Take To The Slopes

With winter approaching and the global pandemic dragging on, it’s pretty clear that Canadians are eager to get active, outside and get their travel plans back on track.

And that means it’s the perfect year to strap on a pair of skis or a snowboard and enjoy the great outdoors and not surprisingly, the Canadian Ski Council is encouraging Canadians to make this the year to discover and enjoy Canada’s outdoor sports.

The great thing about adding skiing and snowboard to your list of top winter activity must-dos is that both sports have a natural advantage: skiing and snowboarding are outdoor sports, where ventilation is at its best.

As Dr. Bonnie Henry, BC Provincial Health Officer has said, people should still feel comfortable spending time outside.

Plus, to ensure the safety of all Canadians, the Canadian Ski Areas has created a best practices protocol to ensure patrons of the hills, staff and other support workers feel safe and protected.

And to better inform consumers about what to expect this winter, the Canadian ski industry has prepared the Ski Well, Be Well program in conjunction with operators and officials from across North America.

The guide is aimed at ensuring that all visitors to ski areas this winter can have a fun and healthy outdoor experience and it’s available at www.skicanada.org.

The Canadian Ski Council has also created programs to make it as easy as possible to get outside and be active this winter, including:

• The Grade 4&5 Ski Pass – This national program is for kids in grades 4 and 5 (nine and 10 years of age) to ski or snowboard at 150+ hills across Canada for only $29.99 plus tax. The goal is to get kids and their families excited about winter and engaged at an early age so they can look forward to fun activities in winters to come. On sale this week, buy it early to enjoy many months of fun!
• Go Skiing/Go Snowboarding – This is an online spot for people to learn everything about skiing and snowboard, starting with the absolute basics: what are these sports, how to get started, what equipment you need, what clothing you need, and more. https://www.skicanada.org/goskiinggosnowboarding/
• Never Ever Days – A program for the ultimate beginner who has Never Ever tried skiing or snowboarding, it includes a lift ticket, a lesson and equipment for only $25.00 plus tax.

Canadian Ski Council president, Paul Pinchbeck said: “This is the year to get out on the slopes! Frankly, there has never been a better year.”

Along with being an avid skier himself, Pinchbeck oversees all the Council’s programs and has been working hard to make skiing and snowboarding accessible to every Canadian who wants to try them.

Said Pinchbeck: “Skiing used to be seen as a sport of privilege, but no more. Skiing and snowboarding are for everyone. With Never Ever Days, pass specials, and resorts offering their own special programs, it’s not expensive, it’s easy to try without an investment, and there are so many new and accessible locations for all Canadians. These are great sports and I’d love to see every Canadian try them.”