I first learned how to ski from my dad when I was just 7 years old and switched over to snowboarding when I was 12. Although I was nervous at first to try such an extreme sport, both experiences have been some of the best decisions I have ever made!
Want to try skiing or snowboarding but don’t know how to get started? Read on for tips and tricks to have a successful first day on the snowy hills!
Mt. Seymour
First stop, Vancouver has a few local mountains perfectly suited to different levels of ski-mastery!
Mt. Seymour is great for beginners and those just learning to ski. While just a 40-minute drive from the Central Vancouver area, Seymour is also reachable by shuttle. I found the mountain to be smaller than the other three mountains with shorter and easier runs. Seymour also offers many other activities, like snowshoeing, tubing, and tobogganing, which was great when I went with a group of friends who didn’t all want to ski! Rentals are the cheapest at this mountain, and also rent out winter clothes, like ski pants and jackets, which I found super helpful for my friends who are just winter activity-curious! Seymour offers student-value season passes, which can be purchased at the beginning of the season; however, because Seymour is a beginner mountain, I would recommend getting the regular passes, either all-day or night-ski, to practice before moving up this list to a more advanced mountain!
Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash
Grouse Mountain
Grouse Mountain is a great family-sized mountain with runs for all beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels. A 20-minute drive from Central Vancouver, there is a Grouse Transit route that goes directly to the mountain. The mountain is accessible by a gondola ride, and Grouse boasts a cute chalet with diverse menu options that gets very busy during traditional lunch and dinner times, so I always go eat at unorthodox times to skip the rush! Rentals are comparatively pricier and ski clothing is loaned on a first-come, first-serve basis, while smaller items such as gloves and goggles are not rented. Grouse also has a student-value season pass and regular lift ticket booking, both all-day and night skiing. Grouse Mountain also hosts many other activities that I love, such as the skating pond, snowshoeing, the light walk, theatre in the sky, and sliding zones! In my opinion, Grouse also has the best night views! (A small warning: the lines to get down the mountain on the gondola do get very long near the end of the day)
Photo by Mike O Meara on Unsplash
Cypress Mountain
Cypress Mountain is the largest of the local mountains and my go-to slope as an intermediate/advanced rider. It’s a 30-minute drive out from Central Vancouver and is also reachable by shuttle. With a large chalet and plenty of meal options, I always love to unwind there with a cup of hot chocolate after a long day of snowboarding. Cypress offers rentals at an in-between price (compared to Mt. Seymour and Grouse Mountain) and has ski clothing rental options as well. While there are no student-value season passes available at Cypress, lift tickets are pre-bookable online for full-day, afternoon, and night-ski options. There are also great snowshoeing hikes, cross-skiing, and snow tubing options available to check out at Cypress Mountain!
Photo by Abraham R on Unsplash
Whistler
Whistler Blackcomb is considered one of the largest ski resorts in North America, and I think that the best way to get the most out of a trip here is to already have some fundamental skiing or snowboarding experience, as the mountain is quite large. I’ve gone on quite a few ski trips to Whistler with my friends, and let me tell you, it is so much fun! With restaurants on the slopes and a huge village to shop and eat at, I can spend days here (I especially love Cow’s Ice Cream!). Whistler is a 2-hour drive out from Central Vancouver, but there is also a shuttle, which I always take when I’m heading up there. There are also student-value season passes and regular lift tickets available, but it’s always good to be aware of the opening and closing times at Whistler because they tend to close much earlier than the local mountains. Be sure to consider the different activities that Whistler offers, such as snowmobiling, snowshoeing, ziplining, and the spa!
Photo by Benjamin Hayward on Unsplash
