Lake Louise Ski Resort
| Lake Louise Ski Resort | |
|---|---|
| File:LakeLouise-logo.png | |
 Skiing at Lake Louise | |
| Location | Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada |
| Nearest major city | Banff, Alberta Calgary, Alberta |
| Vertical | 991 m (3,250 ft) |
| Top elevation | 2,637 m (8,650 ft)[1] |
| Base elevation | 1,646 m (5,400 ft) |
| Skiable area | 17 km2 (4,200 acres)[2] |
| Trails | 139[2] |
| Longest run | 8 km (5.0 mi)[2] |
| Lift system | 9 lifts: - 3 Surface Lifts - 1 Triple - 1 Fixed-Grip Quad - 2 High Speed Quads - 1 High Speed Six Passenger - 1 Six Passenger Gondola[1] |
| Lift capacity | 14,000+ skiers/hr |
| Terrain parks | 3 |
| Snowfall | 454 cm (180 in) per year |
| Website | Ski Louise.com |
Louise
seen from Lake Louise
The Lake Louise Ski Resort (previously Lake Louise Ski Area) is a ski resort in western Canada, located in Banff National Park near the village of Lake Louise, Alberta. It is located 57 km (35 mi) west of Banff. Lake Louise is one of three major ski resorts located in Banff National Park.[3]
The resort is situated on the southern slopes of the Merlin Ridge of the Slate Range, between the heights of Mount Richardson, Ptarmigan Peak, Pika Peak and Redoubt Mountain, all around 3,000 m (10,000 ft) above sea level. The base of the slopes is defined by Pipestone River, a tributary of the Bow River, immediately north of the intersections between Highway 1A (Bow Valley Trail), Highway 1 (Trans-Canada Highway), and Highway 93 (Icefield Parkway).
History
Skiing, in pre-lift times, was a huge part of the new wave of mountain exploration, and the Lake Louise Ski Resort was born in the 1930’s, when Skoki Lodge was constructed out of a partnership between an eccentric English aristocrat, Sir Norman Watson, who dreamt of recreating a Swiss Village in Lake Louise, and the Banff Ski Club, later the Banff Ski Runners, mountain enthusiasts who imagined a backcountry lodge in what they deemed the most ideal place for skiing imaginable. [4]
In 1938, modern skiing in Canada really took off, when another beautiful log building, Temple Lodge, was constructed as the beginning of the main downhill ski area. Then in 1954, the first lift, a platter, was installed on the nearby Larch slope. Three years later, a gondola was constructed on Mt. Whitehorn, which today is “the front side”. The two original areas operated independently until 1971, one named Temple, and the other Whitehorn. [5]
Until Autumn 2008, the ski resort was owned and operated by the Resorts of the Canadian Rockies (RCR) company. Recently Charlie Locke, a former owner of the ski area, exercised a buy-back option to reacquire a majority share of Lake Louise from RCR to return as the ski resort's president and operator.[6]
Events
The Lake Louise Ski Resort is the first stop on the FIS Ski World Cup circuit, and the only place in Canada where this event is held.[7] The event, also known as the Lake Louise Winterstart World Cup, is described by Alpine Canada as "Canada's highest-profile alpine ski race",[8] and attracts high-profile downhill skiers from around the globe - such as four-time World Cup champion, Lindsay Vonn.[9]
The Lake Louise Ski Resort will host it's first FIS Snowboardcross World Cup in 2013/14. [10]
The resort also hosts Ruckus in the Rockies: a freestyle snowboard and live music event held at the end of the snow season.[11]
Facilities
The 139 marked ski runs and back bowls on four mountain faces are 25% beginner, 45% intermediate and 30% advanced.[2] The 'Terrain Park' is also designed for riders of all levels. Four full service day lodges are operational during winter. Snowboarders have access to all trails and the terrain park.
The Lake Louise sightseeing gondola is open year round, offering panoramas of glaciers, natural springs, wildflowers and possibly wildlife (such as grizzly bears). Other activities in the resort area include dog sledding, ice skating, and cross-country skiing.
Trails
| Easier | Intermediate | Experienced | Difficult (Double Black) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | 25 | 54 | 43 |
Lifts
| Lift Name | Length | Vertical | Type | Ride Time | Make | Build Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grizzly Express Gondola | 2918 m | 736 m | 6 Person Gondola | 12 min. | Leitner Poma | 2003 |
| Top of the World 6-Pack Express | 1344 m | 411 m | High-Speed 6 Pack | 5 min. | Leitner Poma | 2003 |
| Glacier Express Quad | 1822 m | 442 m | High Speed Quad | 7 min. | Leitner | 2000 |
| Larch Express Chair | 1463 m | 375 m | High Speed Quad | 6 min. | Leitner | 1998 |
| Ptarmigan Quad Chair | 1021 m | 412 m | Fixed Grip Quad | 9 min. | Leitner Poma | 2008 |
| Paradise Triple Chair | 1100 m | 394 m | Fixed Grip Triple | 9 min. | Lift Engineering | 1982 |
| Summit Platter | 1119 m | 410 m | 1 Person Platter | 8 min. | Mueller | 1976 |
| Sunny T-Bar | 361 m | 44 m | 2 Person T-Bar | 3 min. | Doppelmayr | |
| Magic Carpet | 79 m | 18 m | Surface Lift | 2 min. | 2006 |
References
- ^ a b Go Ski. "Lake Louise - Statistics". Retrieved 2008-05-12.
- ^ a b c d Lake Louise Mountain Resort. "Mountain Statistics". Retrieved 2008-05-12.
- ^ http://www.britishairways.com/travel/ski-holidays-lake-louise/public/en_gb
- ^ http://www.skilouise.com/support/pdf/MediaKitLakeLouise_2012_13_final.pdf
- ^ http://www.skilouise.com/support/pdf/MediaKitLakeLouise_2012_13_final.pdf
- ^ http://www.skicanadamag.com/Features/2009/BG2010/Louise.html
- ^ http://www.fis-ski.com/uk/majorevents/fisworldskichampionships/alpinewsc.html?category=&category=WC§or=AL&search=Search
- ^ http://www.alpinecanada.org/winterstart
- ^ http://alpine.usskiteam.com/athletes/lindsey-vonn
- ^ http://www.fissnowboard.com/uk/place/lake-louise,88.html
- ^ http://www.monsterenergy.com/ca/en/events/#!/events%3Aruckus-in-the-rockies-iii
External links
- The Lake Louise Ski Resort - official site
- Ski Banff - Lake Louise - Sunshine - Tri-Area Joint Venture between the Lake Louise Ski Resort, Sunshine Village, and Mt. Norquay