Spring Pass Sale Begins March 3, 2010

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Congratulations Tom Fry & Brian Golding! – Canadian Powder 8s Champions

The Louise Ski Area hosted the Powder 8s Canadian Championships on February 27, 2010. There were fresh powder lines all day in Purple Bowl as 12 teams battled it out for the title of Canadian Champion. The title was claimed by local powder skiing legends and official Wilson's Mountain Sports product testers, Tom Fry and Brian Golding. We would like to thank everyone who took part in this awesome event!

Monday, March 1, 2010

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SKI TIPS FOR THE FAMILY DAY WEEKEND

February 10, 2010 - The Lake Louise Ski Area is in excellent shape as we prepare for the upcoming Family Day holiday long weekend. All four mountain faces, 139 named runs, and 4,200 acres of terrain are wide open, with a settled snow base of over 130 cms. Overall coverage remains excellent throughout the mountain as the ski area's yearly snowfall total sits at a very respectable 300 cms, well above our 13 year average. To truly get a feel for our overall conditions, check out our latest videos and photos on our website under Conditions.

In an effort to make your visit as enjoyable as possible, we offer the following suggestions for those skiers and boarders planning to visit us over the Family Day long weekend.

Arrive Early
If you arrive early, you get the best parking spot, can purchase lift tickets with ease, and enjoy first tracks on the mountain. Our cafeteria is open at 7:30 am, our ticket selling booths open at 8:30 am, and our lifts open at 9 am (if not slightly before).

First Tracks
To truly get a fabulous jump start on the day, why not enroll in our legendary ski school's "First Track's" private lesson program. For just $99 (excluding lift tickets), you and up to four friends can board the lifts at 8:30 am (a half hour early) and enjoy a one hour private lesson together. Now that the sun is rising shortly after 8 am, this is an exceptional opportunity to improve your skiing technique, beat the crowds, and watch the sunrise from the mountain top. Please call 403-522-1333 to reserve.

Parking
Lake Louise offers almost double the amount of available parking spaces than our nearest competitor. All of our four parking lots are conveniently located close to our main day lodge and base area lifts, so you'll be skiing sooner at Lake Louise. Even if other skiers are parking their cars well down the access road, there are many times when closer parking spots are still available in Parking Lot #4. We’ll have our parking lot attendants on the road providing directions to the best available parking spot and we’ll also have two full-time "people movers" available to transport skiers from the back of Parking Lot 3 and 4.

Lift Capacity
When you visit a ski area over the holidays, you want to be sure to select a ski area that has the lift capacity to handle the larger crowds. Lake Louise features nine different lifts, seven of which offer a vertical rise of at least 1,230 feet. Even on busy holidays, lift lineups are seldom a problem at Lake Louise. Getting out of the base area is easier at Lake Louise as the resort offers an 8-passenger high-speed gondola and a high speed quad chair. Enjoy our lifts and take the long run down at Lake Louise.

Automated Ticket Machines
If you have a Louise Card or simply want to purchase your lift tickets with a credit card, why not use the convenience of our eight automated ticket selling machines. They’re fast, easy to use, and will get you on the slopes sooner. Our automated ticket machines are located on the main outdoor deck of Whiskyjack Lodge, or right beside the main customer service desk on the lower interior level of Whiskyjack Lodge.

Food and Beverage Outlets
The Lodge of Ten Peaks cafeteria and Slopeside Coffee Bar will be open daily from 7:30 am to 5 pm. The Whiskyjack Lodge cafeteria will also be open with a healthy, new "stir-fry" menu. For those with a real hunger, check out the spectacular breakfast buffet ($11.95 - 8-11am) and lunch buffet (from $12.95 - 11:30-2pm) in the World Cup Alpine room.

Rental Equipment
If you need to rent ski or snowboard equipment, the Lake Louise rental shop opens daily at 8 am sharp. It is highly recommended that you arrive as early as possible to reduce wait times and to get the best selection available. Renting on the mountain is always preferable just in case you need to make any minor adjustments or changes to your equipment.

