Gabbi Hall
Happy December, everyone. It’s been over a month since I last blogged, and I am a bit embarrassed about that. Unsurprisingly, this gap coincided with the start of the alpine skiing World Cup season, which means my work load went from about zero to 60 in no time at all. While that can be stressful, it does mean that I transition from working at home to working on the road, and that is the big perk of the job.
My first big trip was this past week to Lake Louise, Canada, in Banff National Park. This remote Canadian ski resort hosts the first World Cup speed races every year, and this was my first trek up to see the ladies race. Going into the weekend, I thought the storyline would be Lindsey Vonn, the American ski star who has won more World Cup races than any other woman in history. Instead, her teammate Mikaela Shiffrin stunned, earning her first World Cup downhill podium results. I don’t think most of you are ski racing fans, so I won’t bore you with the details of the race, but I will tell you about this small ski town.
How to Get to Lake Louise
Airport: Calgary International Airport (YYC)H
Rent a car or take a shuttle
Where to Stay in Lake Louise
This is where I stayed while in town. Located less than a 10-minute drive from the mountain, it was the perfect location for me. They had two restaurants in the hotel as well as free wi-fi, free parking, a pool and two hot tubs. The walls were a bit thin. I could hear hallway chatter pretty clearly, but that said, it wasn’t a wild hotel, so it wasn’t an issue after 10 p.m. The bed was comfortable, the wi-fi was fast, the mini fridge kept my snacks cold and it was a great place to grab a good night’s sleep between races.
Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise
This luxury hotel is where all the World Cup teams and officials stayed during the event. It’s a grand palace that sits right on Lake Louise. There are several restaurants inside as well as a jewelry store and other shops to buy items far outside my budget. While I didn’t stay there, I did spend some evenings there for meetings, so I got to enjoy the ambiance. Plus, because of its location on the lake, I shot some b-roll in the area for NBC Sports. (Fun fact: At Ski Racing Media, we have a contract with NBC, which allows us to travel all these places and gives me the opportunity to work on my video skills.)
Where to Eat Breakfast in Lake Louise
Like I said, this town is small. You’ll likely end up eating in the restaurants at your hotel, or the one or two others around town. For me, dinner is a bit of an afterthought on the road. My primary meal is breakfast and perhaps more importantly coffee. The Trailhead Cafe sits in the shopping center with the Visitors Center. They make excellent breakfast sandwiches and lattes, and it won’t break the bank. I recommend the Winter’s Night Latte. I had it almost everyday I was there.
Things to Do in Lake Louise
Okay, to be honest, on this trip, my adventures were limited to the mountain, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t amazing. If you looked through my photos above, you can see the the mountains are spectacular and the skiing matches. If you’re hear in winter, spend a day in the snow. If it’s the offseason, I’m sure there’s a ton of hiking in the area.
This was one trek I was hoping to make, but I couldn’t find the time. It’s about an hour drive from Lake Louise, so it’s not exactly close, but after a long day of skiing, I imagine it works wonders on your muscles.
The Banff and Lake Louise Tourism Office has some great resources for planning your trip, which you should check out here. There’s a ton to do from dogsledding to horseback riding. I hope to come back when I’m not working.
Next stop: Val d’Isere, France. Until next time, here goes nothing.
