Over the course of nine days our 32 strong group visited five of Canada’s lesser known resorts, in British Columbia. We got to enjoy steep, challenging chutes in Fernie, lots of fresh powder in Kimberley, North America’s longest vertical descent at Revelstoke, powered down perfectly prepared groomers in Panorama and rounded the trip off with challenging off piste skiing in Kicking Horse. It was a great success but don’t just take my word for it. Here’s a collection of quotes I gathered from the crew.

Powering through powder in Fernie

“Fernie, Kicking Horse and Revelstoke are awesome resorts with extremely exciting terrain. The use of local guides meant we quickly learnt the layout of the ski areas. And the accommodation and hospitality we experienced was fantastic.” Graham McNally.

“Fernie was phenomenal and Kicking Horse kicked ass. These holidays organised by Daily Mail Ski & Snowboard and Ski Independence give you so much more bang for your buck. Everyone’s needs are catered for.” Obatemi Shokoya.

 

Fun In Fernie

 

“These holidays are brilliantly organised. Everything is done for you so all you need to do is focus on having fun. That’s what makes these holidays different.” Mano Caderamanpulle.

 “These trips are brilliant and impossible to match by any other tour operator and excellent value for money. The guiding every day, showing you to the best places on the mountain, was brilliant.” Daley Lasebikan.

Making the most of the powder in Kimberley

“The Steep and Deep camp in Fernie was excellent. It gave me some top tips to transform my skiing. I like the interesting destinations you choose and the organisation is generally brilliant..Whatever your level of ability, there is always someone to ski with.” Paul Ford.

“Martin Bell is easy going and always full of useful advice.” Andy Pardon.

“The group is very friendly and welcoming. I’d definitely consider coming again.” Jackie Gillett.

Let it snow, in Kimberley

“The hosting was the best thing of all. You’re always able to ski with people at your own level. The people in the group are really friendly which really helps to make the holiday.” Steve and Christine Proctor.

“The perfect snow at Kimberley made for a magical day. Where are we going next year.” Chris Vallander.

“The organisation on these holidays is fantastic. I’ve never come across a more efficient tour company than Ski Independence. They always pick places to stay where the staff are so welcoming. Thanks to these holidays I’ve gone to places on the mountain I would never have gone to otherwise.” Mike Pomfrey.

Swooping down Panorama's groomers

“The holiday was relaxing because everything is all so well organised. It was action packed and very sociable. I would definitely come on another trip.” Sheelagh Cameron.

“It’s like an extended chalet holiday with a group of friends and I got to visit resorts that I was very keen to experience. I thoroughly enjoyed it.” Donald Cameron.

Fresh pow at Kicking Horse

 “These are the best skiing holidays ever and brilliant value for money.” Leigh Williams.

Enjoying the Horse

We’ve still got one more reader holiday to run this season, to Val d’Isere in mid April, although it’s most probably already fully booked. For next season we’re already looking at costs for some especially juicy destinations. I’ll keep you posted as plans evolve.

As I clung to the side of the mountain in the Canadian resort of Kicking Horse I could hear someone shouting, “Yup, the ski is still hurtling down.” I’d just taken a tumble along a narrow ridge leading to a seriously steep chute that our guide Steve Fisk was planning to take us to and in the process my ski had popped off.

Kicking Horse awaits

Hmm, it was a worrying moment. I knew that it was a steep descent but I didn’t quite know how steep. All I did know was despite trying to dig in it felt as if I would slip down at any moment. And I wasn’t able to pull myself up and back on to the path.

Our guide Steve leads the way

In my group were seven readers of Daily Mail Ski & Snowboard, on one of the holidays the magazine organises – this one a road trip around some of Canada’s finest resorts. Part of the appeal of the holidays is that on some of them you get the chance to ski with ex Olympic skier, and the magazine’s equipment editor, Martin Bell.

Martin Bell, third from right, with the intrepid crew

I was very glad Martin was in this particularly group because seeing my predicament he raced down, lent over the side of the edge, grabbed my jacket and with sheer brute force managed to yank me back on to the path.

Enjoying the Horse

It was a  relief to be off the edge but now, of course, I only had one ski. Steve asked me my boot size and then gallantly gave me his skis after adjusting the bindings. He then headed down the steep descent on my one ski, still managing to arc graceful turns, and regrouped where my other ski had come to a halt.

The only positive to this experience was that once the ski was retrieved we ended up skiing down a powder choked slope that we would otherwise have missed. So there really was a silver lining to this particular cloud.

It was quite a contrast to the previous day in the nearby resort of Panorama where we spent most of the day racing down groomers and weaving down gentler mogul fields.

Tomorrow we are due to bag yet another lesser known resort, Revelstoke, which has the most vertical of any resort in North America. Bring it on.

Well that is what it felt like today when skiing Kimberley Alpine resort in British Columbia, Canada. The slopes of this small, family friendly resort were all but deserted which was great news for the lucky readers of Daily Mail Ski & Snowboard magazine who are on a Canadian road trip holiday. 

We spent the day racing down the many single black diamond runs snaking through the tree clad slopes, often carving out fresh tracks in the 6cm of snow that fell the night before.  During much of the day snow kept falling to top up the powder level and keep us all grinning.

It’s the second day of our trip to Fernie, a gem of a Canadian resort, tucked away in British Columbia, and it had been snowing the previous night. There was six inches of fresh powder coating the upper part of the mountain. But more luck was to come our way.  

Shaun shows us the way

Fernie is made up of five bowls criss-crossed with challenging on and off piste runs, through the trees. The previous day a couple of the bowls had been shut and so the snow had been untouched by skiers and snowboarders for a couple of days. Just as we arrived at the top of the White Pass quad chair lift at around 10am, Currie Bowl which had previously been shut,  was opened by the patrollers.

