Written by
Al Raine from Sun Peaks Resort and
Paula Worthington from Canadian Rockies Resorts

We look forward to welcoming you to Canada! Get ready to experience some of the best terrain, impeccable scenery, world-class hospitality, and snow conditions that will make you want to stay forever! This article is to help you prepare for skiing in Canada, as conditions in Canada are much different from New Zealand. Whereas snowstorms may close resorts in New Zealand, it is almost unheard of for a Canadian resort to close due to weather!

Canada’s winter season is the opposite of New Zealand, with winter conditions from mid-November to mid-April. Average temperatures can range from –5 to –15 degrees Celsius, with some days in January go to –20 to –30 degree C.

It is recommended to bring warm clothes to Canada, and dress with lots of layers, and you will be able to comfortably enjoy the outdoors. The Canadian winter wind can be cold, with wind chill sometimes making the temperature feel even colder. It is a must to have a warm windproof down-feather jacket, padded ski pants, a scarf, padded mitts, a wool beanie (we call them toques here!), a couple of pairs of warm socks, thermal underwear, and a few warm sweaters, (fleece, flannel, wool – bring them all!) and ski goggles. Don’t forget your sunglasses for those perfect sunny days. Almost all resorts and ski towns have a ski shop on site to purchase clothing and other equipment, in case you’re not sure what to bring. In general, wear what you would for cold days on NZ mountains, plus thermals.

BC Ski areas 
An understanding of western Canadian geography (Alberta and BC) is critical to make the right resort selection for the time of the year you are coming. There are four major mountain ranges in BC that influence BC's alpine areas. Similar to NZ, the predominant westerly air flow cools as it rises over the mountains causing moisture release in the form of snow or rain. The eastern side of each mountain range is much drier than the western slopes.  Each time the air mass crosses over a new mountain range (and there are 4 mountain ranges in BC, each about the size of NZ’s Southern Alps) it is generally slightly cooler and drier.

Two prevailing weather patterns influence weather and temperatures. An Aleutian low pressure zone feeds warm, moist air off the Pacific Ocean. An arctic high pressure area over Northern Canada feeds very cold air south to where the Rocky Mountains in Alberta  provide a physical barrier that keeps most of this cold air over the Canadian prairies provinces. While the westerly flow wins most of the battles, in December, January and early February, there is a greater risk that the arctic air can invade BC occasionally moving as far west as Whistler. This cold weather should not normally last more than 4 or 5 days.
 
You may be wondering about the resorts in between the Rockies and Whistler; Sun Peaks, Silver Star, Big White and Apex. For the reasons outlined above, these resorts experience fewer mild days like along the Coast, and rain is rare. Temperatures are generally are 8 to 10 C warmer than the Rockies (Banff area)  in December and January. By March, the risk of extreme cold arctic air has diminished significantly everywhere and by April spring conditions are the norm except in the high Rocky resorts (Banff area) where winter still prevails. Canadian spring snow conditions are more like NZ July and August conditions and are not usually soft and slushy. December and January are usually the snowiest months although regular snowfall is common throughout the winter season. 

Canadian Rockies Ski Areas
Dry conditions prevail in the Canadian Rockies in winter. You may have heard of the famous “champagne powder” that the Canadian Rockies are famous for. This light, fluffy snow is great for making turns, and comes thanks to the drier air in this part of the world.

Lifts tend to close around 4:00pm, and the winter sun in Canada sets shortly thereafter! That leaves plenty of time for some great après-ski activities at nearby lodges and pubs, where you can relish about your day’s adventures, and get ready for another breathtaking day in beautiful Canada.

Written by
by Chris Davenport, prominent US skier

Colorado has the best of everything when it comes to the weather. A dry climate which makes for lots of sunny days and light, fluffy powder, a high altitude which keeps the snow softer for a longer period of time than other regions, and the perfect blend of warm and cold temperatures to keep everyone happy.

One very important factor to consider when skiing in Colorado is the altitude. We have the highest lift served skiing of any region in North America, and resorts like Breckinridge, Arapahoe Basin and Snowmass all have lifts over 12,000 feet. The most important factor to consider when skiing at altitude is hydration. The number one cause of altitude related sickness in Colorado is dehydration, so hydrate during your travels to Colorado, and don’t stop during your entire trip. Adults should drink at least two litres of water a day. You should also reduce the amount of alcohol and caffeine consumed. Another factor to consider is the potent strength of the Sun’s UV rays. Bring plenty of sunscreen with a high SPF.

December/ January:
December sees the shortest days of the year, with sunsets around 4:45 p.m. The sun stays very low in the southern sky and temperatures are generally cold (average -10 to - 15 degrees C), especially early in the mornings. It is normal to see the sun warm the air in the valleys and sunny side of the ski hills so by mid-afternoon conditions are noticeably milder. When we have a snowstorm they tend to last anywhere from overnight to three days, but rarely longer than that. The average storm drops 10 – 20 cm of snow, but about once or twice a month we get a big dump with maybe 40 – 50cm. Every season we seem to have one cold snap around this time.

February/ March:
These months represent the best skiing in Colorado. The days become longer, the temperatures get a bit warmer, and the snow most certainly gets deeper. On average one might expect to get anywhere from 70cm – 1.5mtr of new snow during February, and maybe a bit more than that in March. One of the great things about storm skiing in Colorado (skiing while its dumping snow) is that resorts rarely if ever close when it’s snowing. While the mornings still remain cold, afternoons are often times warm enough to ski in sunglasses. The average daily temperature in February is –5 to –10degrees C, and in March it is 0 to -5 degrees C. Obviously wind-chill factors make it seem colder, but we only deal with high winds right before a storm. Because the climate is so dry, we are seeing more and more people choosing to ski in “soft-shell” jackets and pants instead of the traditional nylon fabrics like Gore-tex. These soft shells are more comfortable, great looking, offer better movement, and even protect against our typical Colorado snowstorm. Because our powder is so light and dry, it won’t stick to your clothes.

March/ April:
Long days and a deep snow-pack make these my favorite months to ski in Colorado. We start getting corn snow cycles (like NZ July – August snow)in March when we have a series of very warm, spring-like days. You may want to wait an hour in the morning however, as that corn snow is groomed and freezes overnight. Bring a set of spring gloves if visiting during the spring season, and maybe a vest or very light jacket as well. While the temperatures might be mild during these months, be prepared for new snow as we normally get at least 20 – 40cm in late March and in April. Another great thing about skiing in the spring is the days are so long that après-ski means having a drink in the sunshine. The outdoor patios of our bars overflow with skiers at the end of the days, and the sun doesn’t set until after 7:00 p.m.

Links to Other Interesting Articles

• First Time Ski holiday to Canada / USA Highly Recommended Reading
• Ski In Ski Out Accommodation Highly Recommended Reading
• Do I need to be an expert to Ski or Ride in North America Highly Recommended Reading
• Snow Grooming Highly Recommended Reading
• Price Guide and Package Calculate yourself how much a Ski Holiday to North America Cost
• Latest Specials Check out the latest Specials offered by different Ski Resorts