With work on the East Coast, my skiing weekend in Vancouver got compressed to one day. Not that I’m complaining, as it was easily one of the nicest days for skiing I’ve ever had. Sweet fresh snow, unexpected clear skies, and warm enough to take off my hat. Throw in good pals, new challenges, and being at Cypress Mountain and it’s easy to see why I suggested to everyone, “Let’s call in sick on Monday!”

Cypress will be the site of the 2010 Snowboarding events for the Vancouver Olympics. A twenty minute drive from the West End and Stanley Park, it makes for a great ski trip, with the combination of the great food and urban nightlife, and while the snow is notoriously iffy, it is closer and cheaper than Whistler.

I like a few things about Cypress very much, besides its proximity to Vancouver. The cross country course is just difficult enough to ensure I crash more than once and there’s always something that terrifies me there, giving me lots of challenges and room to grow. The Hollyburn Lodge is an old-fashioned ski lodge and serves delicious homemade soup. Finally, the views! I can not get over the fact that I am looking at the sea and islands while skiing. This is awesome!

XC Skiing at Cypress is Our Favorite