We have completed embraced the skiing life while living here in Canada and while I am still very much a basic green run skier (aka the easiest slope you can find!!) we have had the opportunity to visit and ski in Whistler on three different weekends over the winter. We also were able to catch up with many Aussie visitors during our weekends in the snow which was loads of fun!
The conditions have been completely different every weekend – from so much snow we didn’t know what to do with it to beautiful blue skies and icy slopes! No matter what the conditions though being outside in the fresh air getting some exercise is just the best way to spend your days!
We have just had the girls first Spring Break holiday and while the Canadian version of spring is a little different to ours in Australia it provided us with the opportunity to learn to ski as well as take a really fun trip to Mexico.
Today the skiing part! The girls have never been on skis and Emilio and I had attempted the odd weekend of skiing 30 plus years ago so we were all total beginners.
We have such amazing access to ski resorts from our home in Vancouver and after a bit of research we decided that our mountain would be Cypress Mountain. It is a 35-40 minute drive from our house and we can even see the mountain out our windows from home!
We booked for 4 days of morning lessons – unfortunately the Vancouver weather decided that it would return to rain during that week. It didn’t make for the best conditions to learn in however it did mean the ski slopes were a little quieter!
As to be expected the girls just got straight out there and after 4 days the instructor had them on the blue runs. Emilio was doing well and could manage to get down the green runs while I was still on the beginners slope!
We have been back again this past weekend and I am gradually getting better but just a bit too fearful of getting up too much speed and losing control! Persistence will get me there however and I will get myself down a green run this year!!! The weather was beautiful and sunny this past weekend so it was a lot busier but still fairly quite compared to some resorts!
With the ski resorts having had the best season in 10 years we hope to be able to get out there at least once more before the end of season! Here are a few snaps from day one and this weekend just past.
We visited Grouse Mountain for the first time last weekend and it was just magically! We knew when we got up on Sunday that the forecast was for clear skies so we took the opportunity to head up the mountain for a day of entertainment and spectacular views over Vancouver.
From our house in Vancouver it is a 40 minute drive and we are parked at the base of the Mountain. Grouse has a gondola that you need to take to get you to the main ski, skate and slide area but this is only a 6 minute ride once you have purchased tickets and lined up. We were able to purchase a locals annual pass so that we can now take the gondola ride up whenever we want over the next year.
We had a fantastic day skating outdoors, sliding down the toboggan run, watching the skiers, riding on the sleigh ride and checking out the amazing view over Vancouver! Definitely a great way to spend the day. Cant wait for summer when it will be green and lush and full of very different activities!
Pro in the making
Tree tops
