My friends and I are starting to plan our next snowboarding trip, and are considering Whistler in Canada. Has anyone been there, and if so, do you know any cheap places to stay? How was the mountain? Thanks!
213338
Whistler is amazing for boading. THe courses are A LOT longer so less time is spent waiting in line. I would try looking under expedia.com or priceline.com to see if there are any packages.
405106
It would be easier to help you if I knew where in Michigan you are but I'll show you some places but here are all the resorts: http://travel.yahoo.com/p-ski-525421-michigan_ski_resorts-i\nThe have links to the individual sites as well. I want to make you aware that it's kind of foolish to get a snowboard if you aren't going to learn how to ride it, Maybe, instead of getting a board, rent a board for the season and ask for a season pass instead. A lot of resorts have buses up there, and I'm sure your dad would let you ride the bus. If your heart is set on getting that board, ask for your mom's help with transportation if you pay for the pass or something like that. I learned on a rented board and I'm incredibly glad that I did because I tore it up pretty bad just from learning and if it had been mine, I would have had to get a new one the next year anyway. Try out snowboarding before you buy a board because you might hate it, though I doubt it. Or maybe, get a used board boot and bindings and ask for a season pass somewhere too. There are resorts all over Michigan and I'm sure you'll find one and you need to work out a deal with your dad involving transportation if you want to go.
22141
Brighton has great runs and has cheaper prices. Alta is a good deal if all of ya'll are skiers. Snowbird is great if you have 4 kids going w/ u, cuz of the buy two adult passes, get 1 kid pass free. In my opinion Solitude is not good cuz its mainly tourist condo and cabin stuff
180
i found myself picking up snowboarding faster than skiing. by picking up, i mean i felt ready to take on the more intermmediate/advanced runs after a day or two of the bunny slopes. one board and 2 turns (backside and frontside) was a lot less to deal with than 2 poles and 2 skis and limbs flailing around in different directions. moguls are harder on a snowboard and more fun on skis. flatter runs are more frustrating on a snowboard. getting off the ski lift seems easier on skis
270847
I skied Kitzbuehel at the end of this season - ultra-lux hotel for 100 USD/night, and lift tickets were 50 Euro for 2 days. I'm sure prices go up around the World Cup, but it was surprisingly reasonable for being a destination resort. There's a town on the other side of the mountain (check a map - I forget the name) where I'm sure even cheaper lodging could be found.
652586
Hey, totally agree with you, Paul G!  Snowboarders need to GET OUT OF THE WAY.  I happen to know some really cool snowboarders who don't sit in the middle of the slope.  Usually the people who do that are people who have never been on a mountain in their life and need to be on the bunny slope taking lessons.  Sure, snow sports are tiring and it's fun to rest and chat with your friends.  In case you haven't noticed, that is what the lifts are for.  If you don't have enough endurance to make it down a run, ride the bunny slope!\n\nI'm not just complaining about snowboarders; stopping in the middle of the slope is flat out dangerous.  People can't see you and snowboarders with their back uphill can't see an out-of-control young skier/boarder.  Even some of the most skilled skiers/riders can't avoid hitting some lazy snowboarder!  At one of my home resorts, there is a large hump (in the middle of the hill, not in the terrain park) with just enough lip to catch a little air.  There was a young snowboarder sitting just under it, so I was halfway off the jump before I realized that there was a person at my landing site.   I had to add a little jump turn to avoid him.  It is dangerous to the snowboarder.  JUST DON'T DO IT!  \n\nNext time you out-of-shape snowboarders fancy a break, pull to the edge of the slope where all of the other people can see you.  Make sure it is a low traffic area, not a place where the trails merge.  NEVER EVER sit down in the middle of a crowded slope.  I've seen ski patrol pull the tickets of snowboarders blocking a crowded area.  Be considerate of the other people around you.  That is the number one rule of snowsports.  If we stopped paying attention, injuries would increase tenfold.  \n\nDON'T BE A STUPID SNOWBOARDER!
56903
The definitive answer to your question is Whistler, British Columbia, about 75 miles north of Vancouver.  The Whistler Blackcomb resort averages about 30 feet of snow annually. Of that 30 feet, they usually get around 3 feet every May.\n\nAdd to this the simple fact that Whistler is, far and away, the largest ski area in North America.  Both mountains have over a full mile of vertical drop.  There are more than 200 trails, serviced by over 30 lifts covering over 8,000 acres of skiable terrain.  Only the Vail, CO area comes close with over 5,000 acres, making Whistler about 40% larger. \n\nWhistler typically runs their winter operation until the first weekend in June.  Then the trails are cleared of snow to operate as a mountain bike park.  Don't frown -- if you've got the right gear, you can even go skiing through the summer on the glaciers!
