Kicking Horse

Kicking Horse Mountain Resort is about a two hour drive from Banff town centre and takes you into the Canadian state of British Columbia (nearest town being Golden). This newly refurbished resort has received over $200m in investment and now boasts some impressive particulars including one of the largest vertical drops in North America, north easterly facing, dry champagne powder snow conditions and a growing cult following.

We were blessed with gorgeous sunny powder conditions with about 20 inches having fallen the previous night. Salivating at the base of the Golden Eagle Express high speed chairlift, we were whisked up to the top of the mountain range to marvel at the mountain vista with a cloud inversion filling the valley below.

We had some good fun and snowboarding adventures at Kicking Horse. The resort had a back-country, family-run feel about the place, but with the modern infrastructure subtly integrated. If you're hellbent on cruising and putting in serious downhill miles then Kicking Horse is the place for you. This coupled with the excellent, cold Canadian powder... definitely recommend it! Looking back at the satellite image now in 2012 it looks like there has been significant expansion since we were there. Not difficult to see why it's proving popular.