How to Choose a Family Season Ski Pass

Every winter the questions begin as families try to figure out how to make downhill skiing more affordable. The problem though is that if you wait until October or November to start planning for the upcoming ski season, you're often too late.

It's time to think about season ski passes for this coming winter

Frequent skiing is only possible if you have a season pass - and they are on sale at crazy early bird prices in September/October. Wait too long and you'll be paying $1000+ more for the same pass in November.

My family has chosen to ski at our local Nakiska Ski Area for the past several winters.

We used the factors below when choosing which season pass we'd invest in.

Which ski resort will you choose for next winter's skiing?

Factors to Look at When Choosing a Family Season Ski Pass 

1. Cost 

Let's be honest, if cost were not a factor, most of us would be driving out to Banff (or beyond) every weekend to go skiing. The reality though is that the big mountain resorts aren't in the budget for many families (mine included.)

We love to spend a few weekends at the big resorts each winter, but for our regular "weekend hill" we have to be practical. And when it comes down to the most important factor, there's only one thing that truly matters:

The BEST hill is the one you can afford, and the perfect resort is the one you can easily get to (often and regularly.)

Our "Perfect" Resort is close enough for first runs of the day!

For best pricing, you'll want to purchase passes when early bird prices become available. The deadline is usually late fall (though Nakiska always does an "early" early bird price sale earlier in the season.)

For my family, the decision has always been easy. We want to spend more time skiing (less time driving.)

Visit the resort(s) you're interested in to view current season pass pricing - and deadlines for early bird sales!

The right ski hill should be affordable and close to home

2. Distance

The questions below should help you decide which hill is ideal for your family (and hence, which pass you want to buy.)

• Do you want to take the kids skiing on PD days? - Yes? How far are you willing to drive?
  
  

•  Would you like go to skiing on a Friday afternoon when the kids get out of school early? If yes, you might want a hill that's less than an hour away (or right in the city.)
  
  

• Would you like to go skiing in the morning or afternoon with a child who's in half-day preschool or kindergarten? (Hello, WinSport's Canada Olympic Park)
  
  
• Do you ever go skiing mid-week by yourself after dropping the kids off at school? (With Nakiska, I can make school drop off and pick up, and still spend 3 hours skiing.)
  
  
• Do you take the kids skiing for a day over school holidays while your partner is working? - If yes, how far do you want to drive for a solo ski day with the kids?
  
  
• Do you want to take the kids skiing after school or in the evening? (Only WinSport in Calgary will allow you to do this.)
  
  
• Do you plan to put the kids in weekly ski lessons or in a ski club? (If yes, do you want to commit to traveling out of town every weekend and spending two nights near the ski hill, or do you want a hill that's closer to Calgary for day trips?)
  
  
• Is your chosen hill doable for day trips (or do you have to commit to spending a full weekend with accommodations added on?)
  
  

My favourite ski days last winter were the ones where we got out mid-week, close to home, and without crowded slopes. This will only happen again this winter if I choose a hill that's easy to reach on PD days, school holidays, afternoons, and even for an occasional "skip school" day.

WinSport's Canada Olympic Park is 5 minutes from my house!

3. Other Factors to Consider when Choosing a Ski Resort (and Ski Passes)

What are weekends like at the ski hill? It may be worth spending extra money on a larger hill if your "close to home" hill is crazy busy every weekend (and not enjoyable.)

Is there something at the hill for every member of your family? In previous years we've decided to get season passes for WinSport's Canada Olympic Park (in addition to our regular Nakiska passes) because my son fell in love with the half pipe, the jumps, the terrain parks, and the slopestyle course.

Reciprocal deals at other hills - Buy a Nakiska season pass and add two days on at another RCR resort in British Columbia. (Hello Fernie!)

Add two days at Fernie Alpine Resort to your Nakiska season pass

Could you buy a discount card instead and just go a few times/season without committing to a season pass? - something we're considering for the bigger mountain resorts that we'll only visit a couple of times/season.

Will you visit the resort often? Could you go to your fav. hill for a long weekend or do you plan to spend at least one weekend there per month? It's only worth buying season passes if you plan to ski at the hill regularly.

