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A sociable camp in one of Canada’s most powder-heavy resorts, designed to transform your skiing ability. If you're ready to boost your powder technique, gorge on some of Canada’s best terrain and connect with great people, then this is for you.
Set in the beautiful mountainscapes of Fernie, an area known for its feather-light snow, playful bowls and infectious outdoor culture, enjoy two weeks developing your all-mountain skiing prowess while smashing through boundaries in your riding.
With 8-days of pro coaching from our seasoned instructors, our improver camps also feature a day of cat-skiing in a nearby powder zone, where you’ll test your skills floating through the deep stuff.
You'll stay in our welcoming ski lodge and spend each day on the hill with our expert coaches, followed by social evenings with your crew soaking up Canadian culture. You’ll meet a great bunch of people who share your interest in skiing and by the end of the camp you’ll have made new friends for life. For solo travellers, small groups and couples, this camp is suited to intermediate to expert riders and dates are available through the season.
This camp is also available in snowboard too.
Loved every day. Can't stop smiling. Learnt so much!
Annalisa Martin
2 Week Improvement Course, Fernie
Fernie is a ski mecca with cult status for its deep powder and adventurous terrain. Set in southeast British Colombia, it receives huge amounts of annual snowfall and has the biggest vertical in Canadian Rockies.
The ski area is made up of five alpine bowls: Cedar, Lizard, Currie, Timber and Siberia. Each bowl has unique character, with steeps, narrow chutes, gladed trees, ridges, open slopes and powder fields.
With one of the best snow records in Canada, Fernie is an epic place to ride powder. On average, more than 10m falls each winter. And it’s not just the quantity of snow that’s so good, it’s also the quality of it. A combination of the horse-shoe shape of the mountains, local weather systems and Pacific fronts are to thank for Fernie’s frequent dumps and feather-light flakes.
The town is located a short distance from the ski hill, promising a real taste of mountain life. A cool, funky village with Rocky Mountain views in all directions, Fernie is a genuine mountain community with a friendly and chilled out vibe. Downtown offers plenty of great indie shops, bars, restaurants and coffee shops. There’s a cinema, swim centre, gym and climbing wall, plus regular live music and local events throughout the season.
This camp combines all-mountain coaching with guided freeriding to furnish you with the skills to ski anywhere on the mountain. Skiing with your Nonstop coach and a small group of other riders will be some of the most fun and rewarding skiing you’ve ever experienced.
With Fernie as our base, we have access to a backyard of terrain that features everything from immaculate groomers to powdery chutes and beautiful tree runs. Our expert pros will be taking you to the best parts of the mountain, boosting your riding and ironing out kinks in your technique. With drills and video analysis, they will add to your arson of snow skills as you build confidence and flow in increasingly advanced terrain.
Group sizes are kept small with an average of six people per coach, matched by ability and attitude to ensure you’re pushed to the right level; intermediate riders will work on building technique and confidence, while more experienced groups will be challenged and waste no time in seeking out the best terrain.
There’ll be four days of coaching each week, with Wednesdays and the weekends off to freeski, rest or get involved in another activity. Sessions begin on snow at 9am, when the snow and slopes are freshest, ahead of a full day of skiing and progression with a break for a group lunch to refuel. Coaching wraps up at 3pm, giving you time post-session to sneak in a few extra laps, before the Nonstop bus takes you back to the lodge.
Our camps are designed with more than just coaching in mind and the added extras are the icing on the cake. Some are included, and others can be added for a supplement.
The highlight is a mega day cat-skiing in the backcountry where we’ll head away from the borders of a controlled ski area to bound through untouched pow. A modified snowcat will take you to wild peaks before you drop in to make smooth turns through pillow-soft snow, cementing the skills you’ve developed.
They’ll also be après gatherings to toast each week, socials like curling and the opportunity to explore on a snowshoeing excursion.
We’ve structured our dates in such a way that you can combine camps back-to-back to create a longer itinerary, turning your two-week camp into a four-week trip filled with skiing, adventure and friends. With a month-long stay on consecutive camps, you’ll have more time to get into the rhythm and pace of mountain life in Fernie, while receiving more high-level tuition to truly master the skills you develop in the first two weeks. Find out more about the four-week trip here: 4 Week Ski Improvement
If you’re interested in a four-week stay, be sure to check out our flagship month-long ‘Master the Mountain’ camp where, in addition to our usual program of coaching, you’ll be introduced to ski touring and learn how to safely navigate the backcountry, before a four-day touring mission at a remote lodge.
