The Great Divide at Lake Louise
Taking Ricky for his first ever ski trip yesterday reminded me that we haven’t done an update specifically for beginner skiers.
Did you receive new skis as a Christmas present and are wondering where to get started?
Let’s go over some helpful information which will get you going on the right foot.
Wheeler in PLPP
I wrote an article back in 2014 which is still applicable today. Beginner Ski Trails in Canmore and Kananaskis. A couple places which this article omitted were West Bragg Creek and Mt Shark. Mountain road at WBC is great for beginners, as is Watridge Lake road for 4k(don’t go down the steep hill).
The groomed golf courses in Calgary have easy terrain and are suitable for beginners when they have good snow conditions.
Wedge Connector in Kananaskis
If you’re willing to drive further, The Great Divide at Lake Louise is the ultimate beginner’s trail. It’s wide, mostly flat with a few gentle hills, and usually has excellent snow and tracksetting.
Just as important as an easy trail are snow conditions. Cross-country snow and trail conditions are at the whim of the weather, so it’s always good to check before you go out. The most popular page on this blog is the Trip Reports page. It will give you first-hand information from skiers who have been on the trails. The link is always on the main menu.
Mountain road at West Bragg Creek
There’s a link on the sidebar under Categories titled Beginner Skiers where you can read posts I’ve made about trails that are suitable for beginner skiers. Ignore anything before June 2013. The floods destroyed two of the best beginner trails, (old)Pocaterra and (old)Ribbon Creek.
The Resources tab on the main menu is a wealth of information. It has info on trail steepness, skate ski trails, and skiing videos of the local trails.
There a page which lists ski clubs and others who give Ski Lessons.
Want to go skiing with your dog? Dog-friendly ski trails
As my friend Chip said, “Most importantly, have fun. I enjoy all kinds of skiing but I agree that XC brings contentment.”
