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Terrain- Fernie has five great bowls to explore. In general the mountain is steep with some great off piste terrain. The variation of the terrain in Fernie means you are constantly challenged to adapt your technique in order to accommodate whatever the mountain throws at you. Fernie has great trees, gullies, moguls and some awesome steep groomed runs for those hard and fast carving days.

Apres Ski- Fernie has some great bars and pubs which regularly host live bands and DJs. There is usually something going on every night of the week if you want to head into to town, however a great thing about Fernie is the community feel and the open house party culture. Before long you will be getting wind of the local party where you'll meet other seasonaires and travellers.

The Town- Fernie is a great blend of an up and coming ski town, and a traditional charming Canadian mining town. Not yet overrun with tourists, there are still plenty of Fernie locals who have lived in town all their lives. They are very welcoming and it is not out of the ordinary to get a smile and a 'hey' as you stroll down the mainstreet, which goes a long way to making you feel at home and like a true Fernie resident.

Snow- 'Legendary Powder' is the phrase used to describe Fernie. If snow fall history is anything to go by then Fernie is a pretty safe bet to get the powder experience. The geography of Fernie means snow laden clouds are frequently trapped by the mountains and when Fernie has a powder day it ranks up there with the world's best places to ski. Lots of snow means a good base so even when the snow isn't falling, the whole mountain is usually still accessible and there is often really nice snow to be found up high.

Is Fernie for you? Fernie is great for anyone who is looking for a nice blend of great riding and evening activity. It is not a party town like Whistler or Banff, but still has some great get togethers of the locals and the seasonnaires at least twice a week, sometimes more. If you are looking for a well rounded resort that offers up a bit of everything, Fernie is the place for you.

Terrain- The amount of skiable terrain on offer on our Banff course is phenomenal. In fact it's the largest combined ski area in North America. Each week you will train at three different mountains, meaning you will never have the chance to get bored. Banff has some great wide open bowls and some awesome steep skiing, not too mention three separate terrain parks for those freestyle riders!

Apres Ski- Banff has heaps of great bars and clubs to keep you entertained. Big name Djs, bands, comedy acts and more regularly role through town to entertain the locals. With lots of resturants to choose from you can change it up on a regular basis and keep things interesting when not eating course meals. There are three ski hills that are serviced by Banff and that means throughout the winter there are a lot of seasonal staff in town, making Banff a great place to go for a night out.

The Town- Lying amongst some spectacular peaks, Banff has a very special feel to it when you walk around. Arguably as popular as Whistler you expect to feel overrun with tourists, but as soon as you arrive you quickly soak up the great atmosphere and vibe of Banff. The streets have picturesque lighting that adds to the magic when the sun goes down and by day you can see the amazing scenery that is visible from every angle.

Snow- Banff has cool temparatures which is great for snow conditions. When it snows the powder days are epic and when it doesn't snow the groomers are fast and fun! Banff has a long season so you can really take advantage of the snow and spend a great season in Canada.

Is Banff for you? Banff is a great location to spend a season if you want to have an all out blast day and night. The young vibe around town and the plentiful options for a night out makes our Banff course very popular with 'gap year' students. If you are looking for a true mountain life experience maybe look at one of the quieter resorts such as Fernie or Red mountain. If you are looking for a course that serves up the quintessential winter season experience, i.e. party hard and ski harder then Banff could be the place for you. Do not let the party vibe put you off if you are older than a gap year student however. There are some great restaurants and evening entertainment that does not revolve around partying like it's 1999 as well!

Terrain- Whistler has some truly amazing terrain and some of the funnest tree runs in BC. With the two mountains of Whistler and Blackcomb, there is plenty on offer and lots to explore. Whistler boasts a world class terrain park that plays host to high level competitions on a regular basis. There is something for everyone at Whistler Blackcomb and even the most advanced skier can find a challenge.

Apres Ski- Whistler really delivers on the Apres ski front, with a large proportion of the entertainment a stones throw from the lift areas, meaning you can practically ski your way to a well earn beverage at the end of the day. There is something happening everynight of the week so for you social butterflys and party animals you are most definitely in luck!

The Town- Unlike any of the other three resorts we offer, Whistler's sole existance is based around winter and summer sports. When a place is designed with a sole purpose in mind, you can bet it caters for it's guests very well. The holiday buzz and excitement of people getting out on the hill is evident as you walk around Whistler's base area and it is a very special place to spend a season.

Snow- Whistler has a great snow track record. It's location on the west coast penisula means it recieves a lot of precipitation coming off the Pacific ocean. The snow can be quite heavy at times but this generally makes for a longer season which is never a bad thing!

Is Whistler for you? Whistler Blackcomb's popularity and close proximity to Vancouver means the weekends can get very crowded, so be prepared to wait a while for lifts at peak times. That being said Whistler has some of the fastest and most modern lift systems around, so once you are on the lift the ascent time is very quick. Whistler would suit anyone who loves typical 'European' style resorts like the three valleys, but wants to experience the epic Canadian snow and terrain.

Terrain- Quite simply the terrain at Red Mountain is second to none. It's steep and challenging with more variation than you can shake a ski pole at! At Red you have the option of skiing a full 360 degrees around the mountain, meaning you can either stay on the sunny side all day, or head to the cooler side when the spring snow hits. Due to the extreme terrain of Red, we can only accept people who have been riding for a minimum of five weeks and are comfortable to be pushed in steeper terrain.

Apres Ski- The apres ski in Red mountain is served up in the slope side bar where they regularly have live music to entertain people after a great day on the hill. The entertainment in the evening is down in the town of Rossland where there are a couple of great local pubs, which also serve tasty food. There are some great nights arranged throughout the season with bands playing and the odd DJ as well!

Snow- Red Mountain is very similar to Fernie with regards snow fall. When the powder days arrive at Red Mountain, there is really no better place to be and the low numbers of people on the hill mean you can usually lap fresh line after fresh line all day long!

Is Red Mountain for you?- The town of Rossland is smaller than any other resort we are based at. It is very much about you and the mountain life when you come on our Red course and would suit people looking to get away, live in the mountains and really focus on skiing. For those looking for more of a party atmosphere you may want to consider our Banff and Whistler courses. It's worth stating that of all our past participants, it's probably those that went to Red Mountain that are most passionate about the town/resort they chose - Red really gets into your soul!