Daley leads the charge

The few skiers and boarders who were waiting at the top quickly realised their good fortune and raced onto the vast area of virgin powder eager to claim their first tracks. We held back a little and let the ultra keenies go ahead as their was more than enough for everyone to find their slice of heaven and leave their signatures on the mountainside. And boy did we enjoy the ride. Run after run after run.

Greg and Leigh power through the powder

We celebrated our good fortune that evening in true Canadian fashion by watching an ice hockey game at the town’s stadium. Fernie’s local team, Ghostriders, trounced the opposition Creston Valley Thundercats by seven goalls to one. It was a good day for Fernie and a great one for holidaymakers with Daily Mail Ski & Snowboard magazine.

Apres ski, Canada style

Part 1: Thank goodness it’s now snowing!

I am currently out in Fernie, Canada helping to host a holiday for readers of the magazine. I will keep you up to date on the snow conditions and the trip over the next week, straight from resort.

Fernie's trees are calling

It was a worrying moment as we arrived in Fernie, Canada on Tuesday night at our hotel and it was raining. The mood was grim especially as we’d suffered an eight hour delay in getting to the resort, ironically because of excessive snow and ice at Gatwick airport. We ended up being bussed from Stansted to catch our direct flight to Calgary.

Happy Days

However all the hassles of the previous day were swiftly forgotten as soon as we arrived at the mountain the following morning to be greeted by a fresh 10cm coating of snow from mid mountain up. Local Fernie big wig Christine Kimble had fixed us up with some top guides who showed us around the slopes in the morning. With hardly anyone else around it felt as if we were on our own private mountain. Conditions are mild with the temperature hovering around zero, making it feel more springlike than mid winter, and more snow is forecast for tonight. Bring it on.

We’ve been running these holidays in conjunction with Ski Independence for more than 10 years to resorts such as Winter Park, Steamboat, Aspen and Breckenridge. People love the friendly atmosphere, superb organisation as well as the fistful of free extras such as guiding with locals, welcome receptions and great prizes to be won. They attract all ages and are particularly suitable to people who want to come on their own and be with like-minded people.

Martin Bell on 2009 Daily Mail Ski & Snowboard Magazine Reader Holiday

This year our first trip is to Vail on 8 December. Our executive editor Dave Watts will be leading that trip with Ski Independence owner John Bennett and joined by ex-Olympic skier and the magazine’s equipment editor Martin Bell. (More info) It’s a shame I can’t join them but someone’s got to draw the short straw and stay in the office to work on the March/April issue of the magazine.

My turn comes on January 13, the beginning of our 10 day holiday to some cult powder resorts in British Columbia. We’re going to be based in Fernie and Kicking Horse and also get the opportunity to check out some other hidden gems such as Panorama, Kimberly and Revelstoke – Canada’s newest  resort. Martin Bell will be on this trip too giving everyone the chance to ski with an Olympian -it’s a humbling experience. (More info)

Both trips are going to be awesome and it would be fantastic if you could join us on one of them, even better come on both. For further info or to make a booking call Annika on 0131 243 8096 or email annika@ski-i.com.

See you on the slopes.

Cheers,

Henry
Editor, Daily Mail Ski & Snowboard magazine

Daily Mail Ski & Snowboard Magazine Reader Holiday 09 - Japan

For the 7th year, Ski Independence are proud to host the North American Daily Mail Ski & Snowboard Magazine Reader Holidays. The reader holidays are always a huge success and 09/10 is no different, places are filling up fast on this year’s superb itineraries:

Vail - 08 December 2009

This trip will not only allow to to explore Vail‘s vast ski area, but also you can check out  neighbouring Beaver Creek which is hosting World Cup races just before we arrive – so confident is the resort of great early-season snow.

If you want to see what else Colorado has to offer, there will also be day trips to the nearby resorts of Copper, Breckenridge or Keystone (snow dependent).

7 night trip starts from only £998 (high season brochure price is £1565).

Based on British Airways flights from Heathrow to Denver, transfers & 7 nights accommodation at Evergreen Lodge.

Fernie + Kicking Horse ‘Powder Highway’ – 13 January 2010

The second trip will be heading out to Fernie & Kicking Horse; this is a great opportunity to ski Canada’s ‘Powder Highway’ Fernie, Kicking Horse and Panorama plus optional 1-day Kimberley and Revelstoke excursions!

Prices for our 10 night itinerary start at £1399 pp.

Based on direct flights from Gatwick to Calgary, transfers, 6 nights at the Park Place Lodge in Fernie & 4 nights at various slopeside boutique hotels in Kicking Horse.

Monster Ski 2010 – Ski & Snowboard Challenge

Put your passion to a good cause…

Following the success of Monster Ski 09, we have made the challenge bigger & better and will be heading to Whistler, the official host mountain resort for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games for Monster Ski 2010

Take on the Gold Medal Challenge and aim to ski 150,000 vertical feet over five days (the height of Mount Everest per day) or the Silver Medal Challenge, skiing 100,000 vertical feet in total (the height of Mount Kilimanjaro per day)!

Previous Monster Ski events in Colorado and Engelberg have raised over £220,000 to support the work of the MS Trust. This is your chance to put your passion to a good cause and help support people affected by multiple sclerosis. The Monster Ski experience will leave you with a real sense of achievement and fantastic memories that will stay with you forever.

For further details on these trips or to book your place call Ski Groups on 0131 243 8096 or email skigroups@ski-i.com