Lake Louise, Alberta - Swaying back and forth through the powdery snow feels like a dance down the slope, and then at the bottom it's a thrill to look back at one's own tracks. A run down a deep-snow slope away from the crowded ski areas can give experienced skiers a burst of euphoria. But is it really a dream that is out of reach for skiers with average skill and experience? Not if you ask Bap Koller, a Bavarian whose second home is the Canadian Rocky Mountains.
"Anyone can learn deep snow skiing," said Koller, who feels right at home in the western region of Canada, which gets up to eight metres of new snow per season. A skier who has mastered parallel sweeps on the slopes has the ticket for deep snow skiing, said Koller. A skier who has done some conditioning is even better prepared for the adventure.
The alpha and omega of deep-snow skiing technique is maintaining the rhythm and avoiding leaning back. Skiers who do that will have burning thighs after just two runs down the slope. So it's important to learn the right technique.
"Having the right skis also makes it easier," Koller said. Slalom and Race Carver skis popular in Europe are anything but optimal for deep-snow skiing in the Canadian Rockies. Narrow skies don't give enough lift in deep snow. Powder Fat Skies, nearly twice as wide, make deep-snow skiing a lot easier.
While the right skis make everything easier, the right snow makes the skiing experience perfect. And no where in the world is the snow drier and therefore easier to ski in than in North America.
"In the US and Canada every skier can ski a class better than at home," Koller observed. Unlike Europe, the Canadians don't roll over every snowflake that falls on the slope with a snow groomer and flatten it out. In the large ski resorts in Alberta and British Columbia, including Lake Louise, Banff-Sunshine, Panorama and Fernie, many slopes are well primed, but others are left untouched.
In addition there are many natural bowl-shaped dips and valleys. They are under constant observation for avalanches by the ski patrol, making them secure places for deep-snow skiing adventures in the middle of the ski resort.
For a change of pace, the Powder Cowboys offer a wonderful experience with nature on their Cat Ski tour in southeastern British Columbia. Starting at a ranch, participants are hauled to the peak of the mountain on a snow cat. From there the group is led through forests and down open slopes into valleys where the snow cat awaits them for the next ride up. Groups of eight to 14 people sign up daily for the adventure.
For some, heli-skiing is even more spectacular, though it does have more critics because it disturbs the environment and because it is expensive. Among the services offered in Canada is a luxury helicopter flight for four guests to the peak of a mountain. There's no mountain height limit and skiers can accomplish up to 12 runs a day this way. The service is offered by Great Canadian Heli-Skiing at a location two hours by car west of Banff.
As with the snow cat trips, skiers attend an avalanche information seminar before their first trip up the mountain. Afterwards, they are given a helicopter orientation. Only then they can lift off and head for the region's massive glaciers and virgin deep-snow slopes all hundreds of kilometres from the nearest town - a dream in white.
Koller said beginners also can take a chance on heli-skiing. An ideal way to try it out is to sign up for a tour that includes three days of skiing on regular slopes followed by two days on deep-snow slopes included in the heli-ski service.
Internet: www.canada.travel, www.canadas-west.de
