A breath of FRESH AIR
What you need to know as ski and snowboard resorts in Alberta, B.C. prepare for a pandemic-safe season
The 2020-'21 ski season was not easy for anyone.
The ever-evolving COVID -19 situation meant ski and snowboard resorts were constantly having to adapt to new public health orders to not only stay open but also keep their guests and staff safe.
Already it feels like this winter may be a little more straightforward.
A return-to-normal might not exactly be in the cards, but resorts across Western Canada have a better idea of what to expect this ski season and have already put robust plans in place to keep everyone healthy.
“Ultimately, the biggest focus, which carried through to this season, is we just wanted to provide the opportunity for everybody to get outdoors and get on the slopes and get some physical activity,” said James Fraser, director of marketing at Lake Louise Ski Resort. “For the sake of everyone's mental health, being able to immerse themselves in the mountains and experience Banff National Park and get through another fully operational season from opening day to closing day.”
Even in the darkest days of the pandemic last winter, skiers and snowboarders could feel that same thrill they've always felt when they were racing down the mountain. But getting up the mountain was a lot different.
Mask requirements, physical distancing and capacity limits were a reality last season, and every ski area across the country seemed to have different rules vis-à-vis whether guests needed to book lift tickets in advance. Albertans weren't supposed to cross the border into B.C. for most of the season, too, so a huge number of world-class ski areas were off-limits.
That's mostly changed this year, and while it's still important that guests check specific rules at any ski area they intend on visiting, things should feel a little more normal on the mountains.
That's especially true at places like Mount Norquay, Sunshine Village and any of the four destinations owned by Resorts of the Canadian Rockies. All will be requiring proof of vaccination — or a negative COVID -19 test taken in the previous 72 hours — and for the Alberta resorts, the Restrictions Exemptions Program means that life on the mountain should feel awfully familiar once vaccination proof is presented.
“By applying the REP program resort-wide, it definitely allows for a much better experience once you're in,” said Simon Moffatt, director of sales and marketing at Mount Norquay. “Obviously, keeping physical distance is recommended still, and of course going inside is no different than going inside a restaurant, you have to wear your face covering until you're seated, so really it's going to be no different than visiting a restaurant.”
While not every ski area in Western Canada is going to be requiring proof of vaccination to access their mountains, there's a long list of those that are. One way or another, accessing any indoor spaces on resorts will require that guests present their immunization records.
Ultimately, the aim is to keep guests and those who live in the smaller mountain communities that host them safer. It should make for a better on-mountain experience for everyone, too.
“We just want to make sure we're looking after our team members and our guests,” said Kendra Scurfield, brand and communications manager at Sunshine Village. “We believe outdoor recreation is essential, but in doing so we have to be safe and mindful that we're not out of the woods yet.”
ALBERTA
CANADA OLYMPIC PARK
Adult lift ticket: TBA
Opening date: Nov. 26 (tentative)
COVID changes: Like most ski areas around the province, Winsport is operating under Alberta's Restrictions Exemptions Program and will be requiring proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours to access any of their facilities, including lifts, day lodge, the tube park and everything else.
Mark it down: Winsport is going to be hosting one of the biggest sporting competitions of the winter when the Snow Rodeo rolls into town on Dec. 27. The multiday event will feature a World Cup snowboard slopestyle competition and a World Cup freestyle skiing halfpipe. It's a chance to see some of Canada's top medal contenders a before the Winter Olympics.
Online: www.winsport.ca
On Twitter: @Winsportcanada
CASTLE MOUNTAIN
Adult lift ticket: $99.95 (weekday), $109.95 (weekend)
Opening date: Dec. 3
COVID changes: Castle Mountain Resort will be opting in to Alberta's Restrictions Exemption program for all of its indoor spaces, but will not be requiring proof of vaccination for skiing or snowboarding.
Physical distancing will be required in lift lineups, and no one will be forced to get on a lift with anyone outside of their cohort.
Making it better: After investing $2 million in infrastructure improvements in 2019, Castle did it again with a further $1.5 million in investments this summer. There are major improvements to Castle's Powder Stagecoach cat-skiing operation, and the ski area has massively added to its snowmaking capabilities to make more terrain on the main mountain accessible early in the season.
Online: www.skicastle.ca
On Twitter: @Skicastle
NAKISKA
Adult lift ticket: Single day is $99 regular, $112 weekends, $127 holidays
Opening date: Preview weekends Nov. 11-14, Nov. 20-21, opens Nov. 26
COVID changes: Resorts of the Canadian Rockies — Nakiska's parent company — has announced that all of its resorts will require proof of vaccination to access all chair lifts and indoor facilities at its properties this winter. That makes this pretty straightforward: If you want to spend a day at the Kananaskis resort, show your COVID-19 immunization record.