As well as having expert knowledge of ski resorts across Europe, many of our ski sales experts have an extensive knowledge of ski resorts in USA and Canada. The Iglu Ski staff often choose a North American ski holiday over Europe for the wide range of off piste terrain and dependable powder snow conditions.
For winter 2016/17 a number of the Iglu Ski sales team visited some of our top selling ski resorts in USA and Canada. Here are the highlights of their North American adventures:
Nick at Sun Peaks, Canada
Product Manager, Nick, crossed the pond for a Canadian adventure in December 2015 to visit Sun Peaks and Whistler ski resort. Unlike Europe’s poor start to the season, Canada was chock-full of powder by December, granting an excellent week’s skiing in these North American ski paradises.
Nick's highlights of Sun Peaks included:
After arriving in Sun Peaks late on the 12th December we awoke to a cloudy snow day. Still visibility was good in amongst the trees and we enjoyed fresh turns with hardly a sole in sight. The only hint of a queue was when my group of 9 all arrived at the lifts together. We headed up Mt Morrisy and enjoyed fresh tracks in the relative shelter of the trees on wonderfully named gladed runs such as midlife crisis, showboat and tumble dry!
Crystal Chair on Mt Tod was closed for most of the day due to the weather but a rumour went around the few people of the mountain that it was opening soon and we hightailed it there to be the first up and enjoy an incredible couple of laps of Crystal bowl in un touched powder.
The next day we awoke to clear skies and sunshine allowing us to really take in the sights and see how amazingly convenient Sun Peaks is with its 3 mountains all easily accessible from the centre of town. Heading up Mt Morrisy again and with the clouds gone it was easy to see why this place is so popular as we got great views of the terrain over on Mt Tod and Sundance. We headed up over to Crystal chair again to find trees covered in ice and snow (snow ghosts). A few more laps of Crystal bowl before lunch and then it was off to Gils backcountry area which is now within bounds and patrolled. Sun Peaks offer guided Gils back country tours with a certified guide and instructor. They will show you the safest routes and the best lines whilst improving your technique off piste!
The addition of Gils and a couple of new runs on Mt Morrisy (Wringer and In Tatters) to make Sun Peaks Canadas 2nd largest ski area. The snow was incredible and has only got better since I left.
Find out more about Sun Peaks
Guy at Jackson Hole, USA
Ski sales expert, Guy flew out to the ultimate bucket list ski destination in March 2016 for the resort’s 50th anniversary. Jackson Hole is famed for its legendary extreme skiing and cowboy spirit.
Guy’s highlights of Jackson Hole included:
Best bar is easily Million Dollar Cowboy.
Best restaurant is the Handle Bar in the Four Seasons Hotel, Jackson Hole.
Best run North Hoback.
Our best night out was at the Snake River Brewery – it’s Wyoming’s oldest brewery. The bar uses water from the Snake River and makes super awesome beer.
Find out more about Jackson Hole
Phil at Lake Tahoe, USA
Sales team leader, Phil spent New Year 2016 at Lake Tahoe backflipping his way around the snowy slopes of Heavenly, Northstar and Squaw Valley.
Phil’s highlights of South Lake Tahoe included:
Best run is Killebrew Canyon at Heavenly ski resort. It has steep chutes and great views of the surrounding Lake Tahoe.
Best lift is the KT 22 at Squaw Valley.
My best night out was visiting the huge casinos on the Nevada / California state line at South Lake Tahoe. There are also lots of bars and restaurants here too.
Find out more about Lake Tahoe
AJ at Whistler, Canada
Sales Director AJ celebrated a mile stone birthday at Whistler ski resort in February 2016 in search of the best powder on the planet.
AJ's highlights of Whistler included:
I went to Whistler in February 2016. It had been 14 years since I last skied there. Very little in the Village had changed but the mountain has gone through a lot of improvements and lift upgrades.
As expected there was lots of snow. The snow got a little heavy in the afternoons but the mornings were powder heaven. One of the highlights was our 1st Tracks days. You pre-book your 1st Tracks pass which can be used on any day. We waited for the right powder morning and made our dawn departure. We got to the lifts around 7.15 and were several hundred customers back in the queue. On a powder day get there no later than 6.30 for the best use of 1st Tracks. It includes a huge Canadian style breakfast up the mountain but by the time we got our plates filled many of the really early birds were waiting for the starting bell to get going higher up the mountain.
The other highlight was a heli-ski day. Whistler has one of the best programs in the world, I did 8 uplifts in one day in the ‘experts’ Heli and had one of my all-time favourite ski experiences. My 3rd highlight was going to do the Luge experience at the Olympic track just outside of town and that was equal parts terrifying and exhilarating and I’d do it again every day if I could.
Best bar is still Merlins when the Hairy Farmers play at après time
Best restaurant was Sushi Village Japanese Restaurant
Best lift is the amazing Peak to Peak
Best run is Sapphires Chute off the back of Spanky’s Ladder. It’s worth the climb.
Best night out is easily Mojos on a Friday night
Find out more about Whistler
Whistler Blackcomb announces $345 million transformation project ‘Renaissance’
2016/2017 Ski holidays in North America
Many of the holidays we offer to USA and Canada are tailor-made as we cannot guarantee flight prices online, plus we prefer the flexibility of choosing flights, hotels and extras to suit our customer’s needs. Speak to the Iglu Ski experts about a North American ski holiday and we’ll put a package together specific for you.
View Ski holidays in USA | Ski holidays in Canada