Does the season pass get you other benefits (discounts on tubing, discounts on food or ski lessons, etc.) 

Tubing is a fun activity at WinSport's Canada Olympic Park 

Does the hill offer activities in the summer as well? And do you get discounts for those? (Some hills offer free sightseeing and gondola rides in the summer for season pass holders.)

How many times per month will you have to ski at the resort to get your value for having a season pass? (I confess that I have had season passes in the past where I definitely didn't get my value.)

What is the parking like at the hill? Is it something you're willing to deal with at least once/twice a month (hopefully more?) I know for me this was a deal breaker for at least one local hill where I knew I didn't want to face this challenge every weekend.

Where are your friends skiing? It's fun to ski with friends.

Skiing with friends is always a lot of fun!

Are there blackout dates or restrictions? Some hills offer better pricing on season passes if you're able to ski mid-week. For us though, we need weekend access so we can ski as an entire family.

Do your children get any special deals this winter? Grade 2 students get to ski for $20 all season long at RCR resorts (Nakiska, Kimberley, Fernie, and Kicking Horse)

And, Grade 2 students get to ski for $40  all winter long at Lake Louise. 

Which hill feels like home? I've tried to convince a friend of mine to switch to Nakiska for years now but she insists that another hill feels more like home - and fair enough. This should always be an important consideration. You'll always ski more at a hill that feels more comfortable.

Find a hill you like and buy your season passes now 

Family Tube Park Review (Calgary, Kananaskis, Banff, and Lake Louise)

There are 4 different tube parks to visit between Calgary and Lake Louise, all located at family-friendly ski resorts. Each one is awesome and fun in its own way, with slight differences and advantages depending on your family's need for speed or desired thrill factor.

Wanidu Tube Park at Nakiska Ski Area, Kananaskis 

What to Expect at a Tube Park 

Tubing is a great activity for the whole family with no previous experience required. It's relatively gentle on adult bodies (unlike regular sledding,) and resorts test their parks regularly to make sure the runs are safe. (They'll make sure for example that you won't go flying over a berm at the end in icy conditions.)

Another great thing about tubing (over traditional sledding) is that you won't have to walk up the hill at the end of each ride down. There's always a magic carpet lift to get you (and your tube) to the top of the hill.


Basic required gear:

• Warm winter clothing - ski pants and a warm coat, winter boots, waterproof mittens or gloves, and a warm toque or hat.
  
  
• A helmet! Required for children at all resorts, and recommended for adults as well. And it's best to bring your own helmets with you if you have ski helmets. If you don't have helmets, you can usually rent them at the resort.
  
  
• Ski goggles - Recommended if it's windy or cold.

Basic Rules and Guidelines:

• Ski boots are not permitted in tube parks so make sure you have normal winter boots with you if planning a combo ski/tubing day.
  
  
• All participants have to ride in their own tube (family tubes at Winsport in Calgary aside.) You can usually slide down together with friends or family members though by holding on to each other's tube.
  
  
• I personally would not recommend tubing as a "great activity" for pregnant women or for people with neck or back conditions. Other red flags "could" include recent surgeries, high blood pressure, or problems with vertigo/dizziness. Overall though, if you are healthy and can handle a bit of light jarring to your body, tubing is a lot of fun for the whole family.
  
  
• Every tube park has individual height/age restrictions that should be consulted before visiting the resort. Most tube parks do have slower lanes though, practice lanes for beginners, or a means of making your ride a bit slower if visiting with young kids.

The Sunny Tube Park at Lake Louise 

Below is an overview of the four tube parks located within an easy driving distance from Calgary.

The Servus Tube Park at Winsport's Canada Olympic Park, Calgary

Height and age requirements - The minimum height requirement is 36 inches tall. Children between 36 inches and 42 inches may tube with an accompanying adult in a separate tube, holding on to the child’s tube during descent. Children over 42” tall may tube on their own.

Also note that children under the age of 12 must be under the supervision of a parent or legal guardian at all times. That being said, I have sent my 8-year old son up the magic carpet on his own to slide down with his tube (while I supervised below with a hot chocolate) and have never gotten in trouble for it. I think the "key" is making sure you are actively at the sliding hill watching your kids at all times, and that you've made sure your child knows what he/she is doing, knows how to ride the magic carpet safely, and is going to listen to all instructions given by park attendants.