Purchase Multi-Day Tickets
If you know you're coming back to Lake Louise for a few more days, pick up a multi-day lift ticket pass, save a few bucks, and avoid the lineups on future days.

Take the Bus
Leave the hassle of driving behind and enjoy a relaxing bus service directly to the front door of the ski area. The Lake Louise Ski Area has regularly scheduled bus transportion from both Edmonton, Calgary, as well as from many Banff, Canmore and Lake Louise hotels.

The Olympics
If you want to enjoy a great day of skiing, but don't want to miss out on any Olympic action, Lake Louise has you covered. You won't miss a thing as Lake Louise has installed an outdoor Jumbotron television screen (17 ft x 12ft) adjacent to the BBQ deck at the Kokanee Kabin. All of our indoor television screens will also be tuned exclusively to the Olympic Games.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

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IT'S SHOWTIME OUNCE AGAIN AT THE LAKE LOUISE SKI AREA!

The hundreds of creative submissions for the name of the 2010 Lake Louise terrain park sparked spirited debate among the selection committee, but we have a winner! Two names emerged as top-contenders: Steazy Street and Showtime. Showtime, both catchy, and with historical resonance, won by a nose.

Congratulations to Adam Hahn for his suggestion to re-adopt the name that first captured the energy in Lake Louise when the ski area originally committed to the most enjoyable terrain park possible.

Because of overwhelming participation and how close the votes were, the Lake Louise Ski Area elected to congratulate the runner-up with a $150 cash prize or spring pass. Kieran Diamond is the lucky winner of the second place prize for submitting Steezy Street.

Please join us as we celebrate with a Park Party and the Grand Opening of the Showtime Terrain Park Saturday, January 30th. There will be music and free hot chocolate stationed at the top of the park to get you warmed-up and pumped-up to take on Lake Louise’s newly named winter playground. The Showtime Terrain Park crew will also be handing out prizes throughout the day to skiers & snowboarders who are dishing out the steeze and progressing in the park.

Saturday, January 30, 2010

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NAME OUR TERRAIN PARK CONTEST

JUST TWO DAYS LEFT

The 2010 Lake Louise Terrain Park is looking for a new name and there's just two days lefts to submit your entry in our "Name the Park" contest.

We've received 100's of suggestions thus far with such names as The Throw Down Zone, Jib-tropolis, Shredquarters, Get Down-Throw Down, Steezy Street, Shred Central, Juicey Juniper Jumper, Pleasure Garden, Great White Wave, Shredder's café, Snowcommotion, Ten Peak's Terrain Park, The Big Easy, Pipestone Park and A'park'aylpse" all being offered up for consideration.

The selected park name, and winning participant will be unveiled January 30 at the Grand Opening Park Party!

The contest is FREE and anyone can enter.

The winner will receive EITHER a $300 cash prize or a Lake Louise Season Pass valid for the remainder of the 2009/2010 season.

How to win: Click on the image to the right and fill out the short form. The chosen name will be unique, memorable, and reflect what The Lake Louise Ski Area is all about. The contest closes at 12pm (noon) on January 29th.

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

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Olympic Magic to Descend on Lake Louise

Spirit, excitement, events will light up resort town

Calgary, AB – An exciting, weekend-long salute to the 2010 games will be ignited in Lake Louise on Thursday, January 21st as the Olympic Torch arrives at Canada’s Favourite Ski Area.

Bearing the torch will be resort owner Charlie Locke. “We’re very proud that Lake Louise will be a part of the lasting legacy of the Vancouver 2010 Games. All Canadians and international visitors are invited to come out and help us kindle the Olympic spirit as we showcase our ski area to the nation and the world.”

The Olympic Torch was designed by Bombardier and inspired by Canada’s open land and the natural lines formed by snow and ice. At the end of what will be the longest domestic relay in history, it will have been carried via dog sleds, seaplanes, canoes, horseback and more… Guests at Lake Louise will want to have their cameras ready, as the ski area is adding to that list of unusual modes of transport with a truly unique tribute. Locke will carry the torch through the resort’s legendary Terrain Park in a snowcat, which skiers and snowboarders will then jump over. It’s sure to be an extraordinary spectacle.

