A Lap At Fernie Ski Resort

01:57 min • 01/05/2024

Skiing A top to bottom lap of the white pass chair at Fernie ski resort

Athletes

Marcus Vanheyst

Locations

Fernie Alpine Resort

Marcus Vanheyst

Profile and significance

Marcus Vanheyst is a British Columbia–based freeski athlete and content creator whose skiing lives at the edge of what most people even consider “snow sports.” He built a following by treating every season as ski season, winning a GoPro YourSummer cash award for clips that show him carving “brown pow” on dirt, grass and rock when the snow is long gone in coastal and interior British Columbia. Instead of chasing slopestyle or big air podiums on the FIS circuit, he has become known through viral edits, Unofficial Networks features and brand-backed social media posts that highlight how far creative freeski can go when you stop waiting for perfect winter conditions.

On frozen days he still skis the traditional way, stacking park laps and side-hit runs at major western Canadian resorts. When the melt arrives, he keeps the same mindset and simply swaps powder for dust, gravel and rough alpine soil. That willingness to push skiing into shoulder seasons and strange textures has made him a reference point for skiers and mountain-town locals who are obsessed with gravity but live in places where winter is always too short.

Competitive arc and key venues

Vanheyst is not a World Cup regular; his “competitive arc” plays out in edits, viral clips and informal challenges rather than bibbed events. A key milestone came when GoPro awarded him a YourSummer prize for footage of him “skiing all the seasons” in British Columbia, including grass, dirt and loose scree lines that look more like mountain-bike terrain than ski slopes. That recognition from one of action sports’ most visible brands signaled that his approach had crossed from local curiosity into globally shared content.

Media coverage from outlets focused on ski culture has further cemented his profile. Articles spotlight him straight-lining dusty faces with a mountain biker on his tail, threading narrow drainage ditches in full ski kit and even pulling off a high-speed dirt-ski pond skim. Those pieces typically frame him as a “dirt skier” from British Columbia who is determined to keep skiing long after the last lift closes. Along the way he has appeared in collaborations with resort and brand channels, including clips shared by Banff Sunshine Village and Salomon, and preseason or post-season missions around Cypress Mountain above Vancouver.

While there is no long results sheet to dissect, the pattern is clear: instead of stacking contest finishes, Vanheyst has built a portfolio of lines and locations that showcase both classic winter park skiing and an entirely different category of “off-season freeski,” usually filmed on the same mountains skiers know from regular winter edits—just without the snow.

How they ski: what to watch for

What makes Marcus Vanheyst compelling to watch is not just the novelty of skis on dirt, but the technique that keeps those lines from turning into crashes. On snow, his skiing looks like a blend of park and all-mountain freeride: confident stance, solid edge control and a willingness to use side hits, banks and natural transitions in between the main features. That same toolbox shows up when he moves onto rock and soil. He chooses lines with a clear fall line, manages speed carefully and keeps his body stacked over his feet so that every tiny change in surface texture—loose pebbles, ruts, embedded rock—is handled through quick, subtle adjustments rather than big, panicked corrections.

In his dirt and “four-season” edits, pay attention to how early he commits to a line, and how little he twists his upper body once he is committed. Whether he is dropping into a steep scree face, threading a narrow ditch or aiming at a pond skim on dirt skis, his shoulders stay steady while the lower body does the work. On snow, that same calm posture translates into clean airs, smooth landings and the kind of controlled slarves and buttered turns that freeskiers associate with strong park fundamentals. Even when the setting looks wild, his choice of line and his stance show a conservative, calculated understanding of risk.

Resilience, filming, and influence

Maintaining a presence in the ski world when your signature lines happen outside of winter takes resilience and consistent creativity. Vanheyst spends long stretches of the shoulder season scouting new locations, hiking loose slopes that would be tiring even in hiking boots, and then lapping them in plastic ski boots while cameras roll. Many attempts never make the final cut, but the process—trial, error, broken edges and all—is what allows him to find the occasional perfect pitch where the angle, surface and runout actually work for controlled skiing.

His clips have influenced how both skiers and non-skiers think about “off-season fun.” Instead of seeing the end of winter as downtime, fans now associate him with the idea that a pair of old skis and a creative eye can turn gravel pits, construction cuts or end-of-season alpine slopes into short but memorable runs. That influence extends into bike culture as well; joint edits with mountain bikers on the same lines highlight how two gravity sports can share terrain, each reading it differently but feeding off the same speed and flow. For younger viewers raised on action-cam clips, his projects serve as a reminder that you do not always need perfect conditions to create compelling ski footage—though you do need judgement and a very high tolerance for gear abuse.

