Our winter Early Bird season pass sale ends on Saturday, June 25th, order your season pass or multi week ski school lesson online through the RCR Webstore before the deadline for the best savings of next season.
Don’t forget about those lessons! Get the kids in multi week programs – view and buy ski school programs through the RCR Webstore.
NEW this year buy a $500 Food & Beverage card for just $399 when purchased with your season pass! Find out more about this new Member Benefit and all the others on the RCR Webstore.
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The staff and management at Nakiska Ski Area would like to thank you, our gusts and visitors, for a great ski season – we can’t wait to see you again in the fall!
Photo by Liam Glass
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Treat yourself to a day at Nakiska Ski Area! Our Ladies Days include transportation to Nakiska and back from Calgary, your lift pass and guided instruction and a gourmet lunch at the Finish Line Lounge! The whole package is just $139.99 (or $104.99 with a season pass). Next event is coming up on Wednesday, other dates available are March 2nd & 10th – sign up is available online!
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I’ve tried to teach my child a number of sports on my own and it’s usually ended with tears, frustration, and a severe dislike for the activity on a few occasions. Even when I’ve been moderately successful in teaching the “basics,” I’ve always chosen to call for outside help to reinforce proper technique, build skills, and take my child to the next level.
When it comes to skiing, I know I am far from being an expert. I am an intermediate skier (at best) and still fear wiping out on an easy run while my son passes me and gets to the bottom of the hill without me. Teaching him to ski by myself is therefore not an option I am willing to entertain.
Thankfully, we chose to start off correctly with skiing and we placed our son in lessons from early on. The first lesson was only an hour and a half long but it gave our son a good “first impression” of the sport in a positive supportive environment. The teacher was fun and relaxed, didn’t get angry or show frustration, and kept the pressure light. My child responded well to the lesson and was able to work on the skills he learned with us in the afternoon.
I have many reasons for being a ski school supporter but below are my top five:
- Quality training from a professional instructor. We all know that kids usually learn best when somebody else is the teacher and skiing is no exception. The Nakiska Ski School instructors have years of experience under their belts and are prepared with games, activities, and fun tricks to make your child’s ski experience a fun one.
- Ski School Offers a Relaxed Start to the Day. I find the first hour at a ski resort to be the most stressful. Just getting the family and gear to the day lodge exhausts me and I need a few minutes to sip a coffee and relax before hitting the slopes. Fortunately, I’ve learned that if I put my son in morning lessons, I will get that quiet time to unwind once the lesson starts and I can slowly work at getting my own skis on and making my way on to the hill.
- Ski School Offers Adults Time to Ski on their Own. My husband will tell you that as long as he gets a couple of hours to ski the more advanced runs in the morning, he’s happy to take it easy in the afternoon cruising down the easier terrain with the family. Ski school allows the adults in the family some time to ski on their own or to ski with older children while the younger ones are in their class.
- Nakiska Resort Offers Family Lessons. I took a mountain biking lesson with my son this summer and it was a lot of fun learning new skills together. I can imagine that for a family who is new to skiing, it would be a lot of fun to learn together. Nakiska offers affordable packages for the whole family to take a lesson together with individual tips offered to each member of the family.
- Ski Lessons Can Be Paired with Daycare. For the toddlers and little ones in your family, an hour on the hill might be all they can handle. Nakiska’s daycare program includes a lesson along with indoor and outdoor play time while the rest of the family enjoys their time on the hill. Packages can be purchased for the whole day or for just a half day if you still want to ski with your munchkin in the afternoon for a while or if you have a season’s pass and just want to spend a half day at the hill.
My son has taken a few private lessons now and has tried a resort daycare program as well with nothing but success and happiness. I don’t think there’s been a single tear and we still remember our first instructor’s name. Ski School has contributed greatly towards my child’s enjoyment of skiing and I’m grateful that we’ve chosen to invest in this program.
Follow Tanya’s adventures on her blog.
Words by Tanya Koob
Photos by Tanya Koob & Abbydell Photography
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Words & photos by Karen Ung
Ski season has started and it’s not too late to get a Nakiska Season’s Pass! Why Nakiska? The best hill is the one you go to! Since my first visit in ’99, 
I’ve made lots of turns at Nakiska, and return each year to the promise of great skiing less than an hour’s drive from home. There is terrain for all levels, with fun features such as the NaJibSka Rail Park and Monster Glades, an amazing snow school, and a long season thanks to state of the art snowmaking equipment. Last year, we made the most of our season’s pass (15 visits!), and were surprised at how quickly our kids progressed from bunny hill to blue runs! If you love to ski and want to go often, a Season’s Pass or RCR Rockies Card is the best value for your money.
