Lake Louise Ski Resort
| Lake Louise Ski Resort | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Skiing at Lake Louise | |
  Lake Louise Ski Resort Location in Alberta | |
| Location |
Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada |
| Nearest city |
Banff, Alberta Calgary, Alberta |
| Coordinates | 51°26′31″N 116°09′38″W / 51.44194°N 116.16056°WCoordinates: 51°26′31″N 116°09′38″W / 51.44194°N 116.16056°W |
| 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 (6.6 sq mi)[2] |
| Runs | 139 [2] |
| Longest run | 8 km (5 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 | skilouise.com |
The Lake Louise Ski Resort, previously known as the 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 (Icefields Parkway).
History
Until autumn 2008, the ski resort was owned and operated by the Resorts of the Canadian Rockies (RCR) company. In 2008, Charlie Locke, a former owner of the ski area (1981-2003),[4] exercised a buy-back option to reacquire Lake Louise from RCR to return as the ski resort's owner, president and operator.[5]
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.[6] The event, also known as the Lake Louise Winterstart World Cup, is described by Alpine Canada as "Canada's highest-profile alpine ski race",[7] and attracts high-profile downhill skiers from around the globe - such as four-time World Cup champion, Lindsey Vonn.[8]
The Lake Louise Ski Resort hosted its first FIS Snowboard Cross World Cup in December 2013.[9][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 lift | 8 min. | Mueller | 1976 |
| Sunny T-Bar | 361 m | 44 m | 2-person T-bar lift | 3 min. | Doppelmayr | |
| Magic Carpet | 79 m | 18 m | Magic carpet | 2 min. | 2006 |
References
- 1 2 Go Ski. "Lake Louise - Statistics". Retrieved 2008-05-12.
- 1 2 3 4 Lake Louise Mountain Resort. "Mountain Statistics". Retrieved 2008-05-12.
- ↑ http://www.britishairways.com/travel/ski-holidays-lake-louise/public/en_gb
- ↑ Hudson, Louise (29 November 2012). "New generation of women taking over at Lake Louise". The Calgary Herald. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
- ↑ 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
- ↑ "2013 Lake Louise Snowboard Cross World Cup". Retrieved 18 August 2016.
- ↑ 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
- Official website
- Ski Banff - Lake Louise - Sunshine - Tri-Area Joint Venture between the Lake Louise Ski Resort, Sunshine Village, and Mt. Norquay