Mt Norquay facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mt. Norquay |
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Mt. Norquay in March 2008
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 Mt. Norquay
Location in Canada
Mt. Norquay
Location in Alberta
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| Location | Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada |
| Nearest city | Banff, Calgary |
| Coordinates | 51°12′14″N 115°35′56″W / 51.204°N 115.599°W |
| Top elevation | 2,133 m (6,998 ft) |
| Base elevation | 1,630 m (5,348 ft) |
| Skiable area | 0.77 km2 (0.30 sq mi) |
| Runs | 60 |
| Longest run | 1,167 m (3,829 ft) |
| Lift system | 6 chairlifts - 1 hi-speed quad - 1 fixed-grip double - 2 fixed-grip quads 1 surface lift |
| Terrain parks | 1 snowboard park |
| Snowfall | 300 cm (120 in) /year |
| Snowmaking | 85% |
| Night skiing | Wednesday and Friday 5-10pm (January - March) |
| Website | BanffNorquay.com |
Mt. Norquay is an awesome mountain and ski resort located in Banff National Park, Canada. It sits just northwest of the Town of Banff. The regular ski season at Mt. Norquay usually kicks off in early December and wraps up in mid-April. It's one of three main ski resorts found within the beautiful Banff National Park.
History of Mt. Norquay Ski Resort
The mountain got its name in 1904. It was named after John Norquay, who was like the head leader, or premier, of Manitoba from 1878 to 1887. John Norquay actually climbed this mountain in 1887 or 1888. However, he didn't quite make it to the very top.
Early Skiing and Lifts
People started skiing on Mt. Norquay as early as 1926. A special ski lodge opened its doors in 1929. Rope tows, which pull skiers up the hill, were put in place in 1942. Then, in 1948, Mt. Norquay became the second place in Canada to get a chairlift. The first was Red Mountain Resort in 1947. This chairlift helped skiers go up 1,400 feet (425 m) higher.
Skiing Awards and Partnerships
For many years, Norquay gave out cool pins to skiers. You could earn a bronze pin for skiing 25,000 feet in a day. A silver pin was for 30,000 feet, and a gold pin for 35,000 feet. In 1978–79, they even had 50 special platinum pins for 50,000 feet. This celebrated 50 years of the clubhouse at Norquay. Since 1978, Ski Norquay has worked with Ski Banff, Lake Louise, and Sunshine. They created a special pass that lets you ski at all three resorts. This pass also includes shuttle bus rides to and from the resort.
Hosting Major Events and New Ownership
In 1991, Mt. Norquay hosted big ski races. These were the Giant Slalom and Slalom events for the 1991 Winter Deaflympics. Since October 2006, a group of investors from Alberta has owned the Mt. Norquay ski resort. This group includes Ken Read, a famous former Olympic ski racer.
Ski Racing at Mt. Norquay
Mt. Norquay has a long and proud history of supporting alpine ski racing. Early on, the local community held "Dominion Championships" here. These were big ski races to help promote winter tourism. Norquay hosted these championships three times. The resort was also part of two bids for the Olympic Winter Games in 1964 and 1968. In 1972, it hosted a World Cup event. Skiers competed in Giant Slalom and Slalom races on the North American run.
Ski Jumping and Modern Racing
The resort was also well-known for ski jumping. Many international competitions took place here. The ski jump is still used today by the Altius Ski Club from Calgary. Today, Mt. Norquay Ski Resort is a popular place for skiing. It's also one of the most important resorts for alpine ski racing in Canada. The ski hill hosts many local events and big international ski races. Famous Canadian ski champions like Thomas Grandi and Cary Mullen trained here. They were part of the Banff Alpine Racers, which is Norquay's home ski club. Current Canadian Alpine Ski Team members Paul Stutz and Erik Read also trained here.
Amenities and Fun at Norquay
Mt. Norquay offers many cool things to do for skiers and visitors.
Ski Terrain and Runs
There are a total of 60 ski runs at Norquay. These runs add up to 16,382 meters (about 10 miles) in length. About 85% of the skiing area has snowmaking machines. This means they can make snow to keep the runs great even when natural snowfall is low. The ski area has three quad chairs, one double chair, and a magic carpet. The double chair, called North American, takes you to some of the most challenging runs.
With a vertical drop of 503 m (1,650 ft), Norquay is considered a challenging mountain. It has 16.4 km (10.2 mi) of runs. About 20% of the runs are easy, 36% are medium, 28% are difficult, and 16% are for expert skiers. On Friday and Saturday nights, from December to March, Norquay offers night skiing. You can ski from 5 PM to 9 PM. It's the only resort in Banff that offers night skiing! In 2009, Mt. Norquay also added winter snow tubing. This is a fun way to slide down the hill on a tube, and you can ride a lift back up!
Lift System Overview
| Name | Type | Vertical | Length |
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| A. North American 'Norquay' Chair | 2 person fixed-grip chair | 396m | 945m |
| B. Sundance Magic Carpet | Surface lift | 10m | 64m |
| C. Cascade Chair | 4 person fixed-grip chair | 122m | 579m |
| D. Spirit Chair | 4 person fixed-grip chair | 196m | 654m |
| E. Mystic Chair | 4 person hi-speed chair | 395m | 1016m |
Rental Facilities for Skiers
Mt. Norquay has a rental shop where guests can get all the equipment they need. This shop is located right across from the Cascade Lodge.
Summer Activities at Norquay
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When the snow melts, Mt. Norquay still offers fun activities! The North American chair lift runs for sightseeing in the summer. This lift takes you up to the Cliff House Bistro, which is a cool restaurant and tea house. Since 2014, you can also try the only via ferrata in Banff National Park. A via ferrata is a climbing route that uses steel cables, rungs, or ladders fixed to the rock.
