MARMOT BASIN CLOSING IN ON RECORD SNOW SEASON

Exceptional snow conditions and new ski lifts delighting skiers and snowboarders

January 31, 2012

Jasper, Alberta, Canada – With over three months left to go in the ski season, Marmot Basin has already received over 12 feet (372 cm) of snowfall which is 93% of its annual average. If the next three months produce typical amounts of snowfall, Marmot Basin will exceed its all time snowfall record of 529 cm set way back in 1965. Regardless of the numbers, skiers and snowboarders have been absolutely thrilled with snow conditions at Marmot Basin and, to some, it has come as a bit of a surprise.“There is very little snow on the ground in Edmonton and when some people get to the mountain they are really surprised at how much snow we have” says Brian Rode, Marmot’s VP of marketing. “Marmot’s base elevation is very high so the rain that has fallen at lower elevations this winter has been all snow at Marmot”, added Rode.

 Marmot Basin skiers and boarders are not only basking in exceptional snow conditions, they also have two new chairlifts to ride this winter including the new Paradise high speed quad chair. Marmot Basin has installed three new chairlifts in as many years and is leading all Canadian ski areas in ski lift development. “Marmot Basin is not the same ski area it was three years ago. The three new chairlifts we have installed, along with all our other improvements, has really transformed the ski experience at Marmot”,comments Rode. “I’ve talked to people who have come back to Marmot after a few years away and they are blown away by how different and how much better the mountain is”, he adds.

Marmot Basin will be open until May 6^th this season thanks in part to all the snow Mother Nature has bestowed upon the area and also thanks to the state-of-the-art snowmaking system that was installed in 2006.

(photo attached courtesy Marmot Basin – taken on January 30, 2012 on “Slash”)

Update from Mike Wiegele Helicopter skiing

January has been an exceptional month in Blue River… So much fun, people are dancing - Seriously! Thanks to GoPro footage from guest Scott Turner and Lead Guide Tim McLean, They were able to throw together this fun little clip for your powder viewing pleasure.

You too can get a taste of Heli skiing with Mike Wiegele, Mountain Madness Tours and Marmot Basin with our 3 day all inclusive packages.

This package includes transport from Edmonton to Jasper, a day of skiing at Marmot Basin to warm you up and a night in Jasper so you can rest up for a day of Heli skiing the next day in Blue River. 

We'll stay overnight at Mike Wiegele's Heli skiing resort where you'll be treated to luxury accommodation, 5 star dining and good times to finish off an awesome day of heli skiing / boarding. 

We'll drive you back to Edmonton on the 3rd day so you can tell all your friends how much fun you had. 

Check out this page for more details to find out how you can get involved. 

Update from our friends at Powder King

Powder King has had some amazing snow lately and now has a 410cm base at the top of the mountain. 

You really can't go wrong with a trip to Powder King. 

Mountain Madness Tours can get you and your group of friends there for around $356 per person including transport from Edmonton, 2 lift tickets and 2 nights on hill accommodation. 

Give us a call at 780 885 9813 today to book your next ski trip to Powder King. 

You can visit this page on our site for package info or check out Powder King's website to find out more about the ski resort everyone talks about but few are lucky enough to experience. http://powderking.com/Home

Be one of the first amougst your friends to experience Powder King you'll have one hell of a unique story to tell when you get back. 

Well it's mid December and Mountain Madness Tours travelled to the resort reported to have the most natural snow in Canada, Powder King. 

It certainly didn't disappoint. We got the best early Christmas present you could ever ask for with 45 cm's new snow falling the night we arrived. This just added to the already impressive 259cm base of natural snow at the top of the mountain. No man made snow here that's for sure. 

Powder King is one of those places that if you compared it to the larger resorts it may appear small, but looks can be deceiving. It has so much character and awesomeness about it that it really has to be seen to be believed. There's more than enough terrain, trees and varied runs to keep you entertained for much more than a weekend visit.

Sure It's a bit of a drive from Edmonton but at $55 a lift ticket for almost guaranteed powder you just can't go wrong. Mountain Madness Tours can relieve you the pain of the long drive by taking care of this portion of the tour for you. Just relax in the back, watch a few ski movies, play a few tunes, catch up with your friends and rest up for a leg busting powder weekend you'll remember for a long time to come. 

