Industry News
Mt. Norquay, Alberta, is celebrating a century of alpine tradition, innovation, and community in the Canadian Rockies. The ski resort was the first in the Canadian Rockies and is the oldest in the SkiBig3 collective. “The Mighty Quay” is Banff’s backyard hill, emphasizing community, legacy, resilience, and passing that sentiment down from one generation to another.
“Mt. Norquay has always been more than a ski hill; it’s a place where generations of families have discovered their love for the mountains,” Pete Woods, President of SkiBig3, told SnowBrains. In a world of slick corporate resort promos, Mt. Norquay has the heart and spirit of an authentic Canadian Rockies mountain. It is rugged, community-driven, tied to nature and people rather than pure commercialization. Its history was carved into the trails by pioneers like Gus Johnson, Cliff White, and Cyril Paris, who hand-cut runs for the Banff Ski Club in 1926.
To commemorate this remarkable anniversary, Mt. Norquay will host a ‘Day of Nostalgia’ on Saturday, March 28. The event will feature a full day of on-mountain and après-ski celebrations, including: sightseeing rides on the North American Chair, fireside chats with owners Adam and Jan Waterous, screenings of The Mighty Quay in the lower lodge, guided tours led by local legends, live music throughout the day, complimentary s’mores, and outdoor BBQ, and beverage tastings from regional partners. The day will also host the 58th Bruno Engler Memorial Race, Canada’s longest-running ski race, featuring a two-run giant slalom on Cascade and the Bruno Engler Family Race for the Berchtold Trophy. Awards and a reception will follow in the afternoon. Celebrations will conclude with a public reception at the Lone Pine Pub, featuring refreshments and remarks reflecting on a century of community and mountain culture.
Over the past 100 years, Mt. Norquay has established a rich history. It hosted Alberta’s first downhill race in 1929, featured one of Canada’s first ski jumps, and produced many racing legends, including the Crazy Canucks. All of this was fueled by the influx of European immigrants after World War II and the completion of the coast-to-coast Canadian Pacific Railway. Mt. Norquay’s early ski jumping era drew 5,000 train passengers — the jumps were first constructed in 1935 and helped establish Banff as a true winter destination. Following the arrival of the Canadian Pacific Railway in Banff in the 1870s, Swiss and Austrian mountain guides introduced downhill skiing to the region.
Hockey is Canada’s official national winter sport, but in the mid-70s through the early 80s, the Crazy Canucks captured the hearts of their nation and the world. Dave Irwin, Dave Murray, Steve Podborski, and Ken Read (father of World Cup ski racers Erik and Jeffrey Read) did something at the time that no one had ever done before: they beat the Europeans in skiing. They were known for taking high risks on the downhill course at lightning speed and for being fearless. However, they also embodied the soul of Canadians everywhere with their humility, politeness, and charm. From 1978 to 1984, the Crazy Canucks earned 107 top-10 World Cup finishes, 39 podium finishes, and 14 wins. Podborski won the bronze medal in the downhill at Lake Placid Winter Olympic Games in 1980 and became the first North American man to win an Olympic downhill medal. Throughout its history, Mt. Norquay has played a foundational role in establishing winter tourism in Banff and Lake Louise, while also contributing significantly to the development of alpine ski racing in Canada.
Today, that legacy continues through the Banff Alpine Racers, founded in 1970. The program has developed athletes who have competed at national and international levels, including Olympians and World Cup racers such as Thomas Grandi, Jan Hudec, Trevor Philp, Paul Stutz, and Erik Read. Banff Alumni Racers Jeff Read and Britt Richardson were members of Team Canada at the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic Games.
The ski resort had another historic achievement in December of 1948 when the North American Chair was built. It is a two-seat, fixed-grip lift that spans 3,100 feet (945 meters) and reaches an elevation of almost 7,000 feet (2,134 meters). Throughout its almost 78-year lifespan, it has been upgraded and rebuilt two times. The North American Chair was a marvel when it was built, providing access to some of the steepest and longest terrain in North America, making Mt. Norquay a true ski destination for serious skiers.
The Norquay 100 Vision is an initiative that will replace the North American lift with a state-of-the-art gondola. The top of the gondola will drop skiers and riders off at the Cliff House lodge. There is also a proposal to bring passenger rail service from Calgary with expanded parking at the Banff train station. Alongside the lift upgrade, the North American lodge will be removed, and the Cliff House will undergo a major expansion and renovation. It is stewardship: keeping Norquay Banff’s backyard while protecting the park for the next 100 years.
The locals, community vibe, and atmosphere at Mt. Norquay are special. They truly care about Mt. Norquay, the people, and the skiing and riding at the mountain. The mountain has changed hands several times throughout its history. In the 1990s, it faced one of its most uncertain times. Mt. Norquay was near bankruptcy when locals Peter White and Thomas Grandi purchased the mountain to keep it community-owned. The previous owner planned to expand the Mystic Ridge area with a high-speed quad in the late 80s and early 90s, which led to financial difficulties. White and Grandi acquired the resort out of receivership at a low price, with the explicit goal of keeping it as a community-focused, locals-oriented hill rather than letting it be dismantled or sold to an outsider who might strip the lifts. “The magic of Norquay lies in its community; the mountain brings people together in ways that are truly special to the Canadian Rockies,” Woods said.
Mt. Norquay is the heart of Banff National Park and a cornerstone of the region’s skiing heritage. Known for its family-friendly atmosphere and rich racing history, the resort offers terrain for all ability levels and is the only ski area in Banff National Park to provide night skiing, including a fully lit terrain park and the longest tube park in Alberta. Its learning area is the largest of SkiBig3 and includes two surface lifts. Mt Norquay is one of the SkiBig3 Resorts, alongside Banff Sunshine and Lake Louise Ski Resort. Together, they offer a combined 7,700 acres of ski- and rideable inbounds terrain, an average annual snowfall of 30 feet, 362 trails, and the world’s only Prosecco Powder™, all accessible with one lift ticket.
Mt. Norquay’s cultural impact on Canadian skiing has been profound. It is the birthplace of Canadian Rockies skiing, a training ground for the Crazy Canucks, Olympians, early snowboard adoption, and heli-skiing roots via Hans Gmoser. The belief that if you can ski at Norquay, you can ski anywhere is ingrained in Banff’s culture. Moving forward, Mt. Norquay is not just polishing the diamond; they’re making sure the next generation can still carve their own legends. It balances celebration with honesty, ownership changes, and economic struggles. This has been part of its resilience, helping keep the ski resort’s identity and culture alive throughout its 100-year history. The mountain is focused on Banff’s community, a locals-first hill with steep terrain, a no-frills vibe, perfect for learning, racing, or just having fun.
With the Norquay 100 Vision setting the direction for the future of Mt. Norquay, people and the local community in Banff can look forward to skiing another 100 years of great skiing and snowboarding on the mountain.
Mt. Norquay Key History:
- 1928: Construction of the first ski cabin by Cliff White and Cyril Paris
- 1929: First slalom course set
- 1935: Road access was established between Banff and Mt. Norquay, and the first official ski jumps were constructed
- 1940: The North American Lodge was constructed following the destruction of the original cabin in a fire
- 1941: First rope tow installed, charging 25 cents for four runs
- 1948: Installation of the North American Chair, Canada’s second chairlift at the time
- 1952: Opening of the Cliffhouse Bistro at 7,000 feet
- 1959: Construction of iconic ski jump judging towers
- 1966: Replacement of the original single North American chair with a double chairlift
