Have a great photo you took at Snow Valley? Submit it and you could win a 2011-12 Snow Valley Season Pass! All you have to do is take a photo at Snow Valley, that simple! You can also send up to 5 photo submissions. Deadline is April 8th, 2011 so hurry and submit today to marketing@snowvalley.ca. Please be advised emails cannot be more than 5mb. All submissions must be accompanied with your name, phone number, email and release waiver form. Click http://www.snowvalley.ca/photo_permission.php to download the photo permission form.

GOOD LUCK!!!

Please Note: Prize will be an individual season pass for the 2011-12 season (sorry no family passes). All photos will become property of Snow Valley and may be used in future advertising.

Snow Valley volunteer Corinne Lutter hit the slopes last Saturday for the first time in almost 20 years. A one-hour Discover Skiing lesson helped get her back in bindings. Corinne shares her experience below:

A fresh blanket of fluffy white snow covered the slopes when I arrived at Snow Valley for my lesson. Conditions were perfect for a fun day of adventure! The last time I strapped on skis was in high school, so I was a bit nervous about how I would do (and how many times I would fall!). The helpful staff suited me up with rental gear and I headed outside to get started. Instructor Larry Comfort instantly put me at ease. “Skiing is like riding a bicycle. Five minutes and you’ll be ready to go,” he assured me. With no ski poles to help with balance, I was still a bit worried.

My group of fellow students included mom Denise and her kids Mia, 6, and Ronnie, 8, along with three other youth aged eight to 12. Larry took us through the basics, offering tips like how to put on our skis, how to walk with skis on, and how to tighten our boots properly. We took a few practice runs down a small hill, testing our balance, before taking the escalator up the Discover run. This is where new skiers can practice their skills.

Larry explained one of the most important ski techniques, the ‘pizza wedge.’ This move, also called a snow plow, helps skiers control their speed. Down the hill we all went, with no wipe outs to report! Back at the top of the hill, Larry gave us some more tips on how to turn left and right, and how to stay in control. Soon, our hour was up and I’m happy to report the lesson ended with no falls or collisions!

Will I be back? Sure! And hopefully with friends. I had forgotten how much fun it is to get out and enjoy winter! I’ve been looking for fun ways to stay active and get off the couch. While spin class is great, it’s also wonderful to get outside and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine. Not only is skiing fun, but it’s a great workout, too (my sore gluteus maximus definitely attests to this!).

Snow Valley offers Discover classes for skiing, snowboarding, cross country and telemark skiing. A full day lift ticket, equipment rentals and lesson are all included in the price (from $39.95 to $49.95 depending on the class). Call 780-434-3991 for more information or to register. What are you waiting for? Don’t let 20 years go by before you discover (or rediscover) these great winter sports!

Hill conditions are as good as it gets at Snow Valley Ski Club! The winter storm that hit Edmonton this weekend dumped up to 30 cm of fluffy white power on the slopes. Now is the perfect time to take advantage of Mother Nature’s gift. Snow Valley is open from 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Friday, and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends. See you on the slopes!

After a short break for the holidays, $5 Food Bank Fridays will start up again Jan. 7. Snow Valley guests can help out Edmonton’s Food Bank (www.edmontonsfoodbank.com) and get a great deal on lift passes at the same time. Just drop by the ski club on Fridays after 5 p.m., bring a non-perishable food donation and your lift pass will be reduced half price to only $5! There are also special Friday night rates on ski and board rentals (visit www.snowvalley.ca/rentals for full details).

So far this season guests have donated about 5,760 pounds of food. Our goal is 15,000 pounds, so we’re about one-third of the way there.

Now is a great time to visit Snow Valley, with all runs open and in excellent condition. “This will probably be our busiest Friday of the season, since the weather will be great and we haven’t had $5 Fridays in a few weeks,” says Kristina Zelko, Snow Valley’s marketing coordinator.

$5 Food Bank Fridays will run every Friday until the end of the season. Food items must be non-perishable, in their complete original packaging and properly sealed to be accepted by Guest Services. If you’re looking for some ideas on what to bring, here is a list of suggestions provided by Edmonton’s Food Bank:
• beans with or without pork
• canned meat
• canned fish
• canned fruit or vegetables
• peanut butter
• powdered milk
• macaroni and cheese dinners
• pasta and pasta sauce
• cereal and oatmeal
• school snack items such as juice boxes and granola bars

This season Marmot Basin is reintroducing the “Step into Jasper” Program. This program is for skiers and snowboarders who complete a Skiing or Snowboarding program at Snow Valley. After a lesson is completed, participants will receive a voucher for 25% off lift tickets, lessons and rentals at Marmot Basin and also provide savings on rooms at several of Jasper’s hotels. Vouchers will be distributed through lesson instructors. For more information please contact Marmot Basin.

Until August 31st 2010 get your Season Pass for 15% off! This sale applies to the Family, Adult, Youth and Junior Season Passes. Additionally, if you book your 3 or 5 week lessons before August 31st, you will also receive 15% off the price. The lesson discount CAN be combined with the season pass holder discount, which means BIG SAVINGS if you book and buy early! Season passes are available now to purchase online by clicking here, and starting August 14th, 2010 Guest Services will be open for their Pre Season hours. You can come down to Snow Valley Saturdays and Sundays from 10 – 4 until the season begins to book your lessons and buy passes.

Join us for a flashback to the 80′s!

On Sunday, March 28th come on down to Snow Valley but remember to bring your best retro 80′s attire as well! We’ll be rocking out to 80′s tunes all day as well handing out prizes for the best dressed throughout the day. So make sure you sport the loudest neon colours you’ve got to be spotted by our prize crew. Hope to see you there!

National Learn to Ski & Snowboard week will be happening once again throughout the week of January 16 – 24th, 2010. Snow Valley will be celebrating this week by teaming with Kicking Horse and Funky Pickle to encourgae newcomers to try out a winter sport. Anyone who completes a Discover lesson during this week will be entered into a draw for a chance to win an amazing Snow Package Contest. Discover Lessons are for first timers who want to learn how to ski, snowboard, cross-country or telemark ski. Packages start at $39.95 and include a lesson, rentals and a day lift ticket. The draw will be held throughout this week only and the winner will receive a Snow Valley season pass, Kicking Horse day lift passes for 2 and a Funky Pickle pizza party. Snow Valley will be offering the Discover lesson packages throughout the season Thursday evenings and Saturday and Sunday mornings for pre-registered participants. Check out our lessons page at www.snowvalley.ca for info on Discover lessons.

If you are in college or university bring in valid student photo ID and get 50% off full day regular priced lift tickets weekdays after 2pm! That’s only $15 for a lift pass!

Snow Valley has 2 day Holiday Lesson Programs beginning Dec 21st!

Also the Snow Valley Snow Shuttle is running every day over the holidays! Catch the ETS bus #599 with stops at the UofA and Southgate mall and get directly to Snow Valley everyday from December 19th to Jan 3rd!

Have a happy holiday and we’ll see you on the slopes!