Colorado got skunked this season, but you can ski into May in Banff

The Eagle Creek run at Sunshine Village feels like zooming through Mother Nature’s half pipe. Pam LeBlanc photo

Temperatures might be hovering around 90 degrees in Austin, but ski season hasn’t wrapped up yet. And even as Colorado suffered through one of its lowest snow years in history, Banff is recording one of its best.

I just spent a week in Canada, wallowing in the white stuff – and you’ve still got plenty of time to get there.

Mt. Norquay in Banff has the longest and fastest tube runs in Alberta. Pam LeBlanc photo

Here are the 10 reasons to make the trip.

1. You can ski three resorts in one vacation. I made Brewster Mountain Lodge in Banff my base, and hopped a free shuttle each day to get to Lake Louise, Sunshine Village and Mt.Norquay.
2. Ski season stretches on forever here. Sunshine Village, which opened Nov. 4 and doesn’t close until May 18, boasts one of the longest non-glacial ski seasons in North America. Lake Louise operates until May 3 and Mt. Norquay keeps lifts spinning until April 19 this year.
3. This season will go down as one of the best snow years on record in Banff. December set records, and it snowed about 6 inches during my stay the last week of March.
4. The luxurious lifts! Sunshine Village and Lake Louise have “bubble lifts” with heated bucket seats and tinted covers that pull down to protect you from the elements. I’m officially spoiled.
5. Norquay, Banff’s backyard ski area, celebrates its 100^th anniversary this year. The place is steeped in history – it’s a pioneer of ski racing and you can still see the old ski jump judging towers.
6. Speaking of Norquay, or “the Mighty Quay” as some call it, it’s home of the longest, fastest tube runs in Alberta.
7. The view of Mount Rundle, which looks like it’s been smacked with a giant frying pan, gives me chills. (You might recognize it if you’ve ever attended the Banff Film Festival road show in Austin.) I made the steep hike up Tunnel Mountain to take it in.
8. Whisky! Stop by Park Distillery for a short distillery tour followed by a whisky tasting. You’ll get to sample six different whiskeys, all made with glacier water and Alberta rye.
9. Order a “Texas of the North” Tea, Alberta’s spin on a Long Island iced tea, at a new country bar called the Dusty Boot in downtown Banff. The vibe is perfect, especially if you snag one of the fluffy upholstered chairs next to the bar. Or grab the mic for cowboy karaoke downstairs.
10. Check out the food scene. My favorites? Chuck’s Steakhouse for locally-grown Alberta beef, Hello Sunshine for sushi and a groovy atmosphere, and Brazen, for the ginger beef and pear tart.

Lake Louise is having one of its best snow years on record. Pam LeBlanc photo