STORY AND PHOTOS BY : Marc Lepage

Welcome to the Carving Capital of Canada!  The once famous runs of the Olympic downhill events in 1988, has since evolved into a true skier’s paradise.  With two near-perfect mountain ridges, Nakiska Ski Resort offers some of the most meticulously groomed, and indulgingly wide, trails I’ve seen.  From the three Magic Carpets to skiing tree tops on Bull’s Head, there is most definitely something for everyone here.

Beginners of all ages will find the Bronze Chair area to be a perfect starting point.   Completely isolated, those who wish to learn the basics can do so in this completely green zone. This section offers piece of mind, and insures a safe, speed-free environment to better focus on the basics.

The eternal intermediate can catch an unforgettable morning run on the crisp and freshly primed Homesteader.  The wide blue cruisers of Nakiska are hard to top in the world of ski resorts.  Whether you are looking to warm up or devote an entire day to casual fun, these trails offer the perfect environment to practice your speed control and edge pressure.

For the more practiced skiers, carvers and racers, the treats accessible from the Gold Chair are matched by few. The 452 meter vertical, will test your expertise, challenge your skills and keep you coming back for more. Be advised, this lift only serves a mountain side where there is ‘’No easy way down’’.

Whether you want to carve hard or flow though soft gripping bumps, this peak is for you.  First time guests should start by repeatedly shredding the fresh corduroy on Whoop-Up, move on to attacking the naturally bumped Arrow, and end with a minimum of two trips to the easily accessed but not easily mastered, Monster Glades.  The inevitable warm dark roast and slice of lemon raspberry loaf in the main chalet are by then more than justified.

At Nakiska, a 12 000 meter vertical day is not only feasible but thoroughly enjoyable.  The effortless skiing on its even surfaces keeps your legs fresh and your cruising speeds up.  The liberating effect of the extra-wide freeways plays with your sense of space and velocity. You can easily find yourself cruising at 80 and using the unmarked passing lanes to your left. Tune your edges and start racking up your laps. 25 should do the trick.

In closing, I must give a special mention to the resort’s ski racks.  After 68 mountains skied, these original 1980s racks from the 1980’s are not only novel but have outclassed all others by a considerable margin. This imaginative and logical design assures that skis, poles and boards stay organized and upright. Incredible how such a s simple and often taken for granted aspect of the the skier’s experience can be made better with a little thought and care. Bravo to the engineers!

Check your Air Miles account, get to Calgary and hit the slopes on the same day.  Only 50 minutes from the airport, Nakiska should easily be your first destination out west, a gateway mountain to the Rockies.  As we would say in Ontario, Nakiska Ski Resort is ‘’yours to discover’’.

This has been a guest blog post, written by:
Marc Lepage
http://ski.sportactivites.com/ 
January 2016