2004 DTR - Banff, Alberta

Deep in the heart of the Canadian Rockies, hidden in the shadows of the savage mountains that dominate this landscape lies the town of Banff. A place rich in history, Banff was a major trading outpost back in the day. Trappers and dirt miners once found a home in this great valley. Wait, I'm sure the Native Americans had dibs but I guess they didn't double stamp it, no take-backs. Unfortunately, in the name of progress the land was settled by the likes of Jeremiah Johnson and Lone Wolf McQuade, who decided the taming of grizzlies or the act of vengeance upon a disobedient concubine took priority over the harmony between man and nature. What? Yeah, I just made that up, but I'm sure something like that went down. Anyway, we are stoked to be here. We have a final few places to visit before we pack it in and word is Banff may award us our final victory.

Our first appointment was with a resort soon to be ravaged by the world's best riders in SNOWBOARDER Magazine's annual Superpark/Cutter's Cup. Situated about 15 minutes west of Banff, The Lake is well known for its sweet freeriding and in recent years the evolution of a world-class terrain park. For us, because it snows everywhere we go, another bluebird pow day was ours. Guided by staff photogdog and mildly retarded Dan Hudson, the day was the tour standard: slash and blast. We rode everything from the wide-open bowls of the backside to the gladed steeps of the Ptarmigan area. I still don't understand why riding powder is the equivalent of sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll without the jail time. However, I am not here to question our glory, only to revel in it.

A few of our more air-inclined compadres even rode the park, (something highly questionable in my opinion given the abundant fresh snow everywhere. For more on what I consider unacceptable behavior on a powder day please consult the How to Blow It section at the end of The Driven to Ride Articles) doing air-tricks and board-grabs. Forget that though, today's promo was ridiculous. The game was to find the Chicklet in a bowl of ketchup, the result: quite frightening. These kids put aside any dignity they may have had and opened the door to humiliation in the name of SNOWBOARDER Magazine. Nice.

The second day was spent in yet another day of snow-induced magnificence at Sunshine Village. This resort, previously classified as a family-oriented groom-fest has recently achieved extreme status. Sunshine has had the long arm of fear holding firm on some previously forbidden terrain, but due to the never-ending shredders demand such areas are now ripe for the picking. Delirium Dive would be one of those areas. A short hike from the Continental Divide lift brings you to le extremo radical. This open closure is an expert-only area accessible only with peeps, shovels and probes. Good things happen here, one of those being the view. There is a 360-degree eye-popping experience to be had. The Canadian Rockies are probably the nastiest, most menacing mountain ranges I have seen all trip. If I had to sum it up, Sunshine Village feels like the top of the world. Because this was our last stop on tour, with the exception of one very special stop in Calgary, the crew wishes to thank the nicest staff of employees in Canada, from the marketing dept. who made this all happen to ski patrol who made us feel at home when in fact we were far from it.

SNOWBOARDER MAGAZINE'S BEST OF BANFF
1. Best View: Sunshine Village
2. Best Club: HooDoo's
3. Best place to have Superpark/Cutter's Cup: Lake Louise