Until December 26, 2007, a ski discount card is available for Lake Louise and other ski resorts in the Resorts of the Canadian Rockies group.

Mark it in your diary - the Canadian Rockies Louise Card is only on sale until December 26.

A Popular Way to Save Money on Skiing

For skiers who enjoy skiing in the Canadian Rockies, the Canadian Rockies Louise Card is a popular deal. It comes from RCR, Resorts of the Canadian Rockies, and covers some (not all) of the major resorts in the area. The main RCR property is Lake Louise Mountain Resort, not far from Banff, Alberta, and easily reached by car from the Calgary International Airport.

How to Buy the Ski Discount Card

There are four ways to buy the card:

• online
• directly from the Resorts of the Canadian Rockies head office
• from participating partners - Sport Chek in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Sport Mart in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Alberta Motor Association for AMA members only, in selected locations, Calgary Co-op Stores in Calgary
• selected retailers (listed on the Canadian Rockies website).

The card is available to residents of Canada, Idaho, Washington, and Montana.

How Much of a Discount on Skiing Can You Get?

The Canadian Rockies Louise Card is a non-transferable personal ski discount card. After buying and activating the card, the holder is given seven days' worth of discounted skiing. Days 1, 4 and 7 are free. The days in between are each given a discount. The discount varies according to the resort and the date. At a minimum, it's $5 for the Kids' Club, and at a maximum, it's $26 off a full day ticket at Lake Louise Mountain Resort.

How Much Does the Discount Ski Card Cost?

The Canadian Rockies Louise Card costs $79.95 plus GST (6%).

Which Ski Resorts Offer The Discount?

The Resorts of the Canadian Rockies offering discounted skiing with the Canadian Rockies Louise Card are:

• Lake Louise Mountain Resort ($26 discount until Dec. 1, 2007, $13 thereafter)
• Fernie Alpine Resort ($6 discount)
• Kimberley Alpine Resort ($6 discount)
• Nakiska ($6 discount)
• Ski Banff @ Norquay ($6 discount - no free days, no PLUS option)
• Rabbit Hill, Edmonton ($6 discount - no free days, no PLUS option)
• Kids' Club ($5 discount).

There are some exceptions described on the website, where the terms and conditions are fully spelled out. Be sure to check these carefully.

How Much Does a Lift Ticket Cost?

The cost of a day ticket varies from one resort to the next, and by age group. The adult day ticket price is

• $72 at Lake Louise and Fernie
• $55 at Kimberley and Nakiska
• $49 at Ski Banff @ Norquay
• $33 at Rabbit Hill
• $27 at Snow Valley.

Rates for seniors, children and youth are less.

Paying at the Lift

Users may upgrade to a "Plus" card that links their Louise Card to their credit card. This popular feature enables the cardholder to buy their lift ticket at the lift rather than at the resort's ticket office, at the resorts where the lift operators have scanners. To get the upgraded card, the holder has to apply personally at the head office in Calgary, or at the office at any of the participating resorts.

Further Details

For the full details of the resorts' prices, childrens' offers, discounts, check the Terms and Conditions provided by the Resorts of the Canadian Rockies. This article is a short summary. There are specific terms and conditions, including some exclusions, stated by the resort. In case of any difference between this article and the resorts' information, the resorts' information should be taken as the authoritative source.