Geography that built the toolkit

British Columbia is central to Vanheyst’s story. The province combines serious winter snowpack with long, dry shoulder seasons, making it an ideal laboratory for someone determined to ski “every season.” Coastal mountains around Cypress Mountain and the North Shore give him early- and late-season opportunities where patchy snow, rock bands and muddy cutbanks sit side by side. Further inland, the hills and backroads of interior British Columbia offer everything from grassy slopes to gravel service roads and loose, dusty bowls that ride more like natural halfpipes when viewed through a skier’s eye.

Resort zones such as Banff Sunshine Village and other Rockies areas contribute classic winter mileage—rail lines, jump laps, and freeride-friendly faces that keep his snow-level skills sharp. Then, as spring takes hold, those same regions become sources of melt streaks, dirty snowfields and exposed ground, where he can experiment with hybrid snow–dirt lines or commit to full “brown pow” runs. The result is a skier whose toolkit is tuned to western Canadian realities: big mountains, fast-changing seasons and an endless supply of unconventional terrain once you start looking.

Equipment and partners: practical takeaways

Vanheyst’s gear highlights two different setups: everyday winter skis and a sacrificial “dirt quiver.” In winter he rides standard freeski gear suited to park and all-mountain laps—twin-tip skis, modern bindings and a helmet-and-goggles package in line with what you see from athletes connected to brands like Salomon. For dirt, rock and grass skiing, he typically uses older or retired skis and bindings that he is willing to destroy on sharp stone and rough surfaces, paired with the same protective equipment you would expect for real ski lines. This separation avoids burning through primary gear while still giving him enough performance to control speed and direction.

For progressing skiers, the practical takeaway is twofold. First, for regular freeskiing on snow, focus on a solid twin-tip setup with reliable bindings and protective gear that fits well; control and comfort will do more for your progression than any single graphic or model name. Second, if his dirt or rock skiing inspires you, treat it as an advanced, high-consequence variation—not a starting point. Using old skis, picking low-consequence slopes and wearing full protection are baseline requirements, and for most people, dryslopes, airbag facilities or summer glacier parks are safer ways to scratch the off-season itch.

Why fans and progressing skiers care

Fans care about Marcus Vanheyst because he embodies the idea that freeskiing is more about creativity and commitment than about a specific surface under your feet. His edits show that with imagination and a strong technical base, you can keep skiing alive well beyond the usual winter window, turning dirt faces, drainage ditches and scrappy spring leftovers into legitimate lines. At the same time, he still operates within the broader freeski ecosystem, appearing in resort- and brand-backed clips that tie his experimental work back to classic park and freeride skiing.

For progressing skiers, his story offers both inspiration and a reality check. He demonstrates how far you can push your relationship with skis if you are willing to put in the time, scout spots and accept that not every idea will work. But he also illustrates that the foundation for that experimentation is built on solid technique from normal winters: good balance, strong edge control, thoughtful line choice and respect for risk. Watching his clips with that lens can help riders of all levels think more creatively about their own local hills—looking for side hits, banks and natural transitions—while remembering that the most sustainable progression still starts with snow.

Fernie Alpine Resort

Overview and significance

Fernie Alpine Resort is a big-mountain stronghold in British Columbia’s Lizard Range above the town of Fernie. The map reads like a freeski wish list: five connected alpine bowls—Cedar, Lizard, Currie, Timber and Siberia—served by fast lifts with a summit high point near 2,134 m via the Polar Peak chair. Official figures highlight major vertical (about 1,082 m), extensive in-bounds chutes and glades, and snowfall that can reach well over eight meters in a strong winter. The identity is freeride-first rather than slopestyle headline: you come to Fernie to work real lines, step between technical and flow terrain in a single lap, and string long top-to-bottoms that keep cameras rolling and legs burning (mountain stats, trail map).

Within the Canadian Rockies, Fernie’s five-bowl layout is unusually coherent. From a central lift network you can pivot quickly between aspects and snow qualities as weather changes, then reset on long groomers back to the base. That efficiency—paired with a deep snow climate—keeps it high on the list for advanced skiers and film crews looking for repeatable big-mountain laps without helicopter logistics.

Terrain, snow, and seasons

Fernie skis like a natural amphitheater. Crystal-clear bowl names define the character: Cedar’s ribs and glades flow into short, technical chutes; Lizard’s classic alpine panels reward edge precision; Currie scales up the exposure with ridge entries and a famous high traverse; Timber offers fast laps with playful features; Siberia stays colder and chalkier when wind and temperature swing. Above them all, Polar Peak opens a high-alpine cap on stable days and gives a direct view onto the options below.

