The snow is already falling in Alberta’s Rockies, which means that the ski and board season is just around the corner.  Famous for its champagne powder snow, lack of lift lines, Canadian hospitality and great all-round winter wonderland experience Alberta’s world-class resorts continue to invest and develop.  See below for the latest news from Banff and Jasper, resort opening and key events.

Scheduled Resort Opening Dates

Lake Louise                                    6th November 2009

Sunshine Village                         11th November 2009

Marmot Basin                              11th November 2009

Mt. Norquay                                    5th December 2009

Banff-Lake Louise Celebrates 125th Anniversary

This winter stunning Banff National Park is 125 years old.  As Canada’s first national park, established in 1885 this beautiful area is home to the world-class resorts of Lake Louise, Mt. Norquay and Sunshine Village.  During 2010 a series of special activities and events will take place to mark this special milestone.

Ski-to-your door convenience in Banff

By December 2009 the Sunshine Mountain Lodge will open 30 new luxurious suites in a multimillion dollar wing replacement. Mindful of its privileged location, the development includes cutting-edge environmental systems such as a passive solar energy system to maximise heat gain, reduce water consumption and provide under-floor heating.   Amenities include outdoor hot tub, sauna, massage treatments, fitness facility, fine dining and Starbucks Café – and of course visitors will be first on the slopes at the Sunshine Village ski resort.

Winter Olympic Torch heats up Banff

On the 20th January 2010 the town of Banff will be lit up by the excitement of the Olympic torch passing through the town as it heads west to Vancouver. This will be the longest ever, host country Olympic Torch Relay in history, as the flame travels over 45,000 kilometres on its journey. This winter ski and board enthusiasts who travel to Banff-Lake Louise will be able to enjoy the un-crowded slopes and incredible mountain vistas where many Olympic and World Cup athletes live and train.

The Longest High Speed Quad Chair Opens in Alberta

Marmot Basin’s, new lift the Canadian Rockies Express! opens at the start of the new season and is seen as one of the most significant ski developments in North America.  The Leitner Poma high-speed, quad detachable, chair lift has cost 8 million dollars and is set to significantly enhance visitors experiences in terms of providing a quicker ascent, longer runs, more terrain, no lift lines and more time on the slopes.  In total the chair lift is 2,300 meters in length and can carry up to 2,400 passengers per hour.

Great snow and New Terrain Park at Marmot Basin

Last year’s snow conditions were the third best on record for Marmot Basin, located in beautiful Jasper National Park.  To maximise the reliable Rockies snowfall, new permanent fencing has been added to the Upper Triple Area. Plus a 1.8 million dollar state-of-the-art snowmaking system has been installed on the lower slopes to ensure excellent conditions from November to the end of April. The popular Rogers Terrain Park has been moved to new location and is now bigger and better than ever before with new features and better transitions.

Follow Gold Medal winner Jenn Heil for the perfect family ski trip

Olympic Champion, Jenn Heil, won the Gold Medal in freestyle mogul skiing in 2006 and is the favourite to clinch the gold again in next February’s Winter Olympics.  When Jenn is not travelling and training she comes home to Edmonton and with family and friends, returns to Marmot Basin to ski and have some fun.  Marmot Basin is a great destination for families and skiers of all abilities. The VIA Tiny Tracks, Ski & Play programme aims to start little ones on the right “track” and combines learning and playing in a stimulating environment –who knows it could be the start of their own Olympic journey!

Alberta’s Top Winter Events

4th December –             Official Opening of Marmot Basin’s Canadian Rockies Express

16th – 31st January – Jasper in January Winter Festival – features                  discounts on lift  tickets, great deals on accommodation, snow sculpture      contest, chilli cook-off and more.

28th November –            FIS Winterstart World Cup – Lake Louise 6th December. The only Canadian stop of the world cup circuit.  The Men’s races run on the 28th and 29th November with the ladies battling it out from the 4th – 6th December in the Women’s World Cup.

For more information on wintersports in Alberta visit www.TravelAlberta.com

For media enquiries contact Tanya Hillman or Kylie Whitfield at the Travel Alberta Press Office: 01825 76 3636 or

email tanya.hillman@kbc-pr.com/kylie.whitfield@kbc-pr.com