. Today. was just awesome.. light wind.. sunny.... some groomed runs. Conditions were good for carving... a bit soft for my taste, but still good. I spent the first few hours trying the trails that I did not do..World Cup downhill was fun. By lunch time.. my legs could not take the long runs anymore... so I finished the day riding Wawa Bowl. That is quite the fun trail.. like a roller coaster ! It was wide enough for me to make long carves, and steep enough to keep up the speed in the soft condition. I'll probably hit Louise tomorrow. If it's to my liking I'll go back on Thursday. If not. back to Sunshine... I am now fighting a cold I started last night:(Hopefully. I am not going to overdose on Cold-FX:) Thanks for the tips and updates.. this is going to be the best end of season! Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
serge Posted April 13, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 13, 2011 I spent the last two days at Sunshine, and no spring in sight on the slope. Yesterday was my first day at Sunshine. Arrived at the base around 9'ish. There was alot of powder. Wind was blowing snow all over the place. Not ideal for carving, but still had fun. I was surfing more than I was carving at time. Some of the spots had ridiculous amount of powder. I did my first kart wheel... was a bit too agressive on a turn.. and dug the nose in the snow and went flying. I am pretty sure my head was under my feet at one point, but no injuries:biggthump (We really don't get alot of powder days in Ottawa :)) Wind was so ferocious, they closed the Goats'eye and Lookout lifts around noon. Good thing I did a few runs before they closed those lifts. Around 2:00, a blizzard blew in.. zero visibility.. So I called it quits. Today. was just awesome.. light wind.. sunny.... some groomed runs. Conditions were good for carving... a bit soft for my taste, but still good. I spent the first few hours trying the trails that I did not do..World Cup downhill was fun. By lunch time.. my legs could not take the long runs anymore... so I finished the day riding Wawa Bowl. That is quite the fun trail.. like a roller coaster ! It was wide enough for me to make long carves, and steep enough to keep up the speed in the soft condition. I'll probably hit Louise tomorrow. If it's to my liking I'll go back on Thursday. If not. back to Sunshine... I am now fighting a cold I started last night:(Hopefully. I am not going to overdose on Cold-FX:) Thanks for the tips and updates.. this is going to be the best end of season! Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Puddy Tat Posted April 13, 2011 Report Share Posted April 13, 2011 ..World Cup downhill was fun.... so I finished the day riding Wawa Bowl. That is quite the fun trail.. like a roller coaster ! It was wide enough for me to make long carves, and steep enough to keep up the speed in the soft condition. I love those two runs the WC downhill is off angled which makes for fun carving. Wawa Bowl is like you said is just sh!ts and giggles to carve on. It undulates and rolls with little walls. So much fun I've spent most of a day on that one run. Glad you're having a blast. Last time I was at Louise, The main Larch run off of Larch chair was fun for carving, nice and wide and steep. I don't know if it is always groomed though. Next time come back when Nakiska is in. That's a great hill for carving. Cheers, Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
serge Posted April 15, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 15, 2011 Went to Lake Louise yesterday. Conditions were A+ for carving. Well groomed hard pack. I was first in line at the Gondola and went straight to the Larch side. Yup.. Larch was groomed.. steep and wide. With the hard corduroy, that trail was ridiculous fast! It was a good trail to really work on technique, because if I was not on the ball, I would be going to fast, and have to scrub speed. I did see two other women hardbooters, but never met up with them... I spent the first few hours on the Larch trail.I also enjoyed the bottom of Marmot by the chalet. That part of the trail was the right steepness for me for tight carve, or even open it up without going too fast. Stayed until 1'ish and went on the south side. left around 3'ish. South side had some good trails... but Larch had less people. I was going to go today, but my cold got the better of me. All I have to say is wow.. I can't believe the conditions for this time of the year... There is still a few more weeks in Banff for some decent carving. If I feel better this weekend, I might hit Nakiska Sat or Sun.. Temperature seems to be on the cool side... Cheers Serge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allee Posted April 15, 2011 Report Share Posted April 15, 2011 If you can get out to Nakiska this weekend, then you should. Be on the hill early, because it's going to be crowded, and get up to the Gold Chair as soon as you can. They've had 77cm over the last week and a bit, and the conditions there are going to be epic, unheard of for this time of year. Glad you had a good time at Sunshine/Louise. See, being a west side girl, I would have probably thought your day at Louise was ridiculously icy and gone home early. But I'm glad you had fun, Larch is good for carving. I think the fun rollercoaster run of Wawa chair is actually Tin Can Alley, which is one of the best runs on that hill. Wawa Bowl is the one that goes straight under the lift - Tin Can is like a half pipe and widens out about half way down, the first run left as you come off the chair and face down the hill. That's my best out of legs run at the end of the day too. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Puddy Tat Posted April 15, 2011 Report Share Posted April 15, 2011 See, being a west side girl, I would have probably thought your day at Louise was ridiculously icy and gone home early. You're right of course seeing as Serge is from Quebec we probably could've sent him to an ice climb in the Canmore Junkyards, where he would've thought the conditions were slightly hard for this time of year. :D Serge, drop another line if you are out this way next season. I'll try and get together and ride with you. Cheers, Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
big canuck Posted April 16, 2011 Report Share Posted April 16, 2011 I was at Nakiska on Friday conditions were sweet!!! got a little soft at 1:30 or 2 but I was in the lounge by then. saw Darcy and Wonser, had a great day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
serge Posted April 18, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 18, 2011 Originally Posted by Allee See, being a west side girl, I would have probably thought your day at Louise was ridiculously icy and gone home early. You're right of course seeing as Serge is from Quebec we probably could've sent him to an ice climb in the Canmore Junkyards, where he would've thought the conditions were slightly hard for this time of year. :D Serge, drop another line if you are out this way next season. I'll try and get together and ride with you. Cheers, Dave Hahaha... Yeah.. we tend to get hardpack most of the time. I think I saw 2-3 days of 10cm+ of powder on the hill at my local resort. We usually get a lot of small snow falls during the season, which helps keep some fresh snow on the hill, and is usually groomed out the next days. Now I know what you guys are talking about when the snow gets "chopped up" :) I actually ended up at Sunshine on Friday. My aunt's massage therapist was heading up at Sunshine, and we ended up going together. I told her I was a snowboarder and that was it. When I took the board out of the bag.. her reaction : " Huh what is that ? " :lol: After explaining what it was she was quite intrigued, and was quite impressed after seeing what a carving board could do. Conditions were great.. I have to say that I have a new appreciation for soft snow/powder carving. It is fun.. and much more work than carving on hardpack. (Again, that is a east-coast perspective ;)) We spent most of the day off the Standish and Angel chair. I would do my carving run, she would do her thing in the trees/park , and we would meet up at the lift. This past week has been awesome. What I love about Sunshine is the openness of the mountain and the variety of terrain. I only went to Lake Louise once this week, but I sure love the way they groom their trails :) Unfortunately, I did not make it to Nakiska. I spent the weekend with my relatives, and got a free massage . Well I am back to Ottawa tomorrow. I will definitely let you guys know when I am back. And I hope next season in Calgary will be the same as this year :D Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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