You can stay on hill from $25 per person per night (based on twin share) and you don't have to worry about crowds at Powder King. Better still they are open from Thursday through to Sunday so if you arrive on Wednesday night you'll be riding and skiing first tracks all day Thursday. You'd normally pay more than $1000 a day for this kind of experience Heli skiing. Powder King and Mountain Madness Tours can put together an all inclusive package from $286 per person (Wednesday to Friday tours) or $356 per person for a weekend tour. Packages include round trip transport, 2 lift tickets, and 2 nights on hill accommodation.

Contact us today to book your next Powder King adventure with up to 9 friends. 

MARMOT BASIN IN PRIME CONDITION

Half of Average Annual Snowfall Has Already Fallen

Jasper Alberta

December 5, 2011 – Marmot Basin has already received half of its average annual snowfall and there is still over five months of skiing and snowboarding remaining in the season. 200 cm of snow has fallen up to December 5 compared to 111 cm last year at the same time. Prime, mid-winter conditions exist throughout the entire ski area. Comments on Facebook and Twitter are rife with superlatives from Marmot skiers and snowboarders recounting glorious powder-filled days of perfect skiing; and it is not yet even mid-December. Marmot Basin has what many have described as the best snow conditions in Canada right now.

Marmot Basin also opened two new chairlifts this winter; the Paradise high speed quad chair and the School House chair. A grand opening event is planned for Saturday, December 10^th and everyone who visits Marmot on December 10^th & 11^th can enter to win a two day ski holiday for two people including lift tickets and rental equipment with accommodation at the Best Western Jasper Inn & Suites.

Most runs and six of seven lifts are open. The Knob Chair is scheduled to open on December 10 after the grooming and avalanche control crews have completed their work in that area. So much snow has fallen during November that groomers are struggling to make it up to the top of the Knob Chair to pack out the “cat track” which is a requirement for getting the lift open. Likewise the avalanche control team has been challenged to get all their work done simply due to the abundance of snow in the alpine bowls. When the Knob opens on Saturday, skiers and boarders will again be thigh deep in powder snow. 

The Rogers Terrain Park will open not too far behind the Knob Chair as snowmaking resumes in full force on December 11. Large mounds of snow will be blown into the terrain park so groomers can sculpt various features and jumps and so terrain park staff, known locally as “the Park Rangers” can set up rails and boxes. The Rogers Terrain Park will open well before the holiday season.

This is the winter of content in Jasper with ideal snow conditions, two new chairlifts and much to celebrate for every skier and snowboarder who chooses Marmot Basin as their Rocky Mountain playground.

Some facts and stats: Total Snowfall to Date:                        200 cm (half the annual average!) Annual Average Snowfall:                   400 cm Settled Snowpack:                               97 cm at mid-mountain, estimated 140 cm at higher elevations Total Snowfall to Nov 30 (2011)          191 cm 10 year Nov average (2010)                76 cm

MARMOT’S NEW PARADISE CHAIR OPENS

ANOTHER FOOT OF SNOW COVERS SLOPES 

Jasper Alberta

November 26, 2011 – The new and highly touted Paradise high speed quad chair, Marmot’s latest $6 million development, opened to the delight of skiers and snowboarders on Saturday November 26. And then, as if perfectly on cue, 31 cm of snow fell on the slopes of Marmot the next day, only days after Marmot received 64 cm of snow over a four day period. Marmot has now received 95 cm of snow since Tuesday, November 22 making for ideal conditions and allowing for opening of more lifts and runs.

In addition to the opening of the Paradise Chair, the Canadian Rockies Express quad chair also opened first thing Saturday morning and, by late afternoon, the Eagle Ridge quad chair opened after a lot of hard work by ski area staff. All four of Marmot’s quad chairs are now open along with the new School House Chair and the Magic Carpet beginner lift. The Knob Chair is the only lift yet to open for the season and it is not for a lack of snow. “We’ve had 95 cm of snow since last Tuesday and it’s still snowing hard; the alpine bowls are loaded with snow. Once our avalanche control team completes their work in the area, the Knob will open”, said Marmot’s VP of Marketing, Brian Rode. With six of seven lifts now open, and the Knob Chair to open soon, Marmot Basin is expecting to have all lifts and most runs open in early December. 

Skiers and snowboarders who hit the slopes on Saturday were thrilled with conditions and the town was buzzing Saturday night with satiated and exhausted powder hounds. Avid skier and Edmontonian, Glenn Maffrett, got all he bargained for and then some when he got a close up look, and taste, of the new snow. “On my first run I went in a little hot and cart-wheeled through three feet of new snow and came up looking like the abominable snowman. I skied knee-deep powder all day long. It was an absolutely epic day”, said Maffrett.

