Perfect powdery Panorama in early Jan - my Colours of Assiniboine Alchemy of Ride jacket makes everything else fade to black and white! Fun fact: you can see Assiniboine from Panorama on a clear day |
'Ski like a local, eat like a local and drink like a local' - that's the latest mantra at Panorama Mountain Resort which is in the midst of a daring development and rebranding plan. Check out the website, which already sports the new look, courtesy of nearby Kootenay company, Story & Co. Food and Beverage Manager, Richard Matthews is noticing the success of this local focus just by looking at draft beer sales, particularly from the nearby Arrowhead Brewing Company. "It’s just gone crazy, craft beer is so on trend right now and it’s really working for us," said Richard over beer-infused cocktails at Restaurant ElevenFifty. "And it’s all about supporting local in our beverages as well as our food."
Spied from the bottom of the Sun Bird chairlift, Cliffhanger Restaurant at Panorama's Grey Wolf Golf Clubhouse |
Decadent Dining: The dining gets more diverse each year, with the new Cliffhanger Restaurant offering topnotch steakhouse fare as well as pastas and risottos at reasonable prices. The Earl Grey Lodge now offers two CABIN eateries - the Restaurant, appealing to families and couples, and the Smokehouse pub, attracting locals and Millennials. Owned by ex-pat Brits, Phil and Claire Marshall who moved to Panorama in 2003, the cute cabin-style BnB was voted one of the best places to stay in Western Canada by Ski Canada mag and, just recently, in the top 25 small hotels in Canada in Tripadvisor - ideal for an Alpine-atmosphere ski vacation, retreat, reunion or wedding party.
New communal dining at the redefined CABIN Restaurant at Earl Grey Lodge, Panorama |
Elkhorn Cabin, Panorama |
Summit Hut by local artist, Pat Bavin |
Pat Bavin skiing the Panorama pow |
Taynton Ridge in the early 80s - courtesy of Pat Bavin |
President and CEO of Panorama, Steve Paccagnan with Bernese Koby |
Me with Lusti (aka Peter Lustenberger) himself in Ski Canada's Best Smelling Ski Shop |
Panorama Passion: President and CEO Steve Paccagnan is full of forward thinking ideas for Panorama. Part of this vision is to replace the Pine Inn with a state-of-the-art boutique hotel, catering to contemporary needs. "We've seen the emerging trend of refurbs in hotels and motels and we've done a lot of research, talking to Yotel, looking for ideas," Steve told me over coffee and croissants in Lusti's Cappucino Bar in early Jan. "I looked at the Base Camp idea in Tahoe and Jackson Hole. So, we're bearing in mind all these ideas for our boutique hotel and addressing all the Millennial needs. For example, smaller but really ergonomically-designed rooms, where the lobby becomes the main focus with a really good bar, large social areas and a stage for live music." A passionate proponent of mountain pursuits, Steve had been persuaded by his son Ben to skin up to the top of the mountain that morning before the lifts opened so that Ben could try out his new snowshoes on the way up, strapping skis on his back for the downhill descent.
Breakfast or afternoon tea at Lusti’s is highly recommended by the way. Voted the Best Smelling Ski Shop by Ski Canada mag, it is a fun combo of state-of-the-art ski service and rental outlet with a cosy coffee bar. "We didn't know that Ski Canada was here but I think we must have just baked a fresh batch of cookies," said Jane Lustenberger, Lusti's wife. "But you can also smell the coffee from outside." The Lustenberger family has been based at Panorama since 1980, bringing up two ski-mad daughters, Christina and Andrea - now both mountain guides based in Revelstoke. Christina is a former Olympian, competing for Canada in 2006. "I came to Canada in 1974 and first worked with CMH heli-skiing which is where I met Jane," Lusti told me. He first got the idea for the ski shop/coffee bar out of personal need - it was too far to walk to the nearest caffeine vendor! "When Intrawest bought Panorama and we were moving to a new building, I asked if we could have a cappucino bar attached to my shop."
Candy Cabin, Panorama |
Ski in/ski out: Staying at Panorama is a bit like watching a modern-day kids' movie targeted at the whole family – on the surface focused on kiddie entertainment, but with an equally strong sub-text of adult attractions. We were in a wonderful apartment in the Lodge of 1000 Peaks, just opposite Earl Grey Lodge at the front and an swift scoot to the ski slopes on the other. Other benefits: short walk past the fairy-lit skating rink to the huge hot tubs (where you can meet really interesting skiers and snowboarders from all over the world, particularly Aussies and Kiwis, many visiting offspring or friends who are working the season at Panorama) and close to the cutest Candy Cabin.
