Monday, December 23, 2013

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM ONE,TWO,SKI!

There’s no better way to celebrate Christmas than in the mountains. With glistening snow-flecked fir trees all around and star-speckled clear skies, you barely need to decorate.

Van Haren Family at Mt Norquay, by Louise Hudson
It’s not just the skiing that makes a mountain Christmas so perfect, it’s the atmosphere with visitors, locals and workers all in the party mood. Ski resorts all over North America celebrate in style with carol singers, skiing Santas, sleigh rides, reindeer appearances, parades, skating parties, gorgeous lights and dazzling decorations.

Breckenridge by Go-Breck
The skiing component of a mountain Christmas is also an effective antidote to all the overeating and boozing. And the outdoor activity gives a Vitamin D boost to add to the endorphin rush of  downhill delirium – all helping to ward off the cold and flu bugs that circulate during the holidays.

Buying Christmas gifts in cute little one-off shops in snow-cloaked ski towns is way preferable to the manic mall experience where frustrated families engage in turf wars over parking spaces or the latest gullible gadget.

Big White
Instead of couch potato sluggishness and senseless squabbles, ski families get parallel playtime, resulting in energized bonding between parents and offspring.

Skiing Christmas Day is the ultimate way to justify the overindulgence. With a bit of pre-planning you can ski the morning and still get back in time to have the turkey and all the trimmings ready for early evening dinner. We’ll be in Canmore, Alberta over the holidays, skiing lovely Lake Louise and also Mt Norquay, our usual Christmas morning haunt. 

And come Boxing Day, I’d rather be queuing for chairlifts than standing in line for sales. 
Happy Christmas Skiing!



I asked resorts to send me Christmas ski shots and got hundreds! Here are a selection of some of the best: 
Whistler Blackcomb

Aspen

Canyons by Justin Olsen

Castle Mountain - Sam Schofield

Arapahoe Basin


Kimberley

Whitewater

Heavenly

Telluride
Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort



Aspen

Aspen Snowmass

Chocolate Village at Keystone


Nakiska

Sunlight
Mont-Sainte-Anne

If you have always dreamt about owning a ski chalet, check out my ski hill property article in the Calgary Herald this weekend: 
http://www.calgaryherald.com/life/hill+properties+open+those+willing+hunt/9312409/story.html