The Servus Tube Park, WinSport Calgary 

Cost - Tube Park tickets are $20 for an AM session, $25 for a PM session, and $25 over the holidays and all tickets must be pre-purchased.

Visit the Winsport website for tube park hours and all other information.

And note for 2021-22, spectators of the tube park require their own tickets. (So you might as well join in the fun mom and dad!)

Also know for 2021-22 WinSport has implemented the Alberta Restrictions Exemption Program (REP) in accordance with the City of Calgary’s Vaccine Passport Bylaw at our ski and snowboard recreation facility. Proof of vaccination is required for everybody 12 and over.

The tube park opens on December 18th for 2021. And watch for discount nights on select Fridays. Dates are available on the website.


What sets this tube park apart from the others - First, the Servus Tube Park is the largest of its kind of Western Canada. In previous winters they have had up to 12 sliding lanes.

Second, Speed! When I visited the park recently, I was clocking speeds of 50+km/hour.

Third, this is the only tube park I know of with its own snack/beverage bar on site with bathrooms at the base of the sliding hill. Winsport has definitely taken care of everything to ensure you'll be able to spend your full two hours in the park without having to leave for anything.

Snack bar at the base of the Servus Tube Park in Calgary

What I like best about this tube park - The Servus Tube Park is a great "intermediate" tube park after you've tried some of the more "mellow" ones such as Lake Louise or Nakiska. Head to Winsport when you're ready for some serious speed and a decent thrill! (Note they do have discs they can place under your tube if you'd like it to slide more slowly rather than racing down at 50+ km/hours.

My son has gotten a bit "spoiled" after trying out a variety of tube parks (multiple times) every winter. He still finds the Winsport park to be very exciting though and never gets tired of spending a half-day here. I can't say the same for some of the other beginner parks where he gets bored after a few runs.

The Servus tube park is a great "stand alone" park where you could visit WinSport just for the tube park and not feel like you had to have come for the skiing as well.

Finally, I love the new snack bar at the bottom of the park. It means that I can go grab a hot chocolate or coffee and "supervise" from the bottom of the hill once I've had my fill of sliding (because let's be honest, the kids could slide for hours!!)

Sliding down the very fast lanes at the Servus Tube Park

Wanidu Tube Park at Nakiska Ski Area, Kananaskis 

Height and age requirements - Children must be 42" tall or 3+ years old with an adult (riding in their own individual tube.)

Cost - $21.95 for adults, $19.95 for youth (13-17) and seniors, $17.95 for children (5-12,) and free for children under 5 with a paying adult. Tube park passes are valid for a two hour period from your first scan.

Visit the Nakiska website for tube park hours and all other information.

Note prices above are from last year and have not been updated yet for 2021-22. An opening date also has not been determined. 

And proof of vaccination is also required for all visitors 12+ for access to Nakiska this winter. 

Wanidu Tube Park at Nakiska Ski Area 

What sets this tube park apart from the others - If you have already purchased a lift ticket you can purchase a tubing ticket for an additional $10 for adult, senior & youth or additional $5 for children.

This makes for affordable family tubing and I'm now thinking we'll definitely hit up the tube park over the Christmas holidays. After all, at $15 for my son and I to add tubing on to our ski day, it's pretty affordable. (We'll just have to skip the lodge cupcakes and coffee!)


What I like best about this tube park - I think this is an excellent tube park for young children and "tube park newbies." There are only 3 lanes (and they aren't very long) so it's a good beginner experience that won't intimidate anybody. I'd personally bring my 3 year old child here before taking them to a larger park like Winsport.

I also like that the tube park is located right beside the beginner ski area (the bunny hill.) And, it's free to ski in the beginner area (with a special beginner pass from the day lodge.) Tubing would make for a great add on with young children who tire of skiing after an hour or two. (And could be a good treat or reward for good effort on the bunny hill.)

