Snow Patrol
Cypress Mountain is only 30 minutes from downtown Vancouver and it boasts the most vertical drops, the most terrain, most lifts, best snow conditions and the highest skiing and riding peak in the North Shore mountains. There are three quad chairs and two double chairs to help you get up the mountain fast (just like you’ll be coming down). Full ski equipment rental is available as well as professional instruction for the well-respected ski and snowboarding school.

Mountain High
Cypress Mountain, like the rest of BC, is gearing up for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympics Winter Games. They will be hosting several events including Snowboard (Half pipe, Parallel Giant Slalom and Snowboard Cross) and Freestyle Skiing (Moguls, Aerials and Skier Cross) competitions. Over the next few years, some facilities will be under construction to prepare for the Games. New upgrades will include a Freestyle Skiing venue, a quad chair, Super Pipe, a new day lodge, a snowmaking system, upgraded parking and an athlete’s centre in the cross-country area. Expect top-notch facilities when all the work is complete.

It’s All Downhill
If skiing scares you and you can’t stand on a snowboard, there are other ways to enjoy the fresh mountain air and white power. There is 19 km of cross-country trail, and you can stop at the Hollyburn Lodge (built in 1926) for some food and a hot beverage. Chomp through the powder and venture through 10 km of self-guided snowshoe trails. For those worried about picking up a new sport, fret not: they say if you can walk, you can snowshoe! And for those who love the rush of speed, don’t miss the Tubing Park. Blast down the chutes on a tube and let the tube tow do all the work and then take you back to the top.