422796
check out www.rsn.com  They have listings of ski areas around the world.  good luck and have fun!
385388
RC East is huge. Up north they already have snow on the mountain tops, I'm in central. Right now its nice. 50's just before the sun comes up and low to mid 80s during the day. Still hot down south. High 90s. In the central part we have a mild winter, or so we are told. It snow some but mostly just flurries. In the higher elevations along the border we get a lot more snow and with the wind in the mountains its supposed to suck.
222449
well, it's great there, who cares about the winter? if other people can live there, why u couldn't? ya, it might be a bit cold and the winters may be bad, but i'm sure u can ski...well, enjoy it!!! i'd like to have the opportunity to go there too...
139494
Two friends of mine lived in Costa Rica for a year and a half and they had to move back. It literally drove them to drinking. They couldn't stand it. It was dangerous and difficult to get anywhere. They were afraid to use the doctors down there and kept coming back to Canada every few months for check ups.\n\nCosta Rica is a nice place to visit but right now it is not a nice place to live.
53244
Though I have good reasons for all of them. For China, I would love to go to the far east and be able to immerse myself in the culture. For London, well..I'd like to see how true to the hype it is. But I would say hands down of the three, Vancouver, BC. I love and have for the longest time loved Canada. I've been up there at least 4 times now, and every time I'm blown away by the difference of the atmosphere of day to day living. The fact that it would be close by isn't really a factor for me. I just love good ol' Canadia eh!
251396
This past winter I was at the U.S. Open for Snowboarding Championship at Stratton Mountain in Vermont and he ended up being there sponsering Burton.  I got to slapp high-five with him after his victory run down the gigantic superpipe...so that was pretty awesome....I then got his autograph on a picture of him later that day which was even cooler....I also met other stars like Kelly Clark, Danny Kass, Gretchen Blieler and a few others.....The whole experience was amazing...but thats as close as I have gotten to Shaun White...
377667
Okay, you won't get lost, trust me. Don't leave the bunny hill, and I don't think you'll want to anyway, and there are maps everywhere. If you feel lost just keep going down, you'll end up somewhere. Also, NC mountains aren't that big so it won't be that easy to lose your way. If you have trouble getting o the lift, your lift operator will slow it down and you just hop on. You get on with one foot in the front binding and you scoot along with the other foot. It's kind of awkward at first and it'll fell uncomfortable but don't worry, you'll get on. If you meet someone in your snowboarding class that you get along with, ask them to spend the day with you. At the very least, they'll say no and then you can not worry about embarassing yourself around someone else, if your easily embarassed. Sometimes I like to go snowboarding by myself if all I'm doing is spending the day on the mountain. It's less embarassing than going slow and having to have people wait for you. That always sucks. The most important thing is to just have a good time. Make sure you have strong muscles in your chest, abs, arms, and legs because otherwise you'll be really, really sore.
374140
any nearby mountain is good.  but don't waste your money on instructors they will just baby you and allow you to quit. go with a competitive friend, preferrably someone who is big on snowboarding and not willing to wait for you, this way you force yourself to get off your butt and go!
179913
If you like to hike, the trail that leads up over Barrier lake off Kaninaskis (sp?) parkway is easy enough for most people, and provides a really nice view of the aqua-green lake.  If you go on a weekday, it will probably be deserted.  If you go on a weekend, expect others.\n\nDrive or bike (if you're bikers, it IS hilly) the minnewanka lake loop.  Rent a canoe here or lake louise.\n\nDrive the Bow Valley parkway.  Odds are you will see a lot of wildlife.  There is also a very easy trail to some water fall off the bow valley parkway, but the name escapes me.\n\nI am from Calgary, but now live in Houston.  \n\nMy Fiancee and I did the Jasper / Banff thing last summer, and we much perferred Jasper acutally, a lot fewer people, and the accomidations in a private little cabin just outside of Jasper with a nearby river was very romantic.  Again, the name escapes me :(\n\nOr better yet, do both.  The drive from Banff to Japser is great, and there are other falls and the columbia icefields along the way.\n\nGood Luck. :)
466521
I fish up in Northwestern Ontario, Canada.  It's wilderness type country.  I fish in the spring, because while it's often cool- NO!darned cold, I avoid all the bugs.  The fishing is usually GREAT.  Northern pike, walleyes, perch, trout, and muskies.  You can usually catch enough that IF you kept all you catch, the weight would sink the boat.  We camp.  But, there are lodges.  You see eagles, beavers, bears, and moose.  You'll often see the "Northern Lights"  You'll hear loons, which to me IS, the sound of the North.  If you are seeking a wilderness fishing trip, you won't beat Canada, unless you go to Alaska.  I'd be happy to provide specific info, if you wish.