FEATURES
POWDER BUYER’S GUIDE 2025 Deeper snow puts more demands on your gear. Here’s the low-down on the new gear we hope you’ll need. BY RYAN STUART, GEAR EDITOR
SKI CANADA TEST PART II Are you in the market for powder, backcountry or freeride skis? We’ve tested this year’s best. Here’s the top 25 for 2025. BY RYAN STUART
ROLODEX TO RIDE In our first official Backcountry Skier’s Guide, RYAN STUART helps us sniff out daily doses of deep powder and fresh tracks. From heli-skiing to cat-skiing and ski-touring, this guide tells us where to go, where to stay and how much it will cost. Is it worth it? You bet.
WAY OF THE NORTH At Skeena Cat Skiing, the hands-on approach is a way of life. BY IAN MERRINGER
DEEP IN JAPAN From dry snow to widely-spaced trees, finally—an explanation as to why it feels so good to ski the perfect blend of terrain and snow conditions that is Niseko, Japan. BY NIGEL HARRISON
5 DAYS, 4 CLUB MEDS They’re at it again. IAIN MacMILLAN and NIGEL HARRISON head for Hokkaido to ski, taste and titillate over the all-inclusive attributes of four Club Med resorts on the north island of Japan.
REGULARS
FIRST TRACKS Our editor-in-chief has his run. BY IAIN MacMILLAN
SHORT TURNS News, gossip and all the fresh tracks in between.
YOUR TURN Letters? Oh yeah, we got some.
SLOPE ANGLES With B.C.’s SilverStar up for sale—along with a few other ski resorts owned by Powdr Corp.—skiers are asking whether local ownership beats being owned by a mega-conglomerate. STEVEN THRENDYLE weighs the pros and cons.
CROSSHAIRS A skier’s gallery.
SKILL SCHOOL Skiing requires both technical and tactical decisions. Our resident ski pro simplifies the process. BY NIGEL HARRISON
CAUGHT & SHOT BY GRANT GUNDERSON