Gorgeous scenery at the Wanidu Tube Park in Kananaskis 

Other activities to enjoy in the area (aside from the obvious downhill skiing) - There is a normal sledding hill at the Village behind the Pomeroy Kananaskis Lodge (assuming there is enough natural snow for sliding.) There's also a small skating pond at the village. Come out for a couple hours of tubing and then go down to the village for a skate, a coffee in the Lodge and a short walk around the resort grounds.


Finally, you can add some cross country skiing, snowshoeing, or winter hiking to your day trip by exploring any of the trails starting from Kananaskis Village or Ribbon Creek down below. The trailhead for Troll Falls is a short drive from Nakiska as well.

Follow this link for more information on snowshoeing in Kananaskis.

Also check out Ten Reasons to Spend Time at Kananaskis Village this Winter. 

Troll Falls near Kananaskis Village 

Mount Norquay Tube Park, Banff

Height and age requirements - Children must be 42″ tall and 4+ years to use the tube park. (note this is a higher age and height requirement than the other three area resorts.)

Cost - $42 for adults, $36 for youth (13-17) and seniors, and $28 for children (4-12.) Children under 4 years of age can not use the tube park. Tube park passes are valid for a half day session (morning, afternoon, or evening.)

It's highly recommended that you pre-book your session to the tube park.

Visit the Mount Norquay website for tube park hours and all other information.

The tube park opens on December 18th for 2021 and proof of vaccination is required for all users 12+.

The beautiful Mount Norquay Tube Park

What I like best about this tube park - This tube park is a great "intermediate/advanced" park, so after you've tried some of the more "mellow" ones such as Lake Louise or Nakiska, head to Mount Norquay for some serious speed and a decent thrill! Mount Norquay has the longest tube lanes in Alberta as well!

As I said earlier, my son has gotten a bit "spoiled" after trying out a variety of tube parks (multiple times) every winter. He can definitely spend hours at this park though.

Finally, The Norquay park is a great "stand alone" park where you could visit Norquay just for the tube park and not feel like you had to have come for the skiing as well. 

Read more here: Ski and Play at Mount Norquay in Banff

Family fun at Mount Norquay 

Other activities to enjoy in the area (aside from the obvious downhill skiing) - You'll be conveniently located near the Town of Banff if you want to add on to your day in the mountains with a visit to the hot springs, a ride up the Banff Gondola, or a walk on one of the town trails.

Hiking above the clouds at the Banff Gondola 

Sunny Tube Park, Lake Louise Ski Resort, Banff 

Height and age requirements - Children must be at least 3 years old to ride in the tube park. And as with all tube parks, all children are the responsibility of their parents or guardians at all times. (even though it would be super tempting to sit on the sunny lodge patio with a beer while the kids were sliding!)

Cost - $35 for adults, $30 for youth (13-17) and seniors, $20 for children (6-12,) and free for children ages 3-5. Tube park passes are valid for the day.

A family pass for up to four people is $109.00. ($20 add on price for additional children.)

Seasons pass holders get FREE tubing.

Lake Louise Plus Card holders pay only $5 for a tubing day pass.

Other discounts are available if you have a valid lift ticket for the day or a Ski Big 3 Season pass.


Visit the Lake Louise website for tube park hours and all other information.

Tubing at the Sunny Tube Park, Lake Louise 

What sets this tube park apart from the others - This is definitely a tube park for skiers and snowboarders who already have a lift ticket for the day, a seasons pass for the resort, a Louise plus card, or another applicable pass or discount card. There are great discount deals to be had for affordable tubing (or even free tubing with your seasons pass.)


What I like best about this tube park - This is not really a "Stand alone" park where you'd drive to Lake Louise just for the tubing.  I also can't imagine you'd spend more than an hour in the small sliding area. That being said though, I think this is an excellent tube park for young children and "tube park newbies." There are only 2 lanes (and they aren't very long) so it's a good beginner experience that won't intimidate anybody. I'd personally bring my 3 year old child here before taking them to a larger park like Winsport.

This is also a great alternative to Mount Norquay if you want to go tubing in Banff with smaller children (since kids have to be 4+ to slide at Norquay.)

