Finally! The snow is starting to sprinkle back on the North Shore mountains and I’m (as the locals say) stoked! While the first day of Winter is on 22nd November, people are snapping up their season passes (me included) for the nearby mountains which will be opening soon.

Cypress Mountain is one of the most popular ski resorts in Vancouver, BC, and it’s easy to see why. With over 600 acres of skiable terrain, Cypress Mountain offers something for everyone, from beginners to advanced skiers and snowboarders.

Ticket Prices

Cypress Mountain offers a variety of lift ticket options to suit your needs. You can pre-purchase your lift tickets online in advance to save money. Simply select the date of your planned visit to Cypress Mountain, then purchase your tickets at the available rates and lock in the savings.

For more information on lift ticket prices, visit Cypress Mountain’s website.

Lessons

If you’re new to skiing or snowboarding, Cypress Mountain offers a variety of lessons to help you get started. They offer both group and private lessons, so you can choose the option that works best for you. For more information on lessons, visit Cypress Mountain’s website.

Weather Conditions

Before you hit the slopes, it’s important to check the weather conditions at Cypress Mountain. You can find up-to-date information on the resort’s website, including current temperatures, snowfall amounts, and more.

Webcam

If you want to get a live look at the conditions at Cypress Mountain, you can check out the resort’s webcam. The webcam provides a live feed of the mountain, so you can see what the conditions are like in real time. You can find the webcam on Cypress Mountain’s website.

I’m keeping the Cypress Mountain snow stake camera on my desktop at all times:

Snowshoeing

If you’re looking for a different way to enjoy the snow, Cypress Mountain also offers snowshoeing. They have 11 km of safe, in-bounds self-guided snowshoe trails that run through sub-alpine meadows and snowy mountain forests. For more information on snowshoeing, visit Cypress Mountain’s website or Outdoor Vancouver.

Whether you’re a seasoned pro, a beginner, or like me – a total mess, Cypress Mountain has something for everyone. So, grab your gear and hit the slopes!

Need some new Winter Sports gear?

Here are some stores in Vancouver, North Vancouver, and West Vancouver that sell affordable ski and snowboard equipment:

1. West Coast Sports: This Vancouver-based ski and snowboard shop offers a wide range of skis, snowboards, and winter clothing. They also provide free shipping on 2020 gear. You can visit their website at westcoastsports.ca for more information.
2. Slope & Surf Outfitters: This store specializes in ski equipment, backcountry ski accessories, and snowboard equipment sales in Vancouver. They have been providing exceptional service and adding value to everything they sell for over 40 years. You can visit their website at thedestination.ca for more information.
3. Comor – Go Play Outside: This store has two locations in Vancouver and Whistler. They offer a great selection of top brands, including Burton, Jones, K2, Captia, Nitro, Salomon, and more. You can visit their website at comorsports.com for more information.
4. North Shore Ski and Board: This store is located in North Vancouver and offers a wide range of ski and snowboard equipment. They also provide rental services and ski and snowboard tuning. You can visit their website at northshoreskiandboard.com for more information.
5. Pacific Boarder: This store is located in Vancouver and offers a wide range of snowboard equipment, including boards, boots, bindings, and more. They also provide free shipping on orders over $100. You can visit their website at pacificboarder.com for more information.

Being out in the snow is one of my absolute favourite things to do and there are so many benefits of skiing and being outside in the snow:

• Vitamin D: By simply being outside in the sunlight, you are triggering the first response the body needs to create vitamin D, which is essential for normal growth and bone development¹.
• Mood regulation: Exposure to vitamin D can play an important role in mood regulation¹.
• Reduced stress levels: Being outside triggers physiologic responses in our body that help reduce stress levels¹.
• Better health and overall well-being: Spending at least 120 minutes a week outside and in nature can promote better health and overall well-being¹.
• Improved mental health: Exercise can take a bad day and turn it into a good one. Skiing and snowboarding produce endorphins, which can make you feel calmer and happier².
• Better heart, joint, and mental health: Skiing and snowboarding lead to better heart, joint, and mental health. Plus, you burn plenty of calories hitting the slopes, which helps you maintain a healthy weight³.

So, if you’re looking for a fun and healthy way to spend your winter, skiing and snowboarding are great options! Plus, if you go on a weekday, it’s rarely busy, so it’s a lovely way to get away from it all.

The Best Cameras for Skiing and Snowboarding

If you don’t take epic photos and videos of your skiing and boarding jumps, turns, and wipeouts, did they even happen? You’re gonna need a camera, but something that can take the spills like a champ.

Here’s my list of ones to look out for.

1. GoPro Hero11 Black: This camera is durable and compact, but it’s packed with fantastic features.
2. Akaso Brave 8: This budget camera has a 48 MP sensor resolution that gives you outstanding photos. The built-in image stabilization keeps your ski footage smooth. You can shoot 4K resolution at 60 fps¹
3. Insta360 ONE X2: The Insta FlowState is one of the best stabilization systems in any action cam. It operates underwater down to 33 ft (10 m). The 5.7K video resolution is stunning¹
4. DJI Osmo Action 3: This camera has good quality 4K footage. The dual-screen setup is perfect for filming yourself on the slopes. Excellent HorizonSteady stabilization for smooth footage¹

So, go have fun!