SkiBig3 Kicks Off its Season With Record Snowfall

Featured Image: Jill Scarpato, Courtesy of SkiBig3 // Location: Banff Sunshine Village

If you’ve been wondering where the snow has been this season, the answer is Western Canada. While much of Europe, Colorado and Utah has been praying for powder, the Canadian Rockies have been celebrating a record snowfall that started in November and shows no signs of stopping. “This season is a reminder of why Banff National Park delivers such consistently great snow,” said Rachel Wilson, director of marketing at SkiBig3, which includes Lake Louise Ski Resort, Banff Sunshine Village and Mt. Norquay ski resorts. “Our northern latitude, colder temps, and high-alpine terrain translate to lighter, drier snow—our famous Prosecco Powder—reliable conditions, and one of the longest seasons in North America. With record-breaking snowfall and nearly all terrain open, including some of our most iconic zones, this is the winter you will want to head north.”

Photo: Jill Scarpato, Courtesy of SkiBig3 // Location: Lake Louise

More than 95-percent of SkiBig3 resort terrain is open, including Sunshine’s legendary freeride zones, Delirium Dive and Wild West, and the awesome new Richardson’s Ridge terrain at Lake Louise Ski Resort.

Banff Sunshine Village, Canada’s highest-elevation ski resort, located at 7,200 feet, enjoyed its fifth-snowiest December in history with 106 inches of snowfall. Active storms in January dropped an additional 18.5 inches, putting Sunshine 31-percent ahead of its average snowfall with an impressive 204 inches. No ski day is complete without a stop in Sunshine's new Goat Club located at the base of Goat's Eye Mountain area. Soak up some afternoon rays and enjoy live tunes from their lounge area—a pristine setting to relax and relive the day's laps.

Lake Louise Ski Resort broke a 75-year-old December record for snowfall with 111 inches for the month; it’s the single-snowiest winter month on record since 1970. As of January 20, the upper mountain has received more than 230 inches. If you're not quite ready to ditch your winter wardrobe after the ski day, be sure to check out The Polar Ice Palace, located at the base off the Whiskeyjack deck. While this 1,000 lb ice structure provides fun for the whole family, the Polar Ice Vodka Bar is sure to wet your whistle while taking in breathtaking view of surrounding mountains.

Mt. Norquay is celebrating its centennial season with its second snowiest December ever. As the resort's base continues to build, the resort also offers exceptional grooming operations allowing prime skiing conditions for all levels of ability. With the majority of their terrain and lifts spinning, Mt. Norquay offers bell-to-bell days for the whole family and is the only SkiBig3 resort that offers night skiing Friday & Saturday from 5-9 P. M. through March 14, 2026, conditions permitting.

Photo: Jill Scarpato, Courtesy of SkiBig3 // Location: Mount Norquay

Need more reasons to consider a trip? Banff recently welcomed the Kenrick, a new boutique hotel that won’t break the bank. Inside, you’ll find an outpost of Calgary’s popular Analog Coffee, a heated saltwater pool with dial-up drink service, plus a sauna, steam room and cold plunge, and the Fat Ox, a delicious Italian restaurant with a serious wine list.

Unprecedented early-season conditions have laid the groundwork for an all-time spring. And those bluebird ski days will coincide with Aroabora (March 27-28), Banff’s newest two-night electronic music festival featuring acts like Parra for Cuva, A-Trak and Simon Doty. Direct flights are available to Calgary from 15 major U.S. hubs, including Denver, Chicago and Houston, and the strong U.S. dollar ($1USD equals $1.37CAD) makes Canada feel like a bargain compared to a last-minute trip to Switzerland, France or even Big Sky, Montana.

If untracked runs and non-existent lift lines are your bag, we can’t think of a reason not to plan a spur-of-the-moment strike mission this season.