Snowboarding in Banff with Kids: Our Family’s Experience
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All photos in this post were taken by me during our trip. I love capturing real experiences to give you an authentic look at what to expect.
We snowboarded in Banff, and ended the day in the ER – but I still think it was worth it.
As soon as our kids discovered it was an option, they decided it was a must for our Banff family trip. I was a little nervous as a mom and wondered if Banff was good for snowboarding with kids.
This was our second time snowboarding as a family, and we learned a lot in one day. We’ve had years of adventures with kids, but we only recently added skiing and snowboarding to our list. Our previous experience was at a small resort in the mountains of North Carolina, and we learned very quickly that skiing on large mountains is a very different experience.
Our crew snowboarded at Sunshine Village, one of three ski resorts in Banff, and had a great experience. Friendly staff, great restaurants, and quality gear.
Keep reading for more details on our experience at Sunshine Village with resort details, the gear we brought for our ski day, tips for snowboarding with kids, ways to save on costs, and how we handled our son’s snowboarding injury.
Ski Resorts in Banff
There are three main ski resorts in the Banff area: Lake Louise, Norquay, and Sunshine Village. These are commonly known as the “Big 3” and you can get a combination ski pass that works for all three resorts.
Ski Big 3 sometimes runs a deal where kids can ski free with an adult ticket purchase, so watch for these sales once you know you’re headed to Banff for a skiing or snowboarding adventure! We have only snowboarded and skied at Sunshine Village, but all three resorts are known to be good ski resorts for families and beginner-friendly.
Our Experience with Sunshine Village
Overall we loved our day on the slopes at Sunshine Village. The equipment we rented was good quality, the slopes were well managed, and all of the staff were friendly. The slopes weren’t overly crowded, and we had many kid-friendly slopes to choose from!
There were a handful of runs that my kids felt most comfortable on, and we spent most of the day on these. I will say that the slopes are much more intense than what we were used to coming from the southeastern part of the US.
The ratings were different for us as well. The blue runs at home would be more like the green runs here.
We chose Sunshine Village because of their sightseeing gondola ticket that allowed all of us, skiers and observers, to go up to the slopes together. I have a chronic illness that prevented me from skiing on this trip, but the sightseeing pass enabled me to be right on the slopes with them.
Other resorts may have this option as well, but we were not able to find any information about it online.
The tickets were very easy to book online ahead of time. There were lower rates for children and youth.
✨ Planning your own snowy trip to Banff? Don’t miss our free printable 6-day family itinerary!
How to Rent Snowboarding Gear in Banff
Sunshine Village ski resort had all the gear we needed. They were very patient with us and helped us easily sub sizes until we got the right fit. You get your gear at the bottom of the hill and take it with you on the gondola.
We had to try several different sizes to find boots that fit my daughter. We tried two different sizes at the bottom of the hill, but by the time we got to the top, her toes were numb.
Thankfully, there was a rental tent at the slopes, and we were able to easily trade them out a third time without having to take the gondola back down.
Everything was excellent quality and worked well for us on the slopes! Since we only had one day to snowboard, it made the most sense for us to rent from the ski resort.
There are also local snowboard rental shops in Banff if you would like to skip the lines at the resorts or snowboard at multiple resorts. You will need a rental car equipped for snow gear, so be sure to speak with the rental agency ahead of time if you plan to go this route.
Where to Eat at Sunshine Village with Kids
There are a few restaurant options in Sunshine Village. We chose to eat at the restaurants at the top of the gondola to save time during our ski day. Some of our crowd had ramen at Nikko Ramen, and it was delicious. It was warm and hearty, perfect for the cold, snowy day we had.
We also ate at Mad Trappers and loved the nachos. This is a pub and grill, and there were a lot of yummy options to choose from. One thing to note is that Mad Trappers is pretty dark inside, and our daughter felt a little nervous in the pub-style atmosphere.
Service at both places was relatively quick the day we were there, but we didn’t visit during peak season.
We also grabbed coffee, chips, and muffins for the car ride home at Java Station, a slope-side coffee stand right outside the gift shop.
Is Ski School Worth It?
We decided not to do ski school since we only had one day on the slopes, so I can’t speak from personal experience. However, the ski school was on the same run as my daughter for a good portion of the day so we were able to observe them.
They had students of all ages taking ski lessons, and they were kind and helpful to all of the students.