A celebration highlight will be Thursday’s Torchlight Dinner, where participants will ski/snowboard down the mountain with the torch, followed by photo opportunities with the flame and a sumptuous dinner with live music and dancing. Other fun-filled activities will include ski and snowboard demonstrations, clowns, face painting, ice sculpting and bands throughout the weekend.

On January 21st and 22nd, Parks Canada is encouraging attendance by waiving park entry fees, and the Lake Louise Ski Area will offer $55.00 day lift tickets (a 25% saving), and Season’s Pass and Louise Card holders will be able to bring a guest for only $50.00 a day (a 33% discount).

The Chateau Lake Louise, the Lake Louise Inn and West Louise Lodge are also joining in the festivities by welcoming those who wish to make this an Olympic weekend with substantially discounted rates. Please visit the media section of this website, or contact the resort at 403 522-1300 ext. 2232, with media inquiries or for more details.

Thursday, January 7, 2010

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SKI TIPS FOR THE HOLIDAYS

The Lake Louise Ski Area is in incredible shape as we prepare for the upcoming Christmas and New Year’s holiday period. All four mountain faces and 4,200 acres of terrain are wide open, as we’ve received over 210 cms of fresh Rocky Mountain powder to date and have a settled upper mountain snow base of over 110cms. All nine lifts are in full operation, over 120 runs are available to explore, and all of our food and beverage facilities are ready to serve you. The Lake Louise Ski Area will be OPEN EVERY day throughout the holidays. In an effort to make your visit as enjoyable as possible, we offer the following suggestions for those skiers and boarders planning to visit us over the holidays.

Arrive Early
The busiest days during the holidays are traditionally from Dec. 27 and Dec. 30. If you arrive early, you get the best parking spot, can purchase lift tickets with ease, and enjoy first tracks on the mountain. Our ticket selling booths are open at 8:30 am, with lifts opening at 9 am (if not slightly before).

Parking
Lake Louise offers almost double the amount of available parking spaces than our nearest competitor. All of our four parking lots are conveniently located close to our main day lodge and base area lifts, so you’ll be skiing sooner at Lake Louise. Even if other skiers are parking their cars well down the access road, there are many times when closer parking spots are still available in Parking Lot # 4. We’ll have our parking lot attendants on the road providing directions to the best available parking spot and we’ll also have two full-time “people movers” available to transport skiers from the back of Parking Lot 3 and 4.

Food and Beverage Outlets
The Lodge of Ten Peaks cafeteria and Slopeside Coffee Bar will be open daily from 7:30 am to 5 pm. The Whiskyjack Lodge cafeteria will also be open with a healthy, new “stir-fry” menu. For those with a real hunger, check out the spectacular breakfast buffet (just $11.95 from 8-11am) and lunch buffet (just $12.95 from 11:30-2pm) in the World Cup Alpine room. Please also note that Whitehorn Lodge will also be in operation from December 27 to January 3 for sandwiches and grab and go items. Temple Lodge, along with Sawyer’s Nook, will also be open with longer operating hours throughout the holidays.

Louise Cards
To reduce wait times and get you skiing sooner, please register your Louise Card on line prior to coming to the ski area. To register, please go to www.louisecard.com. If you have already registered your Louise Cards on-line, you’ll get your lift tickets much quicker. If you wish to upgrade your Louise Card to a “Direct to Lift” Louise Card, we would be pleased to do this for you and suggest that this process might be done more efficiently in the afternoon when the daily lift ticket buying lines have diminished.

Automated Ticket Machines
if you have a Louise Card or simply want to purchase your lift tickets via a credit card, why not use the convenience of our eight automated ticket selling machines. They are fast and easy and will get you on the slopes sooner. Our automated ticket machines are located on the main outdoor deck of Whiskyjack Lodge, or right beside the main customer service desk on the lower interior level of Whiskyjack Lodge.

