[Mobius]

I wouldn't trust a lake...

[tinfoil]

No, but Lake Louise is.

Meh, it's okay. Revelstoke kicks it's ass down the street and back though. If you ever get the chance, GO THERE. It's better than whistler and full of mainly locals. And of course, the longest vertical in north america + 12 meters of snow per year =  

[colecampbell666]

Why better than Whistler? Less crowded? My school will be taking a trip out to BC next year, and as the coordinator, I have to decide which hill we'll visit. What'd you suggest for a week of skiing?

[Roanoke]

I'd rather see mountains and forests and lakes and stuff than a windy beach. A windy beach on the North Sea coast

[MP-Ryan]

Why better than Whistler? Less crowded? My school will be taking a trip out to BC next year, and as the coordinator, I have to decide which hill we'll visit. What'd you suggest for a week of skiing?

Having grown up in the Kootenay region of BC and being an avid skier all my life.... =)

In order:
1.  Fernie
2.  Lake Louise
3.  Big White (near Kelowna).

I grew up skiing Red Mountain Resort, which is a small resort with the best backcountry of any of the resorts I've visited, bar none (including Revelstoke).  That said, it's not a good place for beginners and I imagine a school trip will have people of all levels of expertise.  Thus, Fernie and Lake Louise are your best choices.  Both have a huge amount of accessible terrain for all skill levels and the local facilities will be sufficient to house a school trip.  Both are also within easy transit distance of Calgary and/or Cranbrook (the two nearest airports).  Big White lacks the amount of expert terrain of those two, but is located close to Kelowna, which is a major airport and a reasonable sized city, whereas the other two are kind of in the middle of nowhere.

All three have much more reasonable lift and accomodation rates than Whistler and are much closer to convenient transportation.  Frankly, it will be a better experience and cost you less.  If it were me, I'd avoid Whistler like the plague.

[colecampbell666]

Yeah, that's what I was thinking. My mom taught at Red Mountain when she was 20 or so, she speaks highly of it.

So Fernie'd be a good destination? I'm one of the top skiers in my school, and Red'd be a bit much for most of the crowd. Fernie looks to have a good variety of terrain, as you said.

[MP-Ryan]

Yeah, that's what I was thinking. My mom taught at Red Mountain when she was 20 or so, she speaks highly of it.

So Fernie'd be a good destination? I'm one of the top skiers in my school, and Red'd be a bit much for most of the crowd. Fernie looks to have a good variety of terrain, as you said.

If it were me, I'd pick Lake Louise.  2.5 hours from Calgary airport, all the facilities, only 5% GST (no provincial taxes, unlike Fernie), good mix of terrain, and you're right in the middle of the Rockies.  Lots of things to see and do in the area.  If all the trip is about is skiing and absolutely nothing else, then Fernie is the better option.

[colecampbell666]

It's about skiing to whoever's paying to go, This is the school ski club.

[tinfoil]

I'm in love with Revelstoke myself, but Red Mountain is a hell of a hill as well.

Hmm... as for a place to go, Avoid Sunshine, it's a hole. I can't say anything of Fernie, having never been there. Panorama is a good All-levels hill, but leaves out a whole lot of snow that you might find elsewhere. Castle Mountain is heavenly on a good snow year.

It really depends on what kind of experience you're going for, and also when you'll be there. For me it breaks down to:

Advanced Terrain + Powder: Revelstoke, Castle Mountain.

All Skill Levels: Lake Louise, Panorama, Sun Peaks (Kamloops)

Beginner: COP Panorama, Norquay

Good skiing + Other stuff to do: Lake Louise, Panorama.


EDIT: When are you going to be there? Depending on where you go and what you do there's a chance I could see you wandering around.
 

[colecampbell666]

Mid-March. I'm just waiting for uni in a few years, UBC beckons to me...

[tinfoil]

If you want good snow late season like that I'd say Revy's your best bet, or if you don't mind a little slush then Panorama.

Orrrr... If you don't mind flying into Kamloops, Sun Peaks would still be good, plus it's only half an hour or so from the airport. It just doesn't have much expert terrain.

[karajorma]

* karajorma is upset that this thread didn't increase tourism to Northumberland.

[Liberator]

This reminds me of Forrest Gump.  Story took place in Alabama.  But, apparently from what has been said, Alabama didn't look enough like Alabama so they went 20 miles into Georgia to film.

[Dilmah G]

 

I find it pretty damn funny when that happens