Easy run to a trinity of Vancouver fields

By COLIN MOORE

The Ryan family live on Granville Island, which is about as close as it is possible to get to the centre of Vancouver, British Columbia's modern metropolis of 2 million people.

When school's over for the day, Todd Ryan does what teenage boys the world over do - hang around with friends, play sport, do his homework.

But sometimes in the winter Todd and his mates jump on a city bus in downtown Vancouver and go snowboarding - just 25km from the city centre.

Todd and his friends have three mountains to choose from: Seymour, Grouse or Cypress, all on the city's backdoor - as close as driving to the Waitakere Ranges from downtown Auckland.

If the world has a ski capital, it surely has to be Vancouver, which is why the city, in association with the relatively close Whistler resort, is putting in a bid against one from Christchurch for the 2010 winter Olympics.

The city fields are not huge but they more than make up for that with their variety, range of activities and proximity.

Mt Seymour prides itself on being a friendly place that introduces people to snowsports. It caters for schools, families and snowboarders.

More than 60 per cent of its visitors are boarders drawn by terrain that is full of natural jumps. Some of the world's top professional snowboarders got their start on the bumps of Seymour.

The field also has 8km of snowshoe trail. And on Valentines Day you can take your sweetheart on an evening snowshoe tour and end up at a log cabin for a chocolate fondue.

Cypress Mountain, which is the larger of the three fields, is a haven for snowboarders and also encourages cross-country skiing.

Cypress has 16km of groomed trails, with 5km of that floodlit for night skiing.

It's also got a snow tube park where you can have all the fun of the fair riding downhill on tractor tyres and getting hauled straight back up the slope on a rope tow.

Grouse Mountain, 15 minutes from downtown Vancouver, is the best-known of the trio.

Take bus route 236 from the city centre and it will drop you at the bottom of the Grouse Mountain Gondola, which will take you 1100m to the field's base.

It's a great ride in the summer for a panoramic view of Vancouver. And it's even better when snow hangs off the fir trees and sparkles in the sunshine or night skiing lights.

For an evening meal with a difference, catch the Skyride to the Observatory restaurant and dine with Vancouver at your feet.

The ski and board field is no slug either with 24 runs - 13 of them lit for night skiing.

While no one is likely to travel from New Zealand just to ski or board these city peaks, it would be a mistake not to think of them if you are planning an independent ski holiday and intend to spend some time in Vancouver.

The fact is that if you could plonk the three mountains down anywhere else in the world they'd constitute a ski destination in their own right.Colin Moore

Links

Mount Seymour

Grouse Moutain

Tourism Vancouver

Casenotes

GETTING THERE: Canada 3000 has fares from Auckland to Vancouver starting from $1599 an adult and $1280 a child. Fares at this rate must be booked and paid by August 31. Fares with Air New Zealand, Air Canada and United start at around $2115. Contact: World Aviation Systems, ph (09) 308 3370

mailto:reservations@was.co.nz

PACKAGES:

Dive, Fish n' Snow Travel

ph (09) 479 2210

travel@divefishsnow.co.nz

Ski Travel Specialists

ph (09) 307 1350

Adventure World

ph (09) 524 5118

discover@adventureworld.co.nz

Discover Holidays

ph 0800 245 857

mailto:nz@discoverholidays.com

MORE INFO:

BC Ski Country

Big White

Silverstarmtn

Sun Peaks Resort