Our own hotel, the Red Tree Lodge, acts as the official hub of the course. When the Red Tree gets fully booked we accommodate people at the nearby Park Place Lodge; it’s a 5 minute walk away. This causes the overall cost to be more expensive due to its higher rates – so booking early is recommended!
There is the choice of shared or private rooms - regardless of whether you are travelling alone. Rooms are spacious with queen sized beds, en suite bathrooms and widescreen TVs. Breakfats will be served at your hotel & inclusive evening meals are served at the Smokehouse, on site at the Red Tree Lodge. There are plenty more bars, restaurants and shops within a short walk.
Each morning we'll take you on a short bus ride to the mountain, where your skis are stored overnight, ready for an epic day on the slopes!
You'll receive 20 hours coaching per week. Our full day coaching sessions are Mon, Tue, Thu and Fri, with Wednesdays and the weekends for free skiing, consolidating what you've learnt and other activities. The maximum group size is 7 people per pro but typically they are 6 or even smaller.
*Please note. Due to public holidays, on camp starting 26 Dec, coaching days will vary. You will have 3 coaching days in the first week, followed by a regular schedule in the second.
You'll stay in the Red Tree Lodge and be able to enjoy all its facilities, including:
Note: When the Red Tree gets fully booked we accommodate people at the Best Western; a 5 minute walk away. This causes the overall cost to be more expensive due to the Best Western’s higher rates.
You'll be treated to a hearty breakfast at the Red Tree Lodge seven days per week. Options include coffee/tea, juices, cereals, toast, pastries, yogurt, fruit, porridge oats, as well as hot items like eggs, beans, sausages, hash browns or bacon.
Enjoy a nutritionally balanced & filling three course meal at the Red Tree Lodge four evenings a week.
You'll be given a lift pass for the duration of your course.
We provide airport transfers from and to Calgary Airport at set departure times.
We will provide transfers at the following times:
Start date of course: meet the transfer at Calgary Airport at 5pm, opt for a flight that lands before 3:30pm*
End date of course: transfer will arrive at Calgary Airport by approx. 1:30pm, opt for a flight that departs after 4:30pm.
*The meet time for the 22 March transfer will be 6pm to allow to differences in international daylight saving times
Daily shuttle to and from the slopes.
Your host will ensure your course runs smoothly. They'll be on hand 24/7 for a chat, laugh, or to solve any problems.
Throughout the program our coaches will make the most of technical video analysis to help with your development.
You'll receive technical talks on subjects like biomechanics, looking after your gear, and injury prevention.
Head out onto the slopes before the lifts are open to the public - your own private mountain. Could be cancelled in adverse weather. Not available on December or March camps.
Each week your host will organise team socials and après for all the group to get involved in.
Add on a day of cat skiing to your trip. Hop into your own private snow cat in the backcountry and experience powder like never before.
1% of revenues support environmental non-profits, including Protect Our Winters
These things are not included in the package:
We provide inclusive airport transfers at set departure times from Calgary Airport; these are available on the advertised start and end date of the course. Fernie is not that well serviced by public transfers, so we strongly recommend you plan your flights around our inclusive service.
Start date of course: meet the transfer at Calgary Airport at 5pm, opt for a flight that lands before 3:30pm.
End date of course: transfer will arrive at Calgary Airport by approx. 1:30pm, opt for a flight that departs after 4:30pm.
The average age of participants on these courses is much older than people usually expect; over the last 4 years the average has been 42. That being said, we typically have clients in their 20s, 30s, 50s and even 60s! These trips typically attract solo travellers that are passionate about skiing; we promote a laid back but super social atmosphere, so we foster good times on & off the snow.
No! Whilst Fernie regularly tops the snowfall charts in Canada and boasts steep terrain, everything within the resort boundary is managed by the ski patrol team. It’s common to wake up in Fernie to the sound of explosions from the resort; this is the patrollers having fun with dynamite and making sure if something is going to slide, it slides!
We would recommend you own your own skis & boots, but of course rental options are available. If you’re staying with us for over 2-weeks, then it starts to become more economical to own your own gear. There are lots of great stores in Fernie, all offering a super friendly and professional service, so if you’re in the market to buy gear, wait until you get here!
We can cater for a broad range of skiers on these trips; we plan for a ration of 6 skiers: 1 instructor and the vary maximum group size would be 7. Groups are based on previous experience & fitness, so you can be confident of skiing terrain and working on technique suitable to your level. As a general guideline, we can cater from early intermediates right through to expert. If you’re in doubt, give us a call and we can discuss your options.
We look forward to speaking with you.
Course Guide