Great scenery from the Sunny Tube Park at Lake Louise

Other activities to enjoy in the area (aside from the obvious downhill skiing) - I highly recommend a guided snowshoe tour while at the resort if you are not a skier (or even if you are a skier but want to change it up for the day.)

You can read about our snowshoeing adventure at Lake Louise last winter here: Family Guide to the Lake Louise Ski Resort. 

You can also purchase a sightseeing gondola / tubing combo package if you want to get up the mountain for some awesome views but don't want to go skiing or snowshoeing.

And for cross country skiers, I recommend reading Family Cross Country Ski Trips - Our Favourite Destinations Near Calgary

And check out this story as well - Family Cross Country Skiing at Lake Louise.   

Snowshoeing at the Lake Louise Ski Resort 

An Inside Look at WinSport Mountain Bike Camps at Canada Olympic Park

Ever wonder what really goes on at summer camp after you drop your child off?  Wonder why your child looks so shattered and exhausted at the end of the day and wish you could have been a fly on the wall watching what they did all day?? Well, I had those same thoughts about my son's mountain bike camp at Canada Olympic Park (COP) after he came home in zombie mode for the third night in a row.  Seriously, the kid wouldn't eat dinner and he was an absolute wreck!  What were they doing to the kids??

Fortunately for me, being a writer who specializes in family outdoor adventure, I got the opportunity to spend a morning shadowing my son's mountain bike class at WinSport's Canada Olympic Park and I got a valuable look at what really goes on after the kids get dropped off for the day.

Biking down the hill on Strawberry Shortcake - the first downhill run all kids will do in camp

I followed my son's bike class all around Canada Olympic Park for a morning, took a trip to Narnia with them, rode up the chairlift with them, and attempted to bike down the hill with them.  I watched them attempt jumps, ride features in the skills park, and master the teeter totter in the Discover Park.  And I watched them learn a lot of important skills that would keep them safe on the trails long after bike camp had finished.  - and that was just the morning at camp!

Group Chat - Time to work on some skills!

A day in the life of a child in a youth mountain bike class at COP

Most days start off with a trip to the Discover Park to "Warm up" on the easy little bike track, try the teeter totter a time or two, and work on the banked corners going down the short run.

working on the teeter totter in the Discover Park

Spawn Biker Twins practicing at the Discover Park

Following the Discover Park, the kids took a tour around Canada Olympic Park to work on skills. They practiced riding with flat pedals, worked on hills (riding both up and down,) and tried to master getting their bums off their seats.  I enjoyed following the kids on the tour because I discovered some new places to explore in the park and I felt that the tour gave the kids a bit of practice with paved pathway riding (great for working on gears) as well as mountain biking.

Trying to work on bike skills (mine refused to raise his bum or stand during this lesson.)

Flat Pedals and Bums in the Air everybody!!

Next we took  a trip to Narnia!  Located near the bobsled track and kids adventure park, this little area in the trees features three separate tracks for kids to practice their banked corners, rollers, and even some tight turns around trees.  Now that I know where Narnia is, we like to come to COP in the evening for a round of mini-golf and some play time biking in the trees.

Riding in Narnia at Canada Olympic Park

After the tour of Canada Olympic Park, the kids headed in for a snack and I was told I'd have to get on the chair lift if I was going to continue following the class for their first run of the day down the ski hill.  Thank goodness they were just riding Strawberry Shortcake because this mom is a bit scared of downhill riding (hence why my kid is in bike camp learning from a professional!)

Following the kids down Strawberry Shortcake at Canada Olympic Park

I followed the kids and learned a few important things that ALL parents will want to know:

1. No kid will  be left behind!! There was one boy in the class struggling on a smaller bike with coaster brakes but he was never abandoned and the Junior Helper in the class always stayed with him, pushing his bike when necessary,  and going as slowly as needed to get the kid safely down the hill.
2. If you want to walk, you walk.  No pressure, no name calling by other students, no worries.  Ride when you can ride, walk if you need to walk.  (I confess that I walked a few sections with some of the more timid children.)
3. The kids all stick together while riding down the hill.  The lead teacher stopped at every corner, waited for the slower kids to catch up, and then proceeded after seeing that everybody had made it.
4. The kids are encouraged to support each other.  I even saw one boy helping another push his bike down a hill.   That melted my heart.