Rental Equipment
If you need to rent ski or snowboard equipment, the Lake Louise rental shop opens daily at 8 am sharp. It is highly recommended that you arrive as early as possible to reduce wait times and to get the best selection available. Renting on the mountain is always preferable just in case you need to make any minor adjustments or changes to your equipment.

Purchase Multi-Day Tickets
If you know you’re coming back to Lake Louise for a few more days, pick up a multi-day lift ticket pass and avoid the lineups on your future days.

Take the Bus
Leave the hassle of driving behind and enjoy a relaxing bus service directly to the front door of the ski area. The Lake Louise Ski Area has regularly scheduled bus transport from both Edmonton and Calgary, as well as from many Banff and Lake Louise hotels.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

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A NOVEMBER TO REMEMBER

December 9, 2009 - Thanks to huge November snowfalls, the Lake Louise Ski Area is off to an incredible start with mid-winter conditions blanketing their entire 4,200 acres of terrain.

For the month of November 2009, Canada’s Favourite Ski Area received 162 cms of fresh snow, more than twice the 40-year average of 69 cms. This year's November snowfall total marks only the fourth time in the past 40 years that the ski area has exceeded the 160 cm mark.

"This is one of the best starts to the ski season that we've ever experienced," confirms John Ross, Marketing Director for Lake Louise. "The resort opened right on schedule on November 6, we had all our nine lifts operating by November 21, and we successfully hosted both the Men's and Ladies World Cup downhill events at the end of the month. Having Canadian athletes reach the winner's podium on both weekends truly made November a month to remember. We just couldn't be happier with the way the ski season has started out."

As of December 9th, Lake Louise had 116 runs in operation, a settled upper mountain snow base of 100 cms, and more snow is in the forecast.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

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HEAVY SNOWFALL CANCELS TRAINING AT LAKE LOUISE - CTV

Heavy snowfalls in Lake Louise have forced the cancellation of the downhill training session slated for today, in preparation for the World Cup event on Saturday.

Three training sessions were scheduled in advance of the Lake Louise World Cup. The first, held yesterday, was dominated by Swiss skier Didier Cuche. The top Canadian was Robbie Dixon, who...

Click here to see full sory on CTV's Olympic website.

Thursday, November 26, 2009

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ALL LIFTS OPEN THIS WEEKEND

Thanks to abundant natural snowfall during the first three weeks of November, the Lake Louise Ski Area is pleased to announce that all nine lifts at the popular Banff National Park ski resort will be operational for the upcoming November 21-22 weekend.

With 30cms of new snow during the past week and a settled upper mountain snow base of 87cms, both the Larch and Ptarmigan Chairs will be opening for the season on Friday, November 20 at 9 am.

"This is truly an exceptional start to the ski and snowboarding season," confirms Lake Louise Ski Area Marketing Director John Ross. "With all nine lifts in operation, skiers and snowboarders will be able to explore all four mountain faces and enjoy over 60 different runs at Lake Louise. The weather forecast is also calling for continued snowfall, so conditions throughout the mountain will only get better."

Although ski conditions are exceptional for mid-November, skiers and snowboarders should still exercise caution as plenty of natural hazards still exist throughout the mountain. Please be aware and ski with care!

Getting ready for the FIS World Cup Men's Ski Races

While Mother Nature has been more than generous in providing the ski area with plenty of fresh snow, the snowmaking team at Lake Louise has also being working 24/7 as they prepare the downhill course for the FIS World Cup Men's ski races scheduled for the November 28-29 weekend.

FIS delegates arrived at the Lake Louise Ski area last weekend for course inspection and quickly gave the green light for race teams to confirm their flights and hotel bookings.

Training runs are scheduled for November 25, 26 and 27, with the Downhill race set for Saturday November 28 and the Super G on Sunday November 29.

Spectators are encouraged to come out to Lake Louise to cheer on Canada's Olympic hopefuls and watch the world's best skiers compete. Admission is free.

