Special deals from Ski Tours Canada

A bountiful Northern winter dumping of snow has resulted in several ski resorts in the Western Canadian state of British Columbia opening early to capitalise on the excellent skiing and boarding conditions.

The resorts of Big White, Silver Star, Sun Peaks, and Red Mountain will open up to two weeks early as snow falls of more than a metre blanket the mountain range with the region’s world renowned dry, fluffy snow, known locally as “champagne powder”.

“The early snowfalls are great news for Australian skiing and boarding enthusiasts as our Christmas holiday season approaches,’’ Ski Tours Canada Director Sue Thorley said.

“Some resorts are already booked out in January, largely due to strong uptake from Australian ski holiday makers.”

Ski Tours Canada in conjunction with Air Canada still has seats available for departures during the Christmas holidays. Up to December 9, airfares start from $A1,555 plus taxes return Sydney to Kelowna, Kamloops and Calgary – the gateways to the key interior ski resorts of British Columbia and neighbouring Alberta.

“We’ve got a 102cm snow base at the alpine level, so between Mother Nature and our own expanded snowmaking capabilities, we have incredible mid-season conditions in the back bowls…for opening weekend! It’s fantastic skiing out there,” Resorts of the Canadian Rockies Senior Director of Business Development Matt Mosteller said.

Lake Louise Mountain Resort will host the world during the annual World Cup Men’s and Women’s Downhill and Super-G races from November 26 to December 4, 2005. The internationally televised event will officially open the 2006 World Cup season and will lead into the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy.

In nearby Sun Peaks, the world’s best Austrian ski team is training for the world cup season and Torino Olympic Games at the Nancy Greene International Race Centre at the resort. Led by Herman Maier (who won this season’s opening World Cup Giant Slalom in Austria last month), both the Men’s and Women’s Downhill and Technical teams (Slalom, Giant Slalom and Super G) will train at Sun Peaks prior to the World Cup events at Lake Louise later this month.

Ski Tours Canada’s business has grown by 200 per cent since its launch in April this year as Australians flock to the popular Western Canadian resorts, largely because of their guaranteed good snow conditions and cover, according to Sue Thorley.