Banff - Skiing and snowboarding in Canada

[P.Turnbuckle]

Morning All,

I am off to Banff in Canada to do a bit of skiing/snowboarding, and I have a few questions:

What forms do I need to be covered medically?

Any necessities in terms of legal requirements?

Does anyone recommend a good place for dinner?

I have never skiied/snowboarded before - which should I do? I am slightly more attracted to snowboarding as it seems easier to comprehend a single board instead of two ski's (I can see the latter getting messy for me very quickly!). I also assume that, because of the larger surface area, that snowboarding is a little slower - is this theory correct?

All the best

PT

[joggerjayne]

Hi, PT ...

Just got in from the gym.

I can't help with Canada, but I might be able to help with skiing.

The main differences with a snowboard are ...

(1) you travel sideways
(2) you can't split your legs

The fact that you can't split your legs on a board makes it quite a bit easier than skiing. The main reason skiers wipeout is because they catch the outside edge of one ski one the snow, and their skis go in opposite directions. Obviously, that can't happen on a board.

And yes, you can certainly go faster on skis than on a board.

However, the real difference between skiing and boarding has been one of culture. Snowboarding developed a whole "rebel" sub-culture of it's own. It was seen as the trendy sport for teenagers, and guys with mohican haircuts. It developed its own clothing. Snowboard trousers were "grungy" and had leg pockets, like cargo pants. Boarding gloves came further up your arm, because boarders put their hands in the snow more often.

(continued)

[joggerjayne]

(continued)

BUT ... and here's the crunch ... there has been a turnaround in culture. To put it in a nutshell ...

Skiing is the new Snowboarding.

In other words, skiing is now fashionable again. Snowboarding is seen as a bit passé and chavy ... infact, a bit "oiky"

Sure, snowboarding is still popular with teenagers, in the same way that smoking behind the pavilion is popular with teenagers. And with Americans, who are always a few years behind Europe in winter sports terms. But to be frank ...

... I'd leave boarding to the chavs, and go skiing.

However, having said that ... snowboarding clothes are still better than ski clothes, unless you are going for the "St Moritz" glamour look. So buy your clothes from the snowboarding section, but go skiing.

Oh, one more thing about ski clothes ... avoid "matching pairs" of clothes. You will look a bit nerdy ... as though your mum dressed you.

Buy a jacket you like, and a pair of snowboarding trousers which "kind of" match, but not exactly. And definitely buy snowbuarding gloves with a pull-cord around the wrist. The ones that also tie on to your wrist are worth their weight in gold.

Beyond that ... have fun !!

[Hawkwalk]

get good medical insurance that covers you for skiing and also covers repatriation. The main thing you will need to do is get some lessons when you get there. Pre book with a ski school before you go and get one to one lessons if you can afford to as you will learn much faster that way.

Banff is great for eating out and there are so many places to choose from. I cant remember the name but the Mexican was especially good.

[tamborine]

fabulous

http://www.skibanff.com/conditions/webcams.php