- Ski Close: Since Nakiska is less than an hour from Calgary, you not only save time and money driving, but on lodging and dining also!
- Ski any time, all season long, for a great rate: Your Season’s Pass pays for itself in only 11 visits (way less if you get the early bird special)! Not sure you will go that many times? Consider the RCR Rockies Card*. For little more than a single lift ticket, you get three free days and discounts at partner ski resorts. *Only available until December 26th
- Flexibility: Whether you like to sleep in or have children that nap, a season’s pass allows you to ski when you want. There’s no need to wait until 12:30 pm for half-day lift tickets! Since our girls are late risers, we head out mid-morning after a big breakfast and ski until the lifts shut down. It’s just the right amount of time for little legs (and by not overdoing it, they’re keen to go back)!
- Terrain for All Levels: Nakiska boasts a large learning area, beginner-friendly green runs, the NaJibSka Rail Park, Monster Glades, and everything in between. While the runs off the Gold Chair are my favorite, now that I have children, I appreciate the beginner terrain. There is an easy way down, so even beginners can take long runs down from the top of the Silver Chair. My daughter quickly advanced to blue runs by the age of 5!
- Super Fast Gold Chair Express: I love the Gold Chair Express so I can wait less and ski more. Tip: Play in the Monster Glades after a big dump of snow!
- Kids 5 & Under Ski Free: For real! Nakiska is the only mountain that offers free skiing to children 5 and under, so if your children are the right age, you only need to purchase adult season’s passes!
- Resort Size: With 71 runs, Nakiska is just the right size. The hill is easy to navigate, with all runs on the same side of the mountain, and there are plenty of fun runs for everyone. Pop in to the mid-mountain lodge or main lodge for a bite. Fun fact: 28% of Nakiska’s runs are advanced!
- No Getting Stuck In The Flats: Nakiska doesn’t have long, flat stretches to get stuck in, so you can ski or ride more!
- Family Friendly: Families will love Nakiska’s onsite daycare, Snow School, great learning area for first timers, and beginner friendly runs from the Bronze Chair. The Bronze Chair is not too fast, so first-timers can safely get the hang of getting on and off.
- Partner Discounts: Your Nakiska Season’s Pass includes discounts at partner resorts, hotels, and businesses. See all member benefits here.
Bonus: Skiing at Nakiska is fun!
See you on the slopes! At Nakiska!
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Partnering with Sport Chek and Alpine Canada – we’re once again proud to participate in the National Ski Day presented by CIBC. The annual event was started as an incentive to introduce people and promote to sport of skiing/riding to people who many not have yet had the opportunity to try it. Through a $15 lift ticket, people who may not otherwise have the chance get to ski at a great rate – for the whole day, this season, on January 9th, 2016.
To sign up for a $15 lift ticket or for more information visit the Alpine Canada website.
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Imagine this; you wake up from your slumber early, really early. And you’re not getting back to sleep. What do you do? What do most of us do? Grab our smart phones. Now, when you grab your phone you’ll have the ability to get the most up to date information for snow conditions, weather reports, trail maps, resort info and more from one handy app for Nakiska Ski Area (and our other RCR resorts).
Your next problem – it’s going to be a powder day!! Time to call in sick and head out to the mountains!
For more information on our App read our Press Release.
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Skiing and Snowboarding season kicked off yesterday and was an amazing day on the slopes! Check out some of social media posts from our guests enjoying their first Nakiska turns of the season;
Big news for this upcoming Saturday we’re going to have the largest family friendly learning area open, Kids’ World, at Nakiska – we’ll have a perfectly groomed snow surface ready for first timers or kids and adults just wanting to hone their skills before they head up on the mountain. We know this is important early in the season and the Mountain Operations team at Nakiska has been working hard to get our Magic Carpet and Kids’ World ready earlier than ever! As one of the first family learning area in the Canadian Rockies to open, we’re proud to support getting everyone a chance to try skiing and snowboarding!
See when we’re open in November.
Feature photo by @SJSob14 from Twitter.
