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fresh new rider from China

3K views 17 replies 7 participants last post by  zak.guan 
#1 ·
hi there, this is Zak from China, arrived in Vancouver yesterday, gonna settle down in Calgary this weekend, new immigrant, first time to be in Canada, but will stay in Canada for a very long time, I believe.

I hardly know nothing, nobody here about snowboarding except those famous resort like banff, whistler, and I really miss my snowboarding pals back in Shanghai. I want to be connected to Western Canada local riders, and hopefully can find some snowboarding partners.

I started snowboarding in 2007, tried skiing before that, but I sucked.. and I am now very comfortable with slopes, just so so with freestyle, can do some straight airs & grabs over small kickers, 5050 on box and that's all. I have passion in powder, off piste.

Still got a lot homework to do, I only brought my snowboard with me, and gonna buy new binders and boots, gotta figure out the price of banff, heard that they have 3 resorts?

and if you guys like group riding, I will be a happy follower.
 
#4 ·
Hey Zak welcome to calgary.

If you are looking to get bindings and boots the 2 best places to check would be mission snow and skate, and the source snowboard shops. Abominable tends to be much more expensive then everyone else although they do carry some brands that others don't (ie head and salomon).d There is another good place but i am blanking on the name.

For the hills in the area there are lots with in a 3 hour drive. Lake Louise, sunshine, nakiska, norquae (spelling?), castle, fernie, and Kicking horse. Also, if you want to ride park the hill in calgary (cop) has a good park.

If you are going to go a lot then you should pick up a Lake Louise card and a sunshine card. They get you discounts and free days. The lake louise card also works at other resorts and both will get you discounts on things like food, lodging, and even things like oil changes.
 
#5 ·
Thanks guys,

about bindings and boots, I am checking Union bindings' price, got a DLX 12 at 108$ (40% off) from empire online shop, but they only go yellow color for M/L size, I really don't wanna buy 12-13 product coz they don't have decent discount. I've tried burton and salomon boots, loved salomon F22, but don't have enough space to bring them with me. I checked mission, plan to visit their shops after I arrive Calgary.

it's my first season in Calgary, and I am not sure to buy a season pass of banff, ( big 3?) don't know if I got enough time to ride there, I felt like I got so much errands to run as a new immigrant. well, glad to know that there's a park in calgary, and I'd love it!!
 
#6 ·
Mission will have all of last years gear at 40% off as well and the taxes in alberta are only 5% and empire will charge shipping.

Source should have some good deals as well.

Wiredsport.com ships to canada but its flat rate shipping so just to buy bindings is not always worth it. another site is valuesports i think. there is a thread in the board section that talks about usa shipping to canada.

i doubt the big 3 is worth it as i don't know anyone that rides at norquay. however i have never ridden there so i don't know personally. norquay does have night riding.

Sunshine has the best snow and the longest season of all the mountains in banff. there are some cat tracks to manage. Lousie has the best park and steeper terrain in banff. Sunshine is only 1 to 1.5 hours while louise is 2 hours for sure.
 
#12 ·
yesterday, I went to COP with 2 friends, but they were not open, and then we decided to go to Norquay, coz I hearts that they are the earliest resort open this year, but when we were there, it's not open either.

shoot, we were too excited to call them in advance.... will go check Sunshine on Sunday
 
#14 ·
Norquay will only open weekends until December. Not sure what the go is with COP.

The lake and sunshine are both ope full time now.

Are you living in Banff or Lake Louise? You will find it hard to get work unless you are in town. Why would they take a risk on you living in Calgary if they can get people who are living down the road. If you know what I mean?
 
#17 ·
What is the snowboard scene like in the middle country?
 
#18 ·
I suppose you mean in China by middle country...

snowboarding is getting very popular in China, but quantity of Chinese snowboarder is still not too much, compared with North America, considering the the percentage of 1.3 billion people in China, it seems even less.

The hottest place in China is Beijing, and northeast(including 3 provinces Heilongjiang, Jilin & Liaoning). Well, there they got snow falls.

You could find lots of skilled snowboarders in China, wearing the newest funky jackets, pants and beanies, riding lib tech, nitro, burton, never summer... boards. snowboarding is not only a sport, but also a culture. I'd say Chinese snowboarders put a lot passion and money in it.

I went to Sunshine yesterday, and from my point of view, Chinese ski resorts are quite similar, but relatively smaller, crowder, cheaper.
 
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