I worked as a liftee at Norquay for 2 winters in the mid-eightys. It had the Big Chair (North American) and the Little Chair (Cascade), 2 t-bars and the beginner handle tow at that time. The original lodge was at the base of the Big Chair. A frequent occurrence was people driving up to the lodge to drop off their skis etc, getting out of the car, stare up at the steep Lone Pine run ( it looked almost completely vertical) get back in their cars, never to be seen again.
Thanks for the review. I've never skied at Norquay when it wasn't icy, so your comment about ice is fair. There is a cool retro-vibe hotel at the beginning of Norquay's access road, Juniper Hotel, that is a stone's throw from the resort. Be warned though, it isn't cheap.
I gotta admit, I like Wintergreen’s setup because you start up top and you can ski down to any section of the mountain. What sucks is that you have to ride Blue Ridge Express to get back to the village every time. It gets annoying when lines get very long, and that’s pretty much like the Spirit lift.
Yeah, it is annoying when lines get long, lol. The thing is, Norquay could solve the problem with a cat track from the top of Mystic to the top of Spirit. Granted, they are in a national park, which may explain why they haven't attempted to do something. But everyone I've skied with this season absolutely hates the Spirit chair.
It would be worth the money if the ticket prices were cut in half considering the comparable price to Lake Louise and Sunshine which are only an extra hour away
It's even worse than that... it's only 6 minutes longer to sunshine village and 27 minutes to Lake Louise (if you're staying in Banff). Either hill is worth that extra time and $30, even for beginners. Only reason to go there is if you're training for moguls or tubing.
Norquay can be a pain to navigate. However, I try to limit the time I'm using Spirit to only 2 times per day. It's a pain that Mystic doesn't have any washrooms/food venues though.
@@Skier72 Understandable. Hermosa Park Express is the required lift to enter and exit the backside, and there are so many flat catwalks at Purgatory which gets really annoying.
Having skied here the big chair or north American chair whatever u wanna call it is incredible terrain if u aren’t an adept skier in the bumps or u don’t enjoy mogul skiing sure u won’t like it but you should acknowledge that in your video, u clearly aren’t an advanced skier which is who that terrain is for.
Sure, I'm not the greatest skier. But that's fine. I never hit North American with fresh snow (only 2-3 times for some reason). I don't really enjoy moguls that much, but it's everyone's personal preference what runs they do or don't.
I worked as a liftee at Norquay for 2 winters in the mid-eightys. It had the Big Chair (North American) and the Little Chair (Cascade), 2 t-bars and the beginner handle tow at that time.
The original lodge was at the base of the Big Chair. A frequent occurrence was people driving up to the lodge to drop off their skis etc, getting out of the car, stare up at the steep Lone Pine run ( it looked almost completely vertical) get back in their cars, never to be seen again.
I love North America. It's the coolest lift that I have ever ride on. Great video BTW.
I'm liking these resort reviews. Keep it up!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks for the review. I've never skied at Norquay when it wasn't icy, so your comment about ice is fair. There is a cool retro-vibe hotel at the beginning of Norquay's access road, Juniper Hotel, that is a stone's throw from the resort. Be warned though, it isn't cheap.
This was so useful for skiing
I gotta admit, I like Wintergreen’s setup because you start up top and you can ski down to any section of the mountain. What sucks is that you have to ride Blue Ridge Express to get back to the village every time. It gets annoying when lines get very long, and that’s pretty much like the Spirit lift.
Yeah, it is annoying when lines get long, lol. The thing is, Norquay could solve the problem with a cat track from the top of Mystic to the top of Spirit. Granted, they are in a national park, which may explain why they haven't attempted to do something. But everyone I've skied with this season absolutely hates the Spirit chair.
awesome video. hope the algo juices this
Great Video, Please to Nakiska in the future.
Thanks! I'm just not sure I have enough video footage from Nakiska to do a review. I'll see
@@Skier72 aw rip. Well, Im still hyped to see ones like Fernie.
Did you take these pictures yourself? Well done on the review!
Norquay is the best of the Big3 imo.
The CBGB's of ski resorts.
It would be worth the money if the ticket prices were cut in half considering the comparable price to Lake Louise and Sunshine which are only an extra hour away
Exactly!
It's even worse than that... it's only 6 minutes longer to sunshine village and 27 minutes to Lake Louise (if you're staying in Banff). Either hill is worth that extra time and $30, even for beginners. Only reason to go there is if you're training for moguls or tubing.
@@th3oryO True, though Norquay does have a more economical season pass than Louise or Sunshine does.
AGREED!
@@th3oryO 6 minutes? To exit to exit, you still have to drive up the road plus the gondi
I'll check it out sometime and see if my girl would go skiing with me.
Yeah, it's definitely a place worth considering.
On sight alone I thought that the name would have been pronounced "Nor-key", like a quay as in a dock or port area, not like "quake"
How frustrating is it to navigate Norquay? I see some similarities between this and Purgatory in terms of navigating the resort.
Norquay can be a pain to navigate. However, I try to limit the time I'm using Spirit to only 2 times per day. It's a pain that Mystic doesn't have any washrooms/food venues though.
@@Skier72 Understandable. Hermosa Park Express is the required lift to enter and exit the backside, and there are so many flat catwalks at Purgatory which gets really annoying.
Here’s a perfect example of a super annoying lift that is required for egress and has the longest lines: Mineral Basin Express at Snowbird.
Can't be as bad as Spirit though...
@@Skier72 True, since MBX is a HS4
The only bad thing about Norquay is it’s lift system
Yeah even if there was a way to get to and from the Mystic without having to take the Spirit, that would be better.
Having skied here the big chair or north American chair whatever u wanna call it is incredible terrain if u aren’t an adept skier in the bumps or u don’t enjoy mogul skiing sure u won’t like it but you should acknowledge that in your video, u clearly aren’t an advanced skier which is who that terrain is for.
Sure, I'm not the greatest skier. But that's fine. I never hit North American with fresh snow (only 2-3 times for some reason). I don't really enjoy moguls that much, but it's everyone's personal preference what runs they do or don't.
Nobody cares bro, nobody cares.
What is your problem?
@@Skier72 facts