Check out the video below for the latest conditions at Marmot Basin. 

As you can see its dumping and its time to get the skis and boards out and go to the mountains. 

Give us a call or email today to book your custom small group winter adventure with Mountain Madness Tours

Taking bookings for the weekend of 9-11th December 2011 and onwards.

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Read on for an official press release from Marmot Basin

MASSIVE SNOW STORM HITS MARMOT BASIN Jasper Alberta

Staff Working Around the Clock to Open More Lifts and Runs

“This is the snowfall we have all been waiting for and it hit us hard and fast” said Brian Rode, Marmot’s Vice President of Marketing & Sales. “Ever since we opened this season on November 11th we have had great conditions on the lower mountain. Now with the new snow we can open the upper mountain to skiers and boarders this weekend along with the new Paradise high speed quad chair”, added Rode.

Marmot has two new ski lifts awaiting skiers this season both of which will be operating this weekend along with three other lifts. Five lifts will be open on Saturday along with about 70% of the mountain. Lifts operating include the new Paradise high speed quad chair, the Canadian Rockies Express high speed quad chair, the Eagle Express high speed quad chair, the new School House Chair and the Magic Carpet beginner lift. The Eagle Ridge Quad Chair and Knob Chair are not far behind now that there is plenty of snow. The challenge to opening these areas is getting the snow packed down, fences set up and avalanche control work completed so the areas can be opened safely. “This is a problem we love having” quipped Rode. “You won’t find anyone here complaining about too much snow that’s for sure. We just need a little time to get the slopes ready and our staff are working their hearts out to get exactly that done”.

 For skiers and snowboarders the message is clear and simple, there’s a whole lot of new snow at Marmot Basin and five lifts and 70% of the mountain will be open this weekend with the rest of the ski area to open soon afterwards. If your boards are not waxed up and ready to go, now’s the time!

Four Awesome champions travelled with Mountain Madness Tours from Edmonton to Jasper for the opening weekend of Marmot Basin ski resort on the 11th - 14th November 2011. 

We beat the crowds on Friday by turning up on Saturday and we had plenty of room on the 3 runs that were open. With early season conditions only the bottom half of the mountain was open but the quality of the snow on these runs was supurb and we all had a great time getting our legs and techniques working again after a long summer off the snow. 

After a couple of days skiing we drove down the Icefields parkway to check out the sights before chilling out in Banff for the day then driving back to Edmonton later that night. The mountains surrounding us during the spectacular drive to Banff were looking awesome covered in a light coating of snow. Great times. 

Marmot Basin is getting more snow by the day and opening more runs as the conditions improve. At the moment 6 runs are open with a 55cm base on man made snow runs and a 40cm base of natural snow at mid mountain. 

If you'd like to go skiing or boarding next weekend 19th - 20th November to Marmot Basin, Lake Louise or Powder King BC. Please call 780 885 9813 today. There are some great discounts to be had at this time of year and although not all the runs are open, reports of good quality snow are very positive. Treat it as a nice relaxed warm up to the upcoming winter season. 

Spectacular update from our friends at Powder King

Powder King opened on the 11th November in spectacular fashion. A huge storm rolled though the area and dumped some epic powder. 

Pretty impressive stats for early season with 115cm base at the day lodge, 150cm base at mid mountain and 175cm base at the top. 7 out of 37 runs are currently open. 

Powder king is now open Thursday to Sunday, Give us a call on 780 885 9813 to get a ride in the Mountain Madness Tours van from Edmonton to Powder King

Photo credits: Sam Ens 11th November 2011.

Opening day at Powder King	No shortage of snow at Powder King, Living up to it''s name

Need your skiis tuned before the season really kicks off? Read on

Take your skiis to the Haus of tunes. A new local service in town offering a professional tune for your skis at a bargain price. Read below for more info. 

The Häus of Tunes - Performance Hand Tuning is officially open for business in Edmonton.

We usually only tune race or ski professional equipment but this year we are open to you and your friends to get your gear ready for the new snow season.

Resorts are opening more terrain each week, be ready to go have fun.

Keep your new equipment in perfect condition or breathe new life into your current gear with high performance #Holmenkol wax.

We also do speciality park tunes. Perfect park edge bevel and hard wax to protect your base and give perfect in-run speed so you can stomp that new trick and impress the ladies, or gents if your a lady ;)

Ask about the "refer-a-friend" incentive if you are talking up Häus of Tunes. 

Call Conor at 780 777 2774 to book in your skis/board.

Maintenance Tune - $20

Major Tune - $50