Vancouver isn’t an easy place to be a ski virgin.  Lots of locals in the city have been on the slopes since they could walk and think nothing of flying down black diamond runs or doing the occasional backflip.

For newbie skiers, however, the slopes can be a foreign and profoundly intimidating place.  First of all: You need the skills.  Skiing – unlike strolling the sea wall – requires a bit of training if you want to survive in one piece.  Second, you need equipment – between boots, skis, poles and parkas, it can get a little overwhelming.  Finally, there’s the price factor to consider: With lift tickets starting out around $60, skiing isn’t exactly cheap these days.

Of course, none of these obstacles are insurmountable.  Yet they keep lots of visitors to Vancouver (and even some residents) off the slopes.  This is really a shame.  For a major city, Vancouver has exceptional skiing and snowboarding in its own backyard.  And, to be honest, there’s not an abundance of other outdoor activities going on during the November-March rainy season.

With all that in mind, I set off to conquer my personal ski demons last weekend at Cypress Mountain.   Continue reading:
Cypress Mountain for Ski Virgins