BANFF NORQUAY , CANADA
Ski & Snowboard Resort Review
The busy town of Banff services 3 major ski and snowboard resorts; Mount Norquay a 5 minute drive away, Sunshine a 15 minute drive away, and Lake Louise a 40 minute drive away. The one lift pass is valid for use at all 3 'Banff Mountains'.
Norquay Ski and Snowboard Terrain
Mount Norquay, the smallest of the 3 resorts, has exciting skiing and snowboarding terrain on challenging double black chutes, treed terrain, moguls and extreme steeps as well as long groomed trails and gentle beginner areas.
Advanced Skiing and Snowboarding
The fast mogul covered slopes of the double black terrain around the North American Chairlift are visible as you approach Mount Norquay and challenge the very best mogul skiers, Upper Lone Pine in particular. The Sun Chutes and Sheep Chutes located on the left hand side treed area of the Mystic Express Chairlift have some of the steepest tree skiing and snowboarding in the region.
Intermediate Skiing and Snowboarding
Mount Norquay was voted best groomed resort in 2005 by 'Ski Canada Magazine' and the attention to detail is obvious throughout the mountain. All intermediate and beginner terrain is groomed nightly, ensuring wide tree lined trails of varying descents covering the entire right side of the resort. For intermediates the trails around the Spirit and Mystic Express Chairlifts are both long and fast.
Beginner Skiing and Snowboarding
The gentle sloping beginner area is located under the Cascade Chairlift and once confidence grows beginners can venture off to the longer trails to the right of the Chairlift.
The Norquay Ski and Snowboard School offers lessons for all ages from first timers to those just wanting to touch up on their skills.
Norquay Halfpipe and Terrain Park
The terrain park at Mount Norquay features gap jumps, table tops and hits suitable for all levels and like the halfpipe is meticulously maintained. They are both illuminated on Friday nights during night skiing and snowboarding on the beginner terrain under the Cascade Chairlift.
Cascade Lodge Norquay
As well as being the ski school check in, Cascade Lodge has a full service restaurant, cafeteria and deli all with great views of the ski and snowboard terrain, and surrounding mountains.
Norquay Heli Skiing and Snowboarding
Heli skiing and snowboarding is available in the nearby Purcell Mountains. The Purcell Heli-Skiing company enables you to ski or snowboard on alpine glaciers, open powder fields and through the trees.
Other Activities at Banff
Actives other than skiing or snowboarding include ice walking, ice fishing, snowmobiling, snow shoeing, dog sledding, and sleigh rides.
A free shuttle bus service operates throughout the town of Banff to Norquay throughout the day
Banff Shopping
The shopping at Banff is not limited! The streets are lined with ski and snowboard equipment stores, fashion boutiques, book shops, galleries and souvenir stores. In total there are 15 ski and snowboard shops supplying the latest gear and fashion.
Banff Restaurants
Diners are really spoilt for choice at Banff with French, Italian, Mediterranean Tapas, Canadian, Asian and Swiss restaurants to choose from. Giorgio's Trattoria is an institution serving terrific traditional Italian meals and, Bumper's The Beef House has a warm friendly atmosphere and specializes in tender cuts of Alberta beef. The popular Grizzly House pushes the limits serving everything from beef, lobster, to exotic fondue with shark and rattlesnake!
Banff Nightlife
At night those wanting quiet relaxed drinks head to the Rundle Lounge in the Fairmont Banff springs Hotel. If it's bands you want go to the busy Barbary Coast Bar and Saltlik Lounge, which has Jazz bands playing regularly. The very popular Irish pub, the St James Gate Olde Irish Pub, has more than 60 single malt scotches, 25 draught beers and attracts crowds every night. If you want to party and dance the night away Aurora is open to the early hours.
More about Banff Norquay
Get directions to Banff Norquay
Your Banff Ski & Snowboard Resort Reviews
John Paul , USA , March 2006 Personal favorite trails are Black Magic and Ka-Poof under the Pathfinder Express lift. Also the Banshee is good for a cruiser after a fall and a grooming. Norquay is quite an advanced mountain, one that is extremely well maintained and known for its short lift lines. The best thing of all is it very rarely has poor snow conditions, I sometimes find myself wishing it would stop snowing for a while to give my legs a rest for a couple of days!
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Statistics |
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Elevation |
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Average
Snowfall |
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120
inches |
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Lifts |
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5 |
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Trails |
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Terrain
% |
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Halfpipe |
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1 |
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Terrain
Park |
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1
with night lights |
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Resort
Website |
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