Surface quality follows a reliable interior-BC pattern. After storm pulses, wind-buff lays supportive chalk on leeward faces that can ride for days; under high pressure, overnight refreezes deliver crisp morning lanes that soften to forgiving landings on solar aspects by late morning. Bowl openings tend to roll out in sequence as patrol completes control work—plan to start on the bowls that clear first, then step into steeper ridgelines as hazard drops. When the alpine is pinned by wind or visibility, lower groomers and tree-lined approaches keep the day productive (status & snow report).

Fernie’s published operating window typically runs from early December into April, with January–February offering the most repeatable winter surfaces and March providing classic spring cycles. The vertical stack means you can film a top-to-bottom with varied snow in one take—chalk up high, boot-top powder in sheltered ribs, and soft turns near the base as the sun swings.

Park infrastructure and events

While this is a freeride mountain at heart, Fernie supports freestyle progression with a dedicated rail zone positioned under the Deer Chair when open. The resort describes a dense feature count on a single run, plus a ski/boarder-cross track at times—useful for timing and edging drills before stepping back to natural takeoffs in the bowls. Expect small-to-medium lips and frequent reshapes rather than a marquee slopestyle build; most trick work happens on natural terrain between ridges and fans (rail park).

Seasonal events lean toward community and spring send-offs—good for atmosphere and B-roll—while the everyday focus remains snow safety and terrain management across the five-bowl complex. The lack of a giant park scene is a trade you feel in your favor if your trip is about chutes, spines and wind-buffed panels.

Access, logistics, and on-mountain flow

On-snow, two upload anchors set your cadence. The Elk Chair spins you into core groomers and the rail park for warm-ups; Timber Bowl Express and White Pass lift put you on the doorstep of Timber, Siberia and the Currie high traverse. When Polar Peak is on the board, position early—its openings are weather-dependent and often staggered with bowl control. The printable and on-phone trail maps make cross-bowl moves simple once you’ve learned the skyline (trail map, resort map).

A productive flow for freeski days starts with two calibrating laps from Timber into Lizard or Crystal-style terrain to check edge hold and wax speed, followed by a traverse into Currie once light improves. Save Cedar’s glades for storm cycles and low-vis windows, and keep an eye on Siberia for colder, preserved snow. If the alpine goes flat or winds rise, downshift to groomer speed checks and rail mileage near the base while patrol works on control.

Local culture, safety, and etiquette

Fernie sits within Avalanche Canada’s Lizard Range & Flathead/South Rockies forecast ecosystem. Treat every marked “ski route,” rope line and opening as permission—not a guarantee of safety. Read the morning bulletin, match it against what you see on the hill, and step up gradually as the day stabilizes. Boundary ropes are hard limits; outside the ski area is uncontrolled backcountry with complex rescue logistics (Avalanche Canada).

In-bounds etiquette matters on the high traverses and in choke points. Call your drop when shooting lines under ridges, don’t stop beneath convex rollovers, and maintain spacing in narrow entries so sluff and rockfall hazards stay manageable. In the rail zone, standard park rules apply: announce your drop, clear landings immediately, and respect closure signage during reshapes so speed stays predictable for everyone.

Best time to go and how to plan

Mid-January through late February is the sweet spot for repeatable winter texture and dependable jump speed on natural features. After a storm, many panels ride best 24–48 hours later, once control work is complete and wind has set supportive chalk—use that window to step from Timber into Currie and the ridgeline entries you scoped at opening. In March, plan your days around freeze–thaw: steeps and shaded shots early, then slushy, forgiving landings near the base for playful filming as the sun swings. Keep the resort’s snow and lift status page open, and build a shot list that alternates consequential lines with reset laps so you finish with both clips and legs left for the next day.

Travel logistics are straightforward once you’re in town, and the base area concentrates services for quick turnarounds. If weather pins the alpine, treat it as an opportunity to rack rail reps, work cross-track timing, or scout line entrances for the next clear window.

Why freeskiers care

Fernie turns a five-bowl topo into usable, filmable laps. The vertical is honest, the snow climate generous, and the ridgelines distribute clean entries into bowls, chutes and glades that scale from flow to technical in a single run. Add a practical rail zone for tune-up reps and a safety program that keeps ambitious days repeatable when conditions allow, and you get a Canadian Rockies venue where advanced skiers find meaningful challenge and strong intermediates can grow into real terrain with clear guardrails.

A Lap At Fernie Ski Resort

Athletes

Locations

Marcus Vanheyst

Fernie Alpine Resort

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