1. Lake Louise Ski Area -- Banff's best known and largest -- is on the edge of making significant philosophical changes. Former majority owner (1981-2001) Charlie Locke has rousted himself out of retirement to buy back into the resort, partnering with former full owner Resorts of the Canadian Rockies (RCR) -- which maintains its sole ownership of Fernie, Nakiska and Kimberley.
Locke, who will run Lake Louise independently from RCR, is pledging to reinstate glory to The Lake's terrain park, made lacklustre in years past by the removal of "air" -- jumps and features that were once big hits among teens. It was all a bid to cut down on injuries, while also opening terrain to regular skiers.
Locke's promise to reintroduce what he calls "a quality terrain park with all varieties of features" marks a prominent shift in Louise's operating philosophy -- it should lure back those markedly missing jibbers and bring Louise into the 21st century. Locke is also promising to focus on customer service, snow making and grooming and enhanced apres ski options.
2. Every year in late November, Lake Louise kicks off the Canadian ski season by hosting its Bombardier Winterstart -- two weeks of World Cup alpine racing that continues through Dec. 7.
It's one chance North Americans have to see alpine racing's heavy hitters -- the Austrians, Swiss and Americans -- hurtle themselves down an impossibly icy course. A plus, traditionally Canadian athletes race well on home turf. The crowds are always surprisingly low, so spectators are guaranteed good seats.
Skiers who are at Louise are watching the races -- which translates to empty slopes. And there's tons going on off-slope during Winterstart, with ski movie premieres, a Santa Claus parade, and a party in every bar in Banff. The men's World Cup action wraps up today with the women competing Dec. 5-7.
3. It's no secret skiers from the U.K. believe the Canadian Rockies' Lake Louise is "brilliant." There are more Brits on Banff slopes than there are peaks -- and believe me, on a clear day from Lake Louise's tip at 2,636 metres you can see a lot of peaks.
For five years, U.K. skiers have voted Banff's Club Ski & Snowboard programs their coveted Marque of Excellence for Best Ski School -- a contest that pits Club Ski against some of the world's best ski schools.
What's so great about Club Ski? Its programs -- three days with the same instructor -- that allow "skiers and riders of all abilities to get the best of almost 8,000 acres of terrain in a place so spectacular the U.N. has declared it a World Heritage Site," says a press release announcing the award. "Participants spend one day at Mt. Norquay, one day at Lake Louise Ski Area and one day at Sunshine Village, improving their technique, exploring the mountains and having fun."
What the release doesn't mention, is because there's very limited ski-in/ski-out accommodation in Banff National Park (Sunhine Inn at Sunshine Village is Banff's only on-slope lodging), Club Ski is a hassle-free method of touring Banff's three widespread -- and very different -- resorts.
4. In Canada it's rare to see celebrities on the slopes. Yet every year at Lake Louise you can spot celebs like Alec Baldwin and Jason Priestley.
The annual Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise Sports Invitational runs Jan. 15-18 on the slopes of Lake Louise. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. of the Waterkeeper Alliance plays host. Past celebs have included Christie Brinkley and Robin Williams. See fairmont.com/lakelouise for details.