The students seemed more confident by the end of the day and had made more progress than us in their abilities. If we had more days we would have paid for ski school, and I think the confidence it builds in the kids abilities alone would make the cost worth it.
What Gear Should Kids Wear Snowboarding in Banff?
You can rent snow clothes onsite, but we brought our own because we had other snowy plans on our itinerary, like sledding and hiking in the snow.
Gear you should bring for skiing in Banff:
- Waterproof pants
- Waterproof jacket
- Warm base layer
- Warm mid layer
- Warm wool socks
- Ski mask/balaclava
- Waterproof gloves (x2!)
- Scarf
It is very windy and cold on the slopes, so our kids were very thankful for the scarves to cover their faces. We also brought a second set of gloves for the kids because theirs always seem to be wet (you can see all of the gear we brought on our trip here).
Tips for Snowboarding in Banff with Kids
Staying safe on the slopes is one of the most important things to prepare for when heading off on a ski vacation. Staying in control on the slopes and in areas of your skill level keeps your kids safe as well as the others on the slopes. Make sure to review the responsibility code before you go!
- Teach kids the trail signs and colors. Stick to the trails of your skill level!
- Talk ahead of time about mountain safety:
- Stay away from the edges of the runs where there could be deep snowdrifts
- Stay on marked trails
- Always have a buddy
- Keep your helmet on while on the slopes
- Keep your warm layers on and dry
- Keep control of your speed and make sure you know how to safely slow down and stop! You don’t want to crash into other snowboarders or skiers!
- Don’t stop in the middle of a slope or where you aren’t visible to other skiers.
- Make sure your boots and equipment fit properly. Ask the staff for help if you’re unsure!
- Wear sunscreen (the snow reflects the sun and you can get just as sunburned as at the beach!)
Is Skiing in Banff Good for Kids and Beginners?
Yes, there are easy slopes at all of the resorts! At Sunshine the runs were clearly marked, and we had a map to refer to with color coded runs.
This was our daughter’s second time snowboarding, so she stayed mostly on the bunny hill. There was a long run called Meadow Park that our teenage son loved and did multiple times. It was long and gently sloped.
One thing to note is that the slopes here are steeper because the mountains are much bigger. We’d recommend starting on slopes one level below what you’re used to if you’ve never snowboarded outside the southeastern US.
Even if this is your first time skiing or snowboarding, we would definitely recommend spending at least half a day of your trip on the slopes. The views are incredible, and it’s one of the reasons we love Banff as a destination for a family adventure!
Our Snowboarding Injury
On the last run of the day our son fell directly on his shoulder and injured it. Great timing for an injury, right? He was glad to have enjoyed a full day before it happened, and loved that he had a good story to go with it. How many kids can say they’ve broken their shoulder snowboarding in Banff?
It wasn’t a severe injury, so we didn’t ask the medics on the slopes for help, but they were there if we had needed them! We did end up taking him to the emergency room in Banff for imaging, and he had indeed broken his shoulder.
It was a very easy process to get imaging, the doctor took great care of him, and our travel insurance covered the entire cost. This was the third time we’ve had to use our travel insurance, and we were so thankful to have it!
Ways to Save on Snowboarding in Banff
If you plan to ski for multiple days or at multiple resorts, the Ski Big 3 pass offers perks and discounts. Sunshine Village offers half, full day, and multi-day tickets. Skiing for just half a day would be a good option to save on costs or time if you’re only there for a short time.
Another option is to use travel rewards! We booked our lift tickets and rentals using our Capital One Venture Miles, which let us cover the entire purchase with points. It ended up being a $0 out-of-pocket adventure.
If you have travel cards like Chase Sapphire or Capital One Venture, check your points balance before your trip, and decide if this is what you’d like to use them on! Just be sure to book your tickets on the right card so you can redeem points or get a statement credit later.
Plan Your Banff Family Vacation
We loved spending a day on the slopes in Banff. It was the perfect time for our kids to try something difficult and new, and even though the day ended in a broken shoulder for my son, we felt the adventure was worth it.
If you have time in your itinerary for snowboarding or skiing, we highly recommend spending at least one day on the slopes! There are so many incredible adventures (like seeing the northern lights!) waiting for your family in Banff National Park.
We’ve put together a 6-day itinerary that includes time on the slopes, dog sledding, hiking, and seeing some iconic sights.
Join our email community below for a free printable version of our 6-day itinerary!