Winter sports
 

Are winter sports such as skiing and snowboarding more affordable than in uk? One of the big draws for me moving to canada is the outdoor lifestyle which we don't have to same extent in uk. I suppose it depends partly on what province you live as Ontario only has ski hills, although they're not to far from some mountains in New York State. I've noticed Canadians seem to embrace winter whereas some Brits seem to hibernate once the autumn begins.

Re: Winter sports
 

I wouldn't think so, not for people living in Ontario. The keen skiers around here go to Utah, Chile or Austria on holiday, those places aren't that much nearer to here than they are to the UK. Cross country skiing and snowshoeing would be cheaper here.

Re: Winter sports
 

Bit of a generalization regarding how people see winter. A lot of Canadians avoid winter, either by simply hibernating in their houses, or going to sunnier climes. On the other hand, a fair number of Brits. seem to like the winter here, and ski, skate and toboggan.

Re: Winter sports
 

A family season pass at Nakiska (site of the alpine skiing portion of the 1988 Winter Games) is $1,400 for the 2013-2014 season (cheaper if purchased during the early bird period).

I have no idea how that compares to the UK.

Re: Winter sports
 

In Ontario, getting to mountains (real ones) is more expensive than in Europe, also skiing in Canada (eastern) is often a lot colder seriously colder than skiing in the Alps including glacier skiing..

To be honest there are somedays you come off the mountain when the cold has made it “not fun anymore” I’ve noticed I ski a lot less these days even though I have all the gear or put nicely when you need your Canadian goose parka to ski, its the type of day I don’t ski anymore..

Re: Winter sports
 

I think its more expensive to ski here in Canada (even as a local driving to the mountains from Calgary) than it is to spend a week skiing in Europe. It is also really difficult to just have a week of skiing lessons. Lessons by the hour here are extortionate.

BUT I do think the whole ski experience in the Rockies is WAY better than in Europe. You don't spend hours waiting for lifts, the lifts are faster, the powder snow is amazing, as are the views.

Re: Winter sports
 

If by "embrace the winter" you mean sit in their living room watching ice hockey on a 70 inch screen for six months of the year, then yes, Canadians do.

The whole "embrace the winter" thing is bollocks. In my experience Canadians enjoy the winter no more than people in Britain. In fact, cradles generally seem to moan about the weather - winter and summer - just as much, if not more than folks back home.

Re: Winter sports
 

Blue Mountain Ontario: http://www.bluemountain.ca/winter_lift_tickets.htm

http://goskiinggosnowboarding.ca/set...-snowboarding/

There are so many places across Canada you can ski, snowboard etc., just put in a google.ca search.

(Actually, click the link - I did it for you)

:)

Re: Winter sports
 

Too true!

Re: Winter sports
 

Affluent Canadians embrace the winter in Florida (or Texas, Arizona, Mexico, even Normandy).

Re: Winter sports
 

I'm sure you meant to say 'iced hockey :D'. I'm Canadian, don't ski, don't skate (very well), yet still managed to break several bones playing the game. Own good army snowshoes (snowshoes for sale!), x-country skis, (skis for sale!). But one thing I do is ice fishing, and if that isn't a winter sport there aren't any.

Re: Winter sports
 

Yes, bit of a slip up there I'm afraid. :o "My bad", as the locals say.


Just as an after thought. Ice(d) fishing has to be more of a mental disorder than a sport surely?...

Re: Winter sports
 

Bit of an aquired taste perhaps.

Re: Winter sports
 

I think skiing is cheap here, though it's very dependent on your access or a ski hill. Seasons pass at Sun Peaks in BC is $600 (early bird price). Ski 10 times or more during the 140 day season and you save on the daily rates. The weather is mild here by Canadian winter standards, so it's rare to be too cold to ski.

Skating is generally free at several of the city owned rinks if you just want recreational exercise. Cross country skiing is very inexpensive, snowmobiling is similar to owning a dirt bike in terms of outlay and overhead.

Re: Winter sports
 

I don't know about cheaper, never skiied in Europe, but it is much more accessible (less than 1 hour drive) which means we go every weekend.
Acitivities like ice skating are much more accessible too, at least around here, every park has an outdoor rink maintained by the city and free to use and x-country skiing opportunities abound too :)