» Winter Sports and Activities
Skiing, Night Skiing and Cross-Country Skiing
Snow seldom falls in the city, yet Vancouverites enjoy some of North America's best downhill and cross-country ski facilities. The twinkling lights of the neighbouring ski mountains - Cypress Mountain, Grouse Mountain and Mount Seymour - attract the city's residents and tourists alike, urging them to hit the slopes. Cypress (www.cypressmountain.com) has the largest vertical drop and a superb track‑set for cross-country skiing. Grouse (www.grousemountain.com) features tremendous summit views and easy access, while Mount Seymour (www.mountseymour.com) specializes in lessons for first‑timers and is popular with families. Each facility also offers popular night-time skiing options where many of its runs are floodlit and have beautiful city views.
There are 19 kilometres (12 miles) of lung-challenging cross-country trails at Cypress Mountain and regular trekkers often end their jaunt with a restorative stop at the laid-back Hollyburn Lodge. Dating back to 1926, it's a great place to rub shoulders with the locals and savour some hot food and a cold beer.
Two hours north of the city are the twin internationally renowned ski mountains of Whistler and Blackcomb (www.whistler.com), which attract skiers from all over the world for downhill, cross-country and helicopter skiing.
Snowboarding
The snowboarding venue for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, Cypress Mountain (www.cypressmountain.com) is popular with boarders of all abilities. Grouse Mountain (www.grousemountain.com) also offers great snowboarding options, as well as private lessons and schools for those trying it out for the first time. Rentals are also available at Mount Seymour (www.mountseymour.com), where a wide range of lessons for boarders of all abilities and ages is on offer.
Snowshoeing
Grouse Mountain (www.grousemountain.com), Cypress Mountain (www.cypressmountain.com) and Mount Seymour (www.mountseymour.com) all offer snowshoeing opportunities less than a half-hour drive from the city. Grouse offers equipment rentals and guided tours on its 10 kilometres (6 miles) of forested snowshoe trails as well as night-time snowshoe/fondue packages for groups of six or more. Cypress also has 10 kilometres (6 miles) of marked trails for snowshoers, as well as day and night-time guided tours. Seymour's 10 kilometres (6 miles) of snowshoe trails feature several tour packages, including a 90-minute Mom and Baby Tour that concludes with tea and a health and wellness discussion in a heated yurt.
Story Idea:
Consider a story on experiencing Vancouver's ski resorts at night. You could focus on what visitors can do at Grouse, Seymour and Cypress in the evening, ranging from skiing and snowboarding on floodlit runs to guided snowshoes treks through the forest and lighted sleigh rides and ice skating activities. Your story could also review the drinking and dining options available for evening visitors - including Grouse's fine dining and Seymour's laid-back pub. |
Skating
Vancouverites love to ice-skate and there are nine indoor public rinks across the city, each administered by the Vancouver Park Board (www.vancouverparks.ca). These include the family-friendly community centres at Britannia, Kerrisdale, Killarney, Kitsilano, Riley Park, Sunset, Trout Lake and the West End, each offering lessons to skaters of all skill levels. In addition, many visitors enjoy the ambiance of an outdoor skate atop Grouse Mountain (www.grousemountain.com), particularly at night when the tree-lined rink is illuminated by floodlights and the nearby pit fire offers a warm-up stop.
Tubing
One of the most popular new trends in winter activities for families is snow tubing and both Cypress Mountain (www.cypressmountain.com) and Mount Seymour (www.mountseymour.com) have stepped up to the plate. Cypress offers some heart-pumping, tree-flanked tracks for those who like to speed though the snow, while Seymour's Enquist SnowTube Park attracts snowy speed demons of all ages - plus they offer an additional Toboggan Park for those who bring their own equipment.
Story Idea:
Consider a story on Grouse Mountain at Christmas, when sleigh rides, Santa's workshop and a visit with the reindeers delight visitors of all ages. Make sure you save time for a visit with the jolly old elf himself. | |
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