I’m not a big downhill skier but
by popular demand, here is some info for those without cars. Downhill skiing
and snowboarding are pretty expensive to begin with, so once you add the cost
of a bus ride it can be prohibitive, but there are a few good deals out there.
Feel free to contact me if I’ve missed anything obvious!
Amigo Express https://www.amigoexpress.com/ski Carpooling platform with a ski-specific
function.
Autobus Galland and Express du Nord www.galland-bus.com
and http://www.expressdunord.com
This bus company organises package deals to ski resorts in the
Laurentians, including the cost of the bus and the lift ticket, saving you a
bit of money. They have a special
shuttle serving Mont St-Sauveur and Mont-Tremblant on weekends: Express du
Nord.
Bus 125 to St. Donat https://mrcjoliette.qc.ca/ From metro Radisson on weekends, you can take bus 125 to Mont Garceau or
La Réserve in St Donat.
Club de Ski Snow de l’Université de Montréal www.cssum.ca
University
clubs tend to be open to the public, and have great deals on lift ticket and
bus packages, as well as discounts on beginner lessons and equipment rental.
Concordia Ski and Snowboard Club www.surfthesnow.org
Experience Maneige http://maneige.ski/initiation-des-5-a-8-ans/ Free one-hour ski lessons including ski rental for children ages 5-8 at tiny local hills on weekends. These lessons are held at locations that are accessible by public transportation: Centre de la nature (Laval), Parc Michel-Chartrand (Longueil), Parc Jean-Drapeau (during the Fête des Neiges).
Express Tours https://www.expresstours.ca/ski This
company organizes regular day trips to ski resorts within a few hours of
Montreal, including the bus ride. They tend to go quite far – Mont-Ste-Anne,
Tremblant, Jay Peak, le Massif – but you can sleep in the bus!
L’Inter https://www.transportlaurentides.ca/inter/autobus-circuits-et-horaire/
This bus operates between St. Jérôme’s
train/bus station and various villages in the Laurentians. It drops off
relatively near Mont St-Sauveur’s downhill ski resort. You can get to St.
Jérôme by commuter train (https://exo.quebec/fr)
or bus 9 (http://www.stl.laval.qc.ca/) from
metro Montmorency station. This bus takes longer but is less expensive than
other options.
McGill Snowboard Club https://www.ssmuski.com/
Meet-Up Groups www.meetup.com – for example – https://www.meetup.com/SkiNOW/ Meetup
groups are a great way to participate in organised outings such as downhill
skiing. Most are based on carpooling. Usually it’s free to join. Outings can
cost something – it depends on the group. They can be active for a while with
many members and events, then inactive. You can search for other groups based
on themes.
Mont Sutton https://montsutton.com/en/no-car-dont-worry-you-can-still-come-skiing/ The ski resort provides some suggestions of
how to reach it without a car.
Pente à neige http://www.penteaneige.ca Located near Angrignon métro station in Parc
Ignace Bourget, this small beginner hill offers ski and snowboarding lessons
for children and adults. Financial assistance is available.
Rod Roy Snow School www.rodroy.com Lessons, bus/ski without lessons, adults, kids, à la carte.
Ski Covoiturage and other Facebook groups https://www.facebook.com/skicovoiturage/
A facebook group that helps people
organise carpooling specifically for skiing and snowboarding. There are likely others, such as https://www.facebook.com/groups/181175228752378/
Ski Mont Bruno http://skisaintbruno.ca There is a ski bus in winter from metro Longueil that goes to this small
ski hill on weekends. See https://exo.quebec/fr
for schedules once they are available.