Me with Panorama Mountain Friend, Gary Kazimer |
Panorama Pow-duroy |
Bryan Kroker with one of Panorama's Prinoth snowcats |
Achievements: Panorama Mountain Resort was awarded North American Resort of the Year in the 2016 World Snow Awards presented by The Telegraph Ski and Snowboard. This was an amazing accolade in recognition of the resort's continued improvements in service to the public.
New this season:
Tubing at Panorama, Fridays, Saturdays and holidays |
Banff shuttle service every Tuesday for only $99 including a Panorama lift-ticket
and same-day round trip transfer.
New Photodegradable, non-rip piste maps: When all you want to do is rip the right runs, it can be rather frustrating when you rip the piste map in half at the folds. Panorama’s new maps are so resilient to wet weather and ski-gloved mishandling that they will not tear however much trauma they are subjected to. They can be kept outdoors in racks by the tissue box stands with no damage regardless of weather. “I tested them at trade shows by leaving them in a bowl of water all day,” says Jamie Hurschler, Marketing Manager. Despite this resistance, the maps (made from rock) are also photodegradable, meaning that if dropped in the snow from a chairlift they will gradually decompose in sunlight, leaving no bootprint.
New Photodegradable, non-rip piste maps: When all you want to do is rip the right runs, it can be rather frustrating when you rip the piste map in half at the folds. Panorama’s new maps are so resilient to wet weather and ski-gloved mishandling that they will not tear however much trauma they are subjected to. They can be kept outdoors in racks by the tissue box stands with no damage regardless of weather. “I tested them at trade shows by leaving them in a bowl of water all day,” says Jamie Hurschler, Marketing Manager. Despite this resistance, the maps (made from rock) are also photodegradable, meaning that if dropped in the snow from a chairlift they will gradually decompose in sunlight, leaving no bootprint.
New All Mountain Program - AMP: Organized by Jason Simpson, Panorama's Director of Mountain Sports for the past eight years, AMP is directed at 10 -14 year olds who want to explore all of Panorama's 2,975 acres (and who have probably surpassed their parents' proficiency or daring). Leading the camp is Cam McCullen, an Invermere ACMG guide and CSIA Level 3 instructor, and safety consultant and guide with Matchstick Productions. "We were very excited to get Cam, he is a perfect fit," said Jason over carafes of cabernet in the ski in/out T-Bar during après ski.
Jason's theory is that ski racers can benefit from coming from a diverse background which includes big mountain skiing as well as racing gates: "I was skiing powder with Manny Osborne-Paradis recently - our 'Director of Speed'. He said that the coaches he had fun with at Whistler during his youth inspired him the most, free riding rather than gates. 'Manny,' I said, 'we should re-invent skiing. We would need to take kids over a 15-year study to see the results. No more downhill suits, just one pair of skis'. I think we could produce amazing professional skiers that really love the mountain." He wants the Crazy Canucks back!
T-Bar & Grill, Panorama |
Careful corduroy at Panorama |
First time on a snowmobile! |
The Monster - inbounds backcountry skiing and riding at Panorama with new snowcat tows |
Traversing into the powder playground of Panorama's new Monster territory |
Managing The Monster! |
RK Heliski, based at Panorama |
Lynne Harrison's vivid rendering of Mt Assiniboine, which is visible from Panorama on a clear day |
Olympian Dave Irwin, of Crazy Canuck fame, and wife Lynne Harrison, who designs Alchemy of Ride skiwear, are both big Panorama advocates.
"Great skiing, great grooming, and great fall line skiing," says Lynne. "The village is awesome with something for everyone. And it is all so family-oriented as the hill flows to the village beautifully."
She also loves skiing the backcountry with RK Heliski: "It's a fabulous experience, super fun in the spring when I did it and excellent customer service with a fantastic picnic lunch."
The Canmore-based couple are currently publicizing Lynne's new range of Alchemy of Ride skiwear, visiting multiple ski resorts to spread the word that bright patterns are the latest trend on the slopes.
For more about Panorama, check out my article on their blog at: https://www.panoramaresort.com/panorama-today/blog/turning-winter-from-weary-to-wonderful/