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Some liken it to the night before Christmas. There’s that sense of anticipation in the air – will it be better than last year? What are you wishing for? What surprises are in store? Who will you share it with?
But it’s not really Christmas, it’s the weeks before the onset of ski season, when there’s snow in the mountains, but it hasn’t quite reached the city, and where we start planning the upcoming winter trips and adventures in our Rocky Mountain backyard.
Thursday, October 29 marked the first Canadian “Mappy Hour”, at the Village Brewery in Calgary and hosted by “Powder” Matt Mosteller and SnowSeekers.
Mappy Hour started in New York, and it’s a monthly urban gathering for outdoor enthusiasts. And there’s no shortage of those in Calgary – close to 100 people showed up for the inaugural event, which featured a talk and presentation by local athlete and backcountry skier Ian Holmes.
Holmes got the crowd excited for winter with a slideshow of his favourite backcountry spots in the Alberta and BC Rockies – many of which are located within a couple of hours of Calgary. Naming off known and obscure places, the crowd joined in with plenty of questions about backcountry safety, getting ready for the season, and where to go.
The room was filled with a huge variety of enthusiasts, from out-of-town visitors, to backcountry novices, through to expert skiers, the common thread was the passion for our mountains and the experiences we can share together this winter.
When the snowflakes started to fall in the city a few days later, while many were cursing the frosted windshields and cold winds, I have no doubt the Mappy Hour folks smiled, knowing the countdown to snow season was in full force.
Many thanks to Village Brewery for hosting the first-ever Canadian Mappy Hour.
After a packed reception to Canada’s first ever MappyHour, Powder Matt, Paula Worthington, the folks from OutdoorFest, SnowSeekers and others welcome new friends and neighbours back to the Village Brewery on Monday November 16 at 7pm. Set some tire to rubber this season and get planning for your winter adventures over $4 craft beers.
Author/Writer Tom Babin speaks about what he’s discovered in his quest to love winter biking. Winter biking has become Babin’s happy place and from his book, “Frostbike”, he describes the sport as “the unique kind of bliss that can only come by pedalling through softly falling snow on a quiet winter night”.
Babin’s take on winter biking kind of sounds really similar to the zen we score when we move through fresh snow on the slopes. Mappy Hour YCC November 16 will be anouther great night to fuel our soul full of adventure inspiration.
For more details check out the Mappy Hour website and to book your spot, RSVP for FREE here.
Interested in checking out Mappy Hour? Share this page with your crew and bring them along!
Words: Paula Worthington
Photos: Cali Sammel
October Mappy Hour on October 29th at Village Brewery
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There are few things that get skiers and snowboarders as excited as the thought of the first turns of the season! See the regular operating schedule below for Nakiska skiing and riding.
Information;
Hours: 9am – 4pm
Conditions:
- Groomed runs in excellent shape with Top to Bottom Skiing and Boarding.
- A wide selection of perfectly groomed and natural terrain runs available.
- Great beginners area on Kids World and the Silver Chair Area
Lift Operations:
- Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th December 2015 – 9:30am – 3:30pm ***depending on business – SILVER CHAIR / OLYMPIC CHAIR / GOLD CHAIR and MAGIC CARPET
Available services:
Base area Daylodge:
Open 8:00 – 17:00,
Day lodge lower level with food/beverage services from Cafeteria and Slopeside. Retail store, wash-rooms, lockers, coin lockers
Guest services:
Open 08:00 – 16:30, in Administration building, ready to answer any question, print season passes, book programs etc.
Winter Sports School:
Open 08:30 – 16:00, full menu
Rentals:
Open 08:30 – 16:30, renting ski and snowboard gear, offers specials on repairs, waxing and tune ups, early season used equipment sale
Retail:
Open 08:30 – 16:30, new arrivals and early season discounts on last year’s product available
Ticketing:
Open 09:00 – 14:00
Food/beverage:
Base area Slopeside Cafe, open 08:00 – 16:30, with enhanced menu and usual coffee products, pastry etc, De Luxe sandwiches, “beer on tap” special for Apres ski. Nakiska Cafeteria open at 11:00 for lunch (burgers, fries etc)
Base area Cafeteria, open 10:00 – 16:00 full service
Mid Mountain Lodge, open 10:00 – 16:00, with full menu
Schedule of Opening;
Regular 7 day a week operations begin today Friday, December 4
Check out our Facebook, Twitter or Instagram for recent video, pictures and daily updates to opening.
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