Mt. Tremblant Quebec

[Ramprage]

Has anyone checked out Mt. Tremblant yet this year? I was there a few years ago and it was wicked.

Cheers

[snowboarder]

I didn't go this year, but I never really like Mt Tremblant that much. It's way too expensive, there are like gazillions of people, it's allways windy and it never snows. Only upside was the park, but now that Avila's park is there, nobody gives a crap about tremblant.

[bmx_dude_94]

ya iv seen pictures

[felinusz]

I go there every year to teach, free riding and full accomodations for me ;)

It's bloody overpriced if you're paying though, I'd rather go out west if I was paying for the trip.

The dense Quebec backwoods in Tremblant make it worthwhile in my opinion. If you are adventurous and up for getting stuck in the occasional treewell, there's some really rewarding forest to ride. Overall it's a good break from Ontario, and a damn nice mountain when it isn't crowded.

[Ramprage]

Sounds like you have landed a nice gig! Do they require you have any special training or certifications for that kind of job?

Mind sharing some of the better tree run locations ;)?

[mikejl29]

Just go to Jay Peak, Vermont if you are after tree runs. Trust me...

[felinusz]

Sounds like you have landed a nice gig! Do they require you have any special training or certifications for that kind of job?

Mind sharing some of the better tree run locations

I work for a Ski/Snowboard school based in Toronto, they do a Tremblant trip every year :).

To teach you need a cert, the organization that does the standards and runs the courses is called CASI (Canadian Association of Snowboard Instructors). The Level 1 Instructor's cert is all you'll really ever need, and it isn't too hard to get at all if you can ride consistantly, and can pay attention enough to learn to teach beginner progression. It's mostly revolving around beginner progression, basic skills, proper stance, and whatnot. You can fully get your Level 1 and not even be able to lay down carves nicely (Not to bash CASI, the Level 1 is fully intended as a 'beginner instructor' cert). The Levels go up to 4, and start to focus heavily on advanced and functional teaching techniques, as well as really technical riding. Ive just got a Level 1 in any case.


I've been riding for 6 years now, teaching for 3, and I ****ing love it. I couldn't afford this sport easily (I'm a 19 year old student) if I didn't teach, and teaching has me on the hill something like ~40 times a season (free lift tickets!). I really reccomend it as a part time winter job, although the pay isn't enough to make a career out of it.


As for nice tree runs.... on the side of the mountain *without* the Ganja-la (sp? Gondola? :D), there are some really, really, really, *REALLY* lovely all-Birch glades you can get into if you go off the trail. It's an official yet perpetually closed run, but hard to find (I don't even know how to get there properly, as in via the trails). You can get to them easily enough by going through the rough terrain right under the Versant Soleil chair lift, keeping to your left, and climbing uphill for a minute or so when the pitch ends. It is by far one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen, all-Birch glades.

And, if you're adventurous, just heading into the woods at the side of the hill on the Versant Soleil, and on the North end, you can ride for half an hour through waist deep snow :). The only problem with *that* is the super thick ass trees, you gotta be competant at riding switch, turning fast, and keeping your nose up to not fall or crash :). The creek halfway down poses a problem, but that's what grit and Ollies are for ;)


All this talk has me completely fiending for some good snow and a hill :(. Thanks a lot ;).

[snowboarder]

For teaching in Qc and Ontario you basicly only need your CASI 1. I've been riding for 11 years and never bothered to get that license, but I'll have to do it next year if I want to go in Whistler. My plan, do my casi 1 at the beginning of the winter, than my 2nd level in Tremblant in early spring '06 and then try to get a job in Whistler...hopefully it'll work :-6:

[Ramp]