The weekend before Christmas is a wonderful time to go skiing or snowboarding and not just because of the great snow.
With most people distracted by shopping, baking and visiting, the hills are wide open with limited liftlines and plenty of seats available in the lodges.
Not to mention there's always the jolly Christmas atmosphere with dramatic decorations and seasonal songs livening up the resorts.
Castle Mountain opens this weekend with 44 cm of fresh snow received this week.
There's live music in the T-Bar Pub Saturday and a movie night Monday, which boasts the premieres of films made by Castle locals.
LAKE LOUISE
There are no holiday surcharges at Lake Louise this Christmas.
Check out the latest skis over Louise's 95 open runs during the Nordica Demo Tour Saturday and Sunday.
Calgary's Brady Leman, one of Canada's Olympic ski-cross hopefuls for 2010, loves skiing the backside of Louise.
"It has some of the best terrain within reach of Calgary," Leman said. "And I have had too many amazing runs to count there."
The last day of December is the final day to buy the Louise Card, the hill's season pass.
SUNSHINE
Test drive Salomon's latest skis for free at Sunshine Saturday and Sunday.
And be on the lookout for Santa, who's posing for pictures in the Sunshine Mountain Lodge lobby Saturday.
MOUNT NORQUAY
Norquay now has 12 runs from which to choose.
There's 70 cm of snow in the upper mountain, with a 25-40cm machine-made base lower down.
A variety of rails await jibbers in Banff's 'Backyard,' where park architect Jeff Patterson has brought his international experience to sculpt the terrain park with an additional track below Lone Pine.
NAKISKA
You can get onto the hill faster at Nakiska, even if you have to rent equipment.
Rental shop renovations are speeding up the process, giving you more time on those fun mid-mountain cruisers and challenging moguls under the Gold chair.
MARMOT BASIN
This week's snowfalls have blanketed Jasper, giving Marmot 53 cm of powder on its 50 runs.
Knob chair should launch this weekend, opening up the entire upper mountain.
CANADA OLYMPIC PARK
Snowmaking conditions are perfect right now at Canada Olympic Park, which has fully opened its Nordic trails.
The Source Terrain Park opens Saturday with intermediate jibs and jumps.
B.C.
KIMBERLEY
Kimberley opens for the season tomorrow, and among its first customers will be Santa, who is checking the resort out Tuesday for skiing and photo opportunities.
Weekend activities include Community Appreciation Day and barbecue, a Christmas Fair, live music in the Stemwinder and Kidz Movie Night at Trickle Creek.
FAIRMONT
Fairmont Hot Springs Ski Hill opens tomorrow with half-price day for everyone.
Usually $40 for adults, your $20 ticket also gets you admission into the world-famous hot springs, so you can have a restorative soak after all that activity on the slopes.
Call 1-800-663-4979 for special stay-and-ski packages.
FERNIE
Skiing's up and running at Fernie.
The Griz Bar opened, too, so there's lots of scope for fun apres-ski with live music on the weekends.
Upcoming events include: the Kinky Rail Jam Saturday; Kids' Night Out Saturday; and night skiing on the Mighty Moose, Saturday through Jan 3.
Ski and pose with Santa Tuesday, as he'll be enjoying Fernie's powder between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
PANORAMA
Panorama's in full swing with Nor Am technical events.
The Northwest Funds Nor-Am Cup circuit serves as a tool in the development of future champions, who move up the ladder to world and Olympic competition.
KICKING HORSE
Santa will be on the slopes at Kicking Horse Saturday and Sunday.
Weekend events on the hill at Golden, B.C., include decorating and lighting up the plaza Christmas tree and floodlit disco tubing to '70s music.
Book ahead for: Breakfast with Santa, 8 a.m. on Christmas Eve; the Jingle Bells Buffet, also on Christmas Eve; and Christmas banquet at Eagle's Eye Dec. 25.
SUN PEAKS
Finish your Christmas shopping Tyrolean style this weekend at Sun Peaks, where the Kriskindle Market features mulled wine, organic produce and local arts and crafts.
Santa's popping by for skating Monday. He then hits the slopes and hosts sleigh rides Tuesday and Wednesday.
WHITEWATER
Santa continues his busy holiday season by skiing Whitewater Sunday.
Get your photos with Kris Kringle at Big White's Village Centre Mall Saturday through Wednesday.
The hill is open throughout the holidays, including 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. Christmas Day.
While at the resort, take advantage of the avalanche skills training course running Dec. 26-28.
The Ridge Rocket and Bullet chairs opened last weekend, along with the Mega Snowcoaster tube park.
RED MOUNTAIN
Red Mountain opens tomorrow with $25 day tickets for the Silverlodge chairlift.
WHISTLER
Whistler hosts a Fire and Ice Show Sunday with fire-spinning, fireworks and daring skiers jumping through rings of fire.
There's a fabulous party in the GLC afterwards.
SILVER STAR
Funk Day at Vernon B.C.'s Silver Star is a great opportunity to dress, drink and dance like you're back in the '70s.
More traditional fun includes Christmas carolling and a children's Christmas party Monday followed by family gingerbread house building Tuesday.
REVELSTOKE
Revelstoke has launched its daily cat-skiing trips from the new village centre.
The $400 packages include guided powder skiing, cat rides, rentals, breakfast, lunch and apres-ski.
U.S.
WHITEFISH
With more than 50% of runs available already, Whitefish plans to have beginner and intermediate terrain parks fully open Dec. 20.
The newly designed layout sports a number of jumps and rails for shredders.
