Alpine skiing | higher, further

After a few winters when it was more difficult to travel, fans of powder snow and vertiginous elevations are thirsty for new heights.

In the Canadian Rockies, the sliding season has already begun. And many Quebecers will still be heading there to hit the slopes in Banff, Revelstoke or Whistler. Japan, which has just reopened its borders, is also a dream for skiers this year, as is Europe, where prices seem to be rising faster than ski lifts.

Regardless of the chosen destination, skiers and snowboarders seem to be drawn to new challenges and have been quick to book their mountain getaways outside Quebec this year. “We sold a lot of them early on,” says Marc-Olivier Gagné, director, digital development, at Voyages Gendron, one of the biggest players in the industry.

However, even if the borders have never been so open since the arrival of a certain coronavirus in March 2020, skiers here still seem very interested in resorts in western Canada. “The great classics remain Whistler, Banff and Revelstoke,” says Mr. Gagné.

“We’re seeing good growth in Banff and Revelstoke, but Whistler remains the number one destination for us, by far,” observes Alexandre Savoie, vice-president and agency manager at Sportvac.

To the point where those who would like to ski in Whistler this winter should get active without delay… “As of December, it could be too late for the good prices,” believes Mr. Savoie. Elsewhere in the West, there is still room, especially for the months of February, March and April, he says.

We shouldn’t wait too long, believes Monyse Bélisle, director of ski products and marketing at Voyages Gendron. Foreign tourists will also be back in the Rockies this year, which could impact prices and availability. Rental cars are already scarce, she adds.

And what attracts Quebecers to Western Canada? “A quality-price ratio that is hard to beat, judge Mr. Savoie. The American West is more expensive and the exchange rate does not help. »

Europe or Japan?

Of course, inflation affects everyone, but it seems worse in Europe, in the midst of an energy crisis fueled by the consequences of the war in Ukraine. “In the west of the country, you can stay for a week from $2,250,” says Alexandre Savoie. For Europe, the price of the plane ticket is approaching $2,500 per person these days! It has tripled. »

“Demand is back for the French and Swiss Alps, but we have to redevelop partnerships there, because hotels have closed their doors. And the others don’t all work 100%,” notes Marc-Olivier Gagné, of Voyages Gendron. “There is still a lot of inventory in France, Switzerland or Austria”, nevertheless specifies his colleague Monyse Bélisle.

Those who got started early enough have also done fairly good business in Europe, judge Steven Bergin, sales director at Tours Altitude, who also notes sharply rising prices for flights lately.

At this point, “it’s no longer worth going to Japan, which has just reopened its borders, with tickets at $ 1,500 and costs on site comparable to Europe”, believes Alexandre Savoie, of Sportvac, which observes a growing interest in the very snowy resorts of Hakuba or Niseko, in particular, where more than 15 m of snow can fall each winter.

“It’s another world, there is so much snow in Japan,” says Olympic medalist Jean-Luc Brassard. Even if the resorts of the country are no longer the well-kept secret they were ten years ago, to the point where you sometimes have to wait for the lifts, the trip is really worth it, believes the one who accompanies today groups there today for Voyages Gendron. Lovers of deep powder will be delighted, but also those who will be tempted by skiing in the forest, which is now authorized, and even lovers of perfectly groomed slopes.

“It’s the snow that attracts skiers to Japan, but it’s probably the last thing they’ll talk about when they get back to their friends, this country is so magical! continues Jean-Luc Brassard, who speaks enthusiastically of the richness of Japanese culture and cuisine. A direct flight now connects Montreal to Tokyo, where the skier warmly recommends a stopover for those visiting the country for the first time. Last piece of advice from the ex-boss of the moguls: forget the very expensive rental car and opt for the great public transport which sometimes stops directly at the foot of the slopes.

Increasingly popular trips

Ski trips have become more democratic in recent years. “Many people who have been to the South often in the past have discovered how trippy a family ski trip can be,” says Steven Bergin, of Tours Altitude.

If they can seem intimidating, the stations of the Rockies, the Alps or Japan offer slopes for all levels, recalls the one who has worked in the industry for 30 years. No need to be a reckless skier to find his account, therefore. Europe also appeals to an older clientele, lovers of good food as much as of the great outdoors.

The enthusiasm for the outdoors observed during the first winters of the pandemic, which prompted many skiers to equip themselves with skins to discover off-piste in particular, could also explain the appetite for ski trips this year. “Everyone wants to travel at the moment, but it’s true that those who have skied a lot in Quebec will now want to try big mountains,” says Steven Bergin.

“Skiing was one of the only family activities that could be practiced in recent years, it has revived the sport in Quebec,” adds Monyse Bélisle, of Voyages Gendron, who is now seeing the effects of this revived popularity in travel sales. .

Gaspésie and the Chic-Chocs, where skiers have been much more numerous for two years, are they likely to suffer? “These mountains remain accessible, observes Mr. Bergin, so I think people will continue to go there… as soon as there is a good broadside. »

At Chic-Chac, in Murdochville, the next season promises to be good. “Reservations are there, despite the record season” last year, writes Félix Rioux, marketing director for the company which notably owns Mont Miller, access to other surrounding peaks for off-roaders. track and accommodation in the former mining town of Gaspésie. Chic-Chac is also going to inaugurate the Olympic motel this winter in a building that was used, before moving there, to house athletes at the Lake Placid Games in 1980. A way to meet an unabated demand.