Lake Louise Travel Forum

Hi there

I was looking at the rates for the ski school, & it seems really reasonable:

http://www.skilouise.com/lessons/adultPrograms.asp

Infact, it's cheaper for me to have a full days lesson ($79) than it would be to get a lift pass & hire the equiptment!

I was just wondering whether anyone has done this programme & whether it was good?

Sam x

Hi Sam,

The program at Norquay is even cheaper ($56) both are a great opportunity if you've never skied before. The downside to Norquay is that it has some really steep runs. You may want to check their "discover skiing" package on their website, if you haven't already. http://www.banffnorquay.com/snowschool/adult.html

Norquay is also unique in that you can also pay to ski by the hour, in addition to buying a full day's lift ticket. Norquay is right outside Banff. They have the only night skiing in the area.

We used the Norquay program for our son this February - he had never skied before. He loved it.

If you sign up for lessons, I'm pretty sure you have to stay in the lesson area until they say you're good enough to go skiing by yourself. It's designed to stop people from buying the cheaper lesson package, then skipping the lessons and going for a full day's skiing at a reduced rate.

Or there is the tri-area lift ticket program. That website is at:

http://www.skibig3.com/onmountain/tickets.cfm

There are also some ski vacation specials available:

http://www.skibig3.reslogic.com/booking.exe?screen=scnSpecials

These include your room plus skiing.

After I posted my first reply, I continued thru the forum and saw from another one of your posts that you are planning on being in Banff in September. If this is the case, the ski hills will not be open for the season yet.

Hi - thanks for your help!

I don't know where my head was - we're going in December, not September. We're flying out on 27th, spending 4 nights in Jasper, 4 in Lake Louise, 4 in Banff, then flying to Toronto & spending 3 nights there.

The Norquay one looks good, but you only get 2 hours lessons as opposed to 4.5 at Banff so I guess that accounts for the price difference?

I can understand them not letting you 'go off' until you're capable - I said to my boyfriend it was cheaper to get lessons (granted, with a beginners lift pass as opposed to full access one) than buy a lift pass & equiptment rental seperately!

If you take the morning class at Norquay, you have 2 hr lesson, and then you get to go ski the regular hills for the rest of the day on your own, included in your lesson price. (The hills close at 4:30, I think it's the same time regardless of which resort you're skiing at.) If you take the afternoon class, it is from 1:30 to 3:30, so you only get to ski for an hour after lessons. So I don't think the afternoon class is as good a deal as the morning class.

Regardless of which hill you decide to take lessons at, you will receive training from qualified instructors. They will give you some good advice, and it is money well-spent.

Have fun!

I'm getting myself confused! Could we go skiing at Norquay when we're staying at Banff? If we can, it's alot cheaper because the ski banff website has lessons at around $130 I think, otherwise if we'd ski at Norquay when staying at Lake Louise it's better value to do the Lake Louise lessons as you get longer tuition for a little bit extra money.

Sorry, re-read over your posts & I understand now :)

I'm pleasantly surpised though, I could have 2 days worth of lessons in Lake Louise for $79 per day, then 1 or 2 in Banff for just $56 - all rentals & lift passes in! I think that's pretty good. Then at Banff for another day I could just buy a day lift pass & rent the equiptment....not as expensive as I first thought! Glad I'm a beginner - seems cheaper if you are & can get the lessons, lol!

Thanks for all your help - you've given me loads of info :)

Yes, they do make it fairly easy to get started in the sport. The prices you are looking at are adult prices. If you qualify, the youth prices are less. You can check out the websites of the skihills for those rates, if you need them. (I am assuming you already have this info, as you seem to know a lot already about the rates.)

Just to be sure you're clear on the ski hills, there are 3 ski hills in the Banff area (there are more if you want to drive to Kananaskis): Norquay, Sunshine, and Lake Louise.

Norquay is right outside the town of Banff, a very short drive up the hill to the ski hill. Sunshine is a little longer drive from Banff, but is still considered a Banff ski hill. Lake Louise is right outside the village of Lake Louise, again, a very short drive up the hill to the ski hill.

Hope that helps, and have a great vacation!

Brilliant - thanks again :)