Getting Here is Now Quicker and Safer

Driving to the Lake Louise Ski Area is now quicker and safer as construction on the Trans-Canada Highway from Calgary to Lake Louise is now finished for the winter months. Speed limits within Banff National Park are now back to 90 kph right from the Eastern Park gates through to Lake Louise.

With the recent completion of the four-lane divided highway immediately east of Lake Louise, skiers and riders can now enjoy the safety of a four-lane divided highway for 169 km of the 183 km journey (or 92%) from Calgary to Lake Louise.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

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FIS APPROVES LAKE LOUISE FOR WORLD CUP RACES

Alpine Canada announced yesterday (Nov. 14) that representatives from the International Ski Federation (FIS) have given organizers of the Bombardier Lake Louise Winterstart approval to continue preparations for the opening speed races of the World Cup season. FIS officials inspected the snow conditions at Lake Louise Ski Area, finding them satisfactory for ski racing’s highest level of competition.

FIS Race Director Helmut Schmalzl and men’s weekend Chief of Race Darryl MacLachlan carried out the "snow control" assessment.

"We are very pleased with today’s decision by FIS and excited about the conditions for the upcoming men's World Cup races in Lake Louise," said MacLachlan, following the required inspection. "We have had excellent cooperation from management and staff at Lake Louise Ski Area as we prepared for today and I also commend the many hours of work put in by the Sled Dogs, our hard-working volunteers, to get us to where we are at."

Following two World Cup technical events in Soelden, Austria and Levi, Finland, the men of the World Cup will begin downhill training at Lake Louise on Nov. 25 in preparation for competition Nov. 28, a Super G will be held the following day. The World Cup's women will then come to town to begin downhill training Dec. 1 for two downhill races held Dec. 4 and 5 and a Super G on Dec. 6. Racers from 21 countries are expected to compete at the Canada races held just a few months before the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver. Snow control for the women's races will take place later this month.

Sunday November 15, 2009

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SUMMIT PLATTER OPENS THURSDAY NOVEMBER 12

Summit Platter will open on Thursday, November 12, 2009. In addition to the Summit Platter, we will also have Sunny T-Bar, Glacier, and Top of the World open.

We expect to open the Gondola on Friday, November 13 and hopefully Paradise chair by noon on Saturday.

Stay tuned for details.

Wednesday November 11, 2009

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TOP OF THE WORLD CHAIR OPENS THIS WEDNESDAY NOV 11!

Thanks to the new snow we’ve received since opening less than a week ago, we’re expanding upward, as Wednesday Nov 11 will see the opening of Top of the World chair for access to Home Run, Mirkwood, Grizzly Gully, Grizzly Bowl, Wrong Turn, Tight Turn, Kernahan’s, and Upper Wiwaxy. These runs are currently experiencing great early-season conditions, especially with the new snow that fell earlier this morning. Backside access won’t be possible on Wednesday, but we expect to announce further lift and run openings in the next day or two.

Stay tuned for updates!

Tuesday November 10, 2009

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THE LAKE LOUISE SKI AREA OPENS FRIDAY NOVEMBER 6

Lake Louise, Alberta: Lake Louise, Canada's Favourite Ski Area, will officially open for the season on Friday, November 6 thanks to Mother Nature and one of the most sophisticated snowmaking systems in the world.

Skiers and snowboarders will be able to experience those first delightful turns of the season from the top of Glacier Express Chair down three runs: Bald Eagle, Wiwaxy, and Easy Street. These runs descend 1,450 vertical feet over their 3 kilometer length. More runs and lifts should be open by the following weekend, and most of the mountain following one or two more good snowfalls.

All amenities at the full-service base area will be open, including food and beverage facilities, retail, rental and repair shops, the daycare and ski school.

"We're extremely excited about being the first major ski area in Canada to open" says Lake Louise Marketing Director John Ross. "Because we are one of the few ski areas in the world that can offer superior early season snow, the World Cup circuit will once again start at Lake Louise on the weekend of November 28th prior to moving to the U.S. and Europe. This winter will also be jam packed with various other exciting events such as the Canadian Powder 8 Championships, The Olympic Torch relay, and various other races, festivals, and snowboard events".

