Canadian invention enables non-skiers to glide down Whistler’s snowy slopes
Whistler, B.C. - Now even non-skiers can swoosh down the very same spectacular mountains that will challenge the 2010 Olympic skiers, thanks to an invention of veteran Whistler ski professional Paul Auger.
Paul and his brother Guy were thinking of how to get their 83-year-old mother up on the slopes to see her grandchildren ski. With the help of Guy and their father Bill, Paul came up with a chauffeur-driven vehicle that looks rather like a dog sled with skis.
They didn’t stop there; they decided to create a version for any non-skier. After four years of experimentation they succeeded in developing a commercial version – the ‘Sno-Limo’. Youtube VIDEO
Now you don’t have to be a skier to join your family or friends on the mountain. Passengers ride up the lifts in the Sno-Limo, then it’s tethered to the chauffeur who guides the vehicle for a leisurely and comfortable ride, while pointing out interesting geological features, and intriguing facts about the history of the area. The vehicle leans into a turn as a skier does. The passenger is secured with an easy to release safety belt. There’s an emergency brake that doubles as a parking break, and the chauffeur carries a cell phone for emergencies. So now if you’ve never learned how to ski, or you’re not physically able, you have a fun new option. Tours range from one hour to a full day.
Where: The company started in Whistler four years ago and now also operates at Big White and Grouse Mountain B.C.
Whistler, the four-season activity-packed family destination that is busy preparing to be a host venue for the 2010 Winter Olympics is a scenic two-hour drive north of Vancouver.
The village is packed with pubs, clubs, fine restaurants, galleries, spas, championship golf courses, five mountain lakes, and outdoor activities galore, all in or radiating from a compact, car-free alpine village.
It has been named the number one ski resort in North America by Skiing Magazine for 11 consecutive years. It has an average annual snowfall of 914 cm (30 ft) and a season that stretches from November to June, with glacier skiing until late July
Lucy Izon
Canada Cool is produced by award-winning Canadian travel writer & speaker Lucy Izon. Her travel stories & reports have appeared in numerous leading North American publications including the Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, Toronto Star, Globe and Mail, and Chicken Soup for the Traveler's Soul. Bio page
Canada’s Coolest:
Welcome to a new feature on Canada Cool. I'll be presenting different 'Coolest' lists with my favorites and I encourage you to nominate suggestions from your own experiences. You can Twitter @CanadaCool or email [email protected]. Let me know what makes your suggestion exceptionally cool. Remember, by contributing your comments you are giving Canada Cool permission to quote you. Only a selection of submissions will be included, but all comments and submissions are greatly appreciated!
The first feature is: Canada's Coolest Single Day Scenic Drives
Here are some of my favorites...
The Icefields Parkway, Jasper National Park, Alberta - This 229 km (142 mi) Rocky Mountain route from Banff/Lake Louise to Jasper passes 100 frozen rivers and nudges the base of the Athabasca Glacier - the most accessible glacier in the world. You can stop and explore it. It spills down from the Columbia Icefield, an area of ice so massive that you could fit the entire population of North America on it with each person getting at least a square metre of space.
The Corridor, Algonquin Park, Ontario – this 56-km stretch of Hwy 60 cuts through the southwest section of Algonquin Park. Less than three hours north of Toronto the park is a nature-lover's paradise with 7,725 km of lakes, rivers, forest, trails, camping, comfortable lodges and 2000 km of canoe routes. Offers hiking trails to stop and enjoy, but what makes it really cool is that it’s one of the best places in North America to spot moose (especially in May and June). And, on Thursday nights in August up to 600 cars will gather to listen to wolves howl.
The Cabot Trail, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia – Driving this 303 km (187 mile) route is like riding a roller-coaster: the road snakes around hairpin turns, rises to heights over 365 metres (1200 ft), weaves around headlands revealing spectacular coastal scenery, and plunges down to sea level taking you into the heart of small fishing communities. The most dramatic scenery is between the Cape Breton Highlands National Park entrance near Cheticamp and Pleasant Bay, so go slow. And, plan some flexibility into your schedule, so you can drive it on a clear day.
And here are some of your nominations for 'Canada's Coolest Single Day Scenic Drives'...
More from Canada’s Coolest
'Canada's Coolest' topics we'll be publishing in the future:
- Golf Course Features
- Haunted Hotels
- Hotel Special Services
Send your suggestions to [email protected]
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