Mt Norquay riding guide - World Snowboard Guide

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Freeriding

Freeriders should take the high speed Mystic Express lift to ride the best boarding area on the mountain. It gives you access to six long blue runs through the trees, with Imp and Knight Flight being favourites.

There are also some steeper options from this lift, like Black Magic, and the interestingly named Ka-Poof, which can either be great after a heavy fall of snow, or awful with icy hardpack late in the season. For the real steep stuff, take the North American chair and have it down the Gun Run, but make sure you know what youre doing or you may be spending more time in Banff than on the hill.

Freestylers

Freestylers have a good halfpipe and funpark, both of which are shaped by the Rockies' first magician Pipe Grinder. Next to the pipe is a full-on funpark with all types of hits - including a massive quarterpipe, gap jumps and tabletops. The great thing is that it's nearly always deserted.

For riders using the park via the Cascade lift, a discounted lift pass is available for just CA$33.

Pistes

Most of the pistes of Norquay are well groomed, and although not particularly long, they are great for having it down at high speed as the rest of the resort is often empty. The easy flats of the Spirit Quad chair is the place to head first before cranking it down Excalibur, a decent black run off the Mystic Quad.

Beginners

Beginners have very easy access to tame pistes from the base station. The green runs next to the Cascade chair are a great place to learn some linked turns. Theres also a great little fenced area for complete beginners with a long magic carpet right at the base.