Lake Louise is reaffirming its commitment to offering a superior terrain park and is pleased to welcome back Jeff Patterson, who is world-famous for his designs. Offering a unique and exceptional variety of rails, boxes, jumps and other special features, small portions of the park will be ready, already, by Friday.

Reduced lift ticket prices will be in effect for opening weekend. Adults can ski or ride for $38, seniors (>65) and youths (13-17) for $26.40 and children (6-12) $12.50. Louise Card holders will receive a $10 discount and do not have to use their first day free.

Lake Louise is the largest ski area in the Canadian Rockies and offers terrain to meet the desires of any snow enthusiast. The resort, steeped in tradition, is nestled in a breathtaking UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Tuesday November 3, 2009

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ESPN FEATURES THE LAKE LOUISE SKI AREA

This morning’s ESPN featured sports segment titled “Early Bird Ski Resorts” included the Lake Louise Ski Area in their discussion of ski resorts that are typically the first to kick off the winter ski season.

The Lake Louise Ski Area, which is scheduled to open on November 6th, was the only Canadian ski resort listed on ESPN’s website today.

Click here for the full story.

Monday October 5, 2009

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WORLD CUP RACERS RETURNING TO LAKE LOUISE

The world's fastest ski racers will be returning to the slopes of Lake Louise this winter as both the Men's and Women's inaugural downhill and super giant slalom races are scheduled for Nov. 28-29 and Dec. 4-6 respectively.

"Lake Louise is truly honoured to be once again selected as the host venue for the first speed events of the International Ski Federation season," said Charlie Locke, proprietor of the popular Banff National Park ski resort.

Thanks to having some of the most reliable early season snow conditions in the world, the organizers of the World Cup tour always feel confident that we can host these early season races successfully. We are also the only ski area in Alberta that offers the necessary vertical drop for the men’s race to be held.

"As our Canadian skiers prepare for this year's important Olympic events at Whistler, we hope that the Lake Louise experience will be the beginning of an outstanding season for the entire Canadian ski racing team and we look forward to having them train and race at Lake Louise." The Lake Louise Ski Area is scheduled to open for the 2009 winter season on Friday, November 6.

Thursday August 20, 2009

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LAKE LOUISE VOTED #1 SKI AREA

Calgary's Fast Forward Weekly magazine has recently released their "Best of Calgary Winners" for 2009 and the Lake Louise Ski Area has once again been selected as Calgary's "Best Area Ski Hill".

The "Best of Calgary" award winners are determined by asking Fast Forward Weekly readers to select the finest places, spaces and faces in the Calgary area.

"We are absolutely delighted that local Calgarians have once again selected Lake Louise as their mountain of choice," said John Ross, Lake Louise's Director of Marketing. "We realize Calgarians have many great options for their skiing/snowboarding business, so we are truly honoured to receive this award".

"We have always appreciated the huge support that Calgarians have showed us over the years and our goal is to continue to improve both the mountain'’s numerous amenities and our customer service standards in the years to come".

For further information on the Best of Calgary awards, visit www.ffwdweekly.com.

Thursday August 20, 2009

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GETTING TO LAKE LOUISE IS NOW SAFER

The Lake Louise Ski Area is pleased to report that significant progress has been made in the recent twinning of the Trans Canada Highway between Castle Mountain Junction and the Village of Lake Louise.

As of the August long weekend, approximately 90% of the nine kilometre stretch of highway immediately east of Lake Louise is complete. This section of highway includes wildlife fencing, construction of five highway bridges, a pedestrian underpass crossing, and six wildlife crossings. This entire stretch of highway construction is expected to be finished by the time the Lake Louise Ski Area opens for the season on Friday, November 6.

Once completed, Lake Louise skiers and riders will enjoy the safety of a four-lane divided highway for 169 km of the 183 km journey (or 92%) from Calgary to Lake Louise.

The last remaining 14 km stretch of undivided highway, located just west of Castle Junction, is currently under construction and is expected to be complete in 2010.

Thursday August 20, 2009

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