Having the right travel and snowsports insurance is essential for your trip — make sure you’re fully covered. You are responsible for purchasing a policy that suits your needs. Be sure to read the policy wording carefully to confirm it includes everything required for your course and travel plans.

If you’re travelling from overseas, you’ll need comprehensive travel insurance that includes winter sports. If you’re based in North America, look for a policy that covers trip curtailment, loss or theft of valuables, and medical expenses.

We’ve put together an Insurance Guide to help you find the right cover. Once you’ve arranged your insurance, please email a copy of your policy to snowsupport@nonstopsnow.com so we can keep it on file in case of emergency.

Packing for life in the mountains can feel overwhelming — especially when you want to be prepared without overloading your luggage. But don’t worry — we’re here to help. And once you arrive, you’ll quickly figure out what works best to keep you warm, dry, and comfortable, both on the slopes and around town.

To help you get started, we’ve put together a full gear checklist with practical tips in our Equipment Guide — plus a snapshot of the essentials below, whether you’re bringing your own kit or planning to buy in resort.

Some additional tips from Anna, your lead instructor:

Skis – width mid 70’s to mid 80’s. Strongly discourage going anything wider than 88 mm for Banff. Too wide, will be difficult to manage on piste between snow falls. Gender specific skis are good if they are sandwich construction and any skis that are cap construction should be avoided. Twin tips and centre mounted skis should also be avoided, but could be purchased as a second pair.

Poles – avoid spending too much money on ski poles. Many clients end of breaking poles or having then damaged on the bus.

Boots – stiffness between 95 and 120 flex. They should be checked properly by a boot fitter and will be much tighter than a boot that is from a rental shop.

Boot heaters and dryers are good investments.

Boot covers are good investments.

Socks – two to three pairs will be needed. Look for socks that have a wool blend. Heated socks are a good investment. Keeping socks clean and dry is a necessity. Ski/snowboard boots and socks should never been worn on the bus to the resort. They will get wet during the trip and then your feet will freeze. Compression socks are good to wear to and from the resort, it makes your boots more comfortable to put on in the morning.

Dressing for skiing in Canada is much different than skiing in other parts of the world. It can be much colder and at times, we could be moving more slowly than when people are free skiing on holiday. Prepare to wear more layers than you normally have in the past.

Jackets/ Clothing – avoid clothing made out of soft shell material and instead look for a Gortex type fabric that is more wind and water proof. Ensure that you can zip your jacket all the way up. Strongly suggest purchasing a down undercoat that can be worn under the regular ski jacket for very cold days. Also suggest base layers made out of merino wool and a good fleece layer is useful. A good wool beanie is a must for wearing to and from the resort and walking in town. Mitts are warmer than gloves and leather is better for warmth and durability.

A lightweight, warm and comfortable winter boot is a sensible option for wearing on the bus and walk king in town.

A good backpack is needed for packing lunch, water, sunscreen, extra socks and layers. The pack won’t be worn during the day, but we do ski out of the resort at the end of the day, so it has to be comfortable to wear skiing or boarding. Other good items are a water bottle, and a thermos for tea, coffee or soup.

Helmet – find a comfortable helmet that fits head well. Look for the “MIPS” fitting system for safer helmet. Goggles should fit well with helmet for better function. Good quality goggles are worth the money and will fog or ice up less than a less expensive pair. Drying out goggles after a day of skiing also helps with fogging or icing up. It may be too cold to wear sunglasses most days, but are good to have for spring days.

A reusable water bottle and thermos – over the last few seasons we have really made a conscious effort to reduce the use of single use plastic. We no longer provide disposable cups etc. in the common room.

And if you have any space left after all that, don’t forget your fancy dress outfit! It’s great to be prepared for an impromptu dress up day on the ski hill! If you don’t have anything then don’t worry, there are plenty of thrift stores in Banff (and Amazon deliveries if all else fails!) but if you do have some fun outfits then save the pennies and bring them with you.

On the first day of your course, we also run an equipment session to help you get set up. The stores in Banff will be ready to kit you out with anything you need, so there’s no pressure to buy everything before you arrive. When it comes to skis, snowboards, and boots, it often makes the most sense to buy in resort — you’ll get expert advice and the chance to try before you commit.