Helping a buddy - always encouraged

Riding down the easiest run at Canada Olympic Park to warm up

One teacher always rides at the back

working on  banked corners on Strawberry Shortcake

The kids stick together and ride in a group at all times

Following the ride down the mountain, the kids headed to the Skills Park to work on wooden features and jumps.  This took us to lunch time and by this point, I was already tired.  Meanwhile, the kids still had a full afternoon of camp left!!

Practicing in the Jump  Park

Learning to ride wooden features in the Skills Park

In the afternoon that day while I was a camp, the kids went up the chair lift again and rode down the second green run, Green Tea, which is harder than Strawberry Shortcake with more trees, banked corners, and proper single track trails. The trail goes through the east trees and winds it way down the ski hill. After that, the kids would have headed back to the Discover Park, Skills Park, and done more work on their technique.  They could have even taken a trip over to the neighboring Paskapoo Slopes for some cross country practice.

More practice in the Discover Park

Downhill and Cross country Practice at Camp

I'm relatively new to mountain biking but I have discovered how different downhill riding is from cross country riding. Riding down a ski hill with the banked corners, tight turns, and switch backs is quite different from what you'd get on a cross country trail where you'll have to practice gearing up and down, navigate rocks and roots, and build endurance for the times when you are not flying downhill.  

Kids at WinSport's Canada Olympic Park practice all forms of mountain biking and learn the skills required to handle all terrain, whether riding at COP or out biking in Bragg Creek on the cross country trails.

Biking on the Paskapoo Slopes one evening after camp

Cross country training is done at the neighboring Paskapoo Slopes (referred to as the East Lands) where the kids bike to the Big Rock and back on a very rooty rough trail, ride up Lemon Orchard to practice gearing down for hill climbs, and bike down to the Lower Slopes for some good downhill riding and solid hill climbing at the end.

Cross country training on the Paskapoo Slopes

I appreciated the fact that my son was doing both downhill and cross country riding and am glad he didn't just do chair-accessed riding all day. That's not "life" for most mountain bikers and you have to be able to do the work climbing hills and biking cross country if you want to enjoy the hills down after.

Mountain Biking on the Paskapoo Slopes beside Canada Olympic Park

Overall Opinion and Review of WinSport's Mountain Bike Camps

I can only comment on the youth camps that run all day having no experience with the half day preschool camps.  I can also only really assess the younger levels since my son was in level 2 at camp (in the 6-8 year old category)

Based on what I saw though, WinSport's Camps get two thumbs up from me and I would not hesitate for a second to register my son in camp again next summer!  I think kids would even benefit from two weeks of camp per year, one if July and then one in August after practicing what they learned in the first week of camp.

Practicing at the Discover Park after camp

How You Can Best Support Your Child at Camp

You'll get a packing list and a phone call from your child's teacher before camp.  Below are other items though that you may want to consider:

• A platypus water backpack.  Kids get thirsty and most kids' bikes don't hold water bottles very easily.  Kids need easy access to water on the trails.
• Bike gloves.  Anything that protects hands from connecting directly with dirt or pavement is worth having!
• A full face helmet (only if your child is in youth level 4 or higher.) - we bought one and never needed it.  Nobody in my son's class, level 2, had one.  Most of the kids in level 3 did not have one either.  
• Elbow and knee pads - if your child freaks out when they fall down and would do better to have more padding against pavement, dirt, rocks, etc. 
• A bike with HAND BRAKES!!! This is a MUST.  Please don't send your child to camp with coaster brakes.  It is not safe for your child to be riding down the ski hill with coaster brakes.  It also impacts the other children in your child's class if group rides are cancelled or changed to easier trails out of necessity for one child who doesn't have the required equipment to keep him or her safe. 

A good bike goes a long ways towards success at camp

Other things to consider:

First, don't make serious plans for the evenings after your child finishes camp.   They will be tired and they won't feel like doing more biking or active activities.  This is the week to allow them to watch as many movies as they want in the evening.

Second, don't make serious weekend plans following a week at bike camp.  Chances are, your kid won't want to go biking, camping, hiking, or climb a mountain.  I could be wrong, but mine did not!

And finally if your child does not have a good mountain bike with hand brakes, consider visiting the rental shop at COP before you register your child for camp to make sure they have suitable bikes for your child's age and size.  You don't want to find out that your child requires a 16" bike on the first day of camp and discover that COP only has 20" bikes.  A bit of preparation goes a LOOOOONG way towards your child's safety and success at camp.

An evening ride through Narnia after camp

I want to give a big thank you to my son's teachers for doing a fabulous job.  My son was in a very diverse class with children who ranged in abilities from level 2 through level 3 or higher.  The teachers worked hard every day though to ensure the safety of all kids while creating a fun learning environment for each rider. I have seen my son practicing what he learned in camp in the weeks following the experience, and I now have skills I can work on with him.

As a side note, I feel like I also went to bike camp after shadowing the class for half a day and my riding has improved tremendously after just one morning! Maybe WinSport needs to look into a parent/child mixed class for those of us newbie bike parents.  What do you think?

Thank you to WinSport as well for allowing my son to participate in a week of camp for this review. As always, my opinion is my own and I wasn't paid to write this story.

For more information on Camps at WinSport's Canada Olympic Park, please visit their website.

My rad. biker at Canada Olympic Park

My Mountain Bike Partner is 6 Years Old - and he's better than me

You laugh, but it's true.  Almost everything I've learned about mountain biking has occurred while biking with my 6 year old son.  Friends have offered helpful pieces of advice and have certainly given this newbie biker mom some valuable instruction, but nothing has taught me how to just "commit" like biking with a fearless child has!

Below are a few highlights from our biking season thus far for 2015.  I can only imagine what I'll be sharing come September!!

A new year and a new bike!

Noah gets a new bike (and gears rock!)

Rockin' The new 20" Spawn bike

Friends keep asking me what Noah is riding these days.  Well, let me tell you, he's got the sweetest bike out there!  He's riding the Spawn Savage 1.0 20" bike, complete with disc brakes and gears.  Tell me, does your bike have disc brakes?  Mine certainly doesn't!  It's no shock that Noah makes it down hills that I am skidding out on.  His brakes are awesome - and now I want disc brakes on my next bike. 

The 1.0 version of the Spawn Savage does not have shocks but we figured shocks would just add extra weight and be overkill for the kind of riding Noah does.  (I could be wrong soon.)  However, Noah doesn't seem to miss or need them yet and he rides over plenty of roots and rocks without complaining.

And having gears on this bike has made a huge difference in our family rides!  Noah makes it up hills he would have walked before, and has a lot more endurance for the longer rides. 

How much does a bike like this cost?  Well, I admit it's a bit.  But, before you choke at the cost of the bike, $749.00 in Canadian dollars, let me break it down for you:
We hope Noah will be riding it for at least two years (maybe three since a 20" bike is what kids ages 6-9 should typically be riding.)  So that's $374.50 per year (less if used for three years.)
He will be riding it hard for at least 6 months a year (hopefully 8 months.)  At 7 months, it comes out to $53.50 per month.

Now, how much do you pay for your kids to go to gymnastics?  Dance?   Hockey?... - and you will be able to sell the Spawn bike when you are done with it (for at least $350.00 if it's in good condition.) 

Finally, you should be able to pass it down to a younger sibling (or sell it for a good price if you have one child) which means at least two kids get to ride it and the cost goes down to $26.75 per month when it's split between two children!! Really, too expensive??

His confidence is soaring on his new Spawn bike

How much does the bike weigh?  20lbs.  That's it.  And trust me it makes a big difference when it comes to hill climbing or helping your child push his/her bike up a steep hill.  A couple of weeks ago I had to carry it down some big stairs on a hike-a-bike section of trail and I was certainly glad it was light then!!

To order a Spawn bike for your child, order it directly from the Spawn Cycles website.  It's the easiest and fastest method.  (Most stores are sold out if you wanted to purchase it locally.)

 

Our new favourite spot to go biking:  Calgary's Paskapoo Slopes

Last year we did a lot of easier mountain bike riding and I believe I can be quoted as saying that I really didn't like single track, had no interest in downhill riding, and that I liked old gravel roads.  Things have changed a bit and Noah and I now spend a lot of time biking the Paskapoo Slopes east of Canada Olympic Park.

A typical "after school" bike ride for us

We've been taking friends with us and we're trying to master all of the intermediate trails on the slopes.  We started with the easy trails and realized we were ready to tackle harder hills after a few rides.  And I'm slowly starting to build the confidence required to ride the same trails as my 6 year old bike partner (who crushed me one day and rode at least 5 hills that I had to walk out of total and complete fear.)

A month ago I would have walked down this hill.

If you want to help us save these slopes from development, please sign the petition at the Save the Slopes website.  I'm not normally a big political activist but I get pretty angry and upset every time I think about developers paving over my playground!!

Spawn Biker Gang on the Paskapoo Slopes

New Trails:  Banff Tunnel Bench Loop - Check

We started tackling this intermediate mountain biking loop in Banff last summer and I remember very clearly my husband telling me that Noah would not be able to bike the narrow "exposed" part above the Cascade River until he was older.  I took his word for it (especially since he told me it would be too tricky for me too) but I couldn't let it rest.  I really wanted to finish the loop!

Biking the narrow section of the Tunnel Bench Loop in Banff

Fortunately, while camping in Banff a couple weeks ago, I found a friend willing to go "test" the trail with me and I decided that not only would it be doable for Noah, it would be EASY for Noah.  And what exposure??? (at least till I watched the GoPro videos after.)

To see what kinds of trails Noah is riding these days, watch the video below and I will not be offended if you just watch the first minute or two.  I know it's looooong.

And for more information on this bike trail (and others in Banff like it) read my story on the Best Family Bike Trails in Banff National Park.

 

 

New Trails:  Goat Creek (Canmore to Banff) - Check

This is the other big trail that we have biked as a family so far this season and it's kind of a big deal.  We rode 19km from Canmore to Banff and the trail was not paved for a single minute.  This was backcountry mountain biking and was not as easy as I had been lead to believe.  At least not for a 6 year old.

There's more photos and information in my story on the Best Family Bike Trails in Kananaskis.

Crossing the bridge over goat Creek

Skills:  Not your Grandma's Teeter Totter

This is the kind of stuff we do in the evening before bed.

 

 

Skills:  Mastering the Bike Park Features at Canada Olympic Park

We went to the bike park near our house last week and Noah found the ramps, boardwalks, and jumps.  He got a smile on his face and immediately tried to ride one of the biggest features .  Below is a short video of one of the harder features he totally nailed while there.  And never fell once I might add.

I suspect we'll be spending at lot of time at Canada Olympic Park this summer.  Thank God we got an annual family pass!

 

 

And Noah's taking mountain biking lessons this summer

It should come as no shock that we've figured perhaps Noah should take some mountain bike lessons this summer.  After all, God forbid I'd catch up and become as good as him.  Gotta keep him a level or two beyond me!  He's signed up for mountain bike camp at Canada Olympic Park and we're pretty excited to see him learn a new trick or two.

More information on the great camps offered by WinSport at Canada Olympic Park can be found in my recent story:  Where to Find the Most "Fun and Unique" Summer Camps in Calgary.

Biking on the Slopes East of Canada Olympic Park

Final Photos of my Rad Bike Kids

We do a lot of biking with #radkids - follow that hashtag on Instagram to see all of my photos. 
Here are just a few of my favourite shots from this spring.

Biking the Bow Falls - Hoodoos Trail in Banff

My Biker Gang on the Paskapoo Slopes in Calgary

Look who discovered the Banff Bike Park

#OutdoorKidsRock - yes look for that hashtag too

Big Thanks to:

Spawn Cycles - for giving us the best bike a 6 year old could ever have.

WinSport and Canada Olympic Park - We are going to have a blast playing at the bike park this summer and riding the trails at the park.  We also can't wait for summer bike camp!

The awesome folks fighting to save the Paskapoo Slopes in Calgary from development.  Find out more and join us in supporting a great cause by visiting the website at Save the Slopes. Kids don't need more shopping malls.  They need green space, trails, wild areas to play in, and free land.