FAQs

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Some common questions people may ask, please find your answer here.

The Club & Membership

The ski club is one subsidiary of the Greater Chinese Community Ski and Outdoor Club. It is a not-for-profit organization run by volunteers.
No. All OCSC ski activities are open to members and non-members. However, there is an non-member surcharge per person per trip.
You can register online. To renew your membership, you just need to pay your membership fee. Email transfer is accepted. Or you can pay cash at your very first OCSC activity.
$15 per individual. Family membership is $15 for the family head and $5/person for each additional family member (maximum 2 adults above 18, and maximum 3 children under 18). Membership fees are NOT refundable.
Each family membership can hold up to 2 adults and any children under 18 at the same residence.
Membership is valid for one season, starting September 1st in the first year to August 31st the year after.

Lesson Registration

Yes. There are many CSIA (Canadian Ski Instructor Association) certified ski instructors and CASI (Canadian Association of Snowboard Instructor) certified snowboard instructors in OCSC. While beginners are strongly recommended to take lessons, the club offers lessons to intermediate skiers as well.
OCSC offers private (1 on 1, 1 on 2, and 1 on 3 and up) lessons and public group lessons for beginners. In addition, OCSC provides programs and packages (see programs: https://keshikadventures.com/ski/ski-programs/) that designates one instructor to you or your kids and ski more effectively over 4 consecutive lessons.
Each lesson takes one hour. You need to pay prior to taking a lesson. You can book two consecutive lessons in one registration. You can find the rates here: https://keshikadventures.com/ski/
yes, please use this Google Form to book lessons and available instructors. Instructors will contact you after your registration is successfully completed to confirm the student skiing/snowboarding level, lesson time, meeting location, special requirement, etc
On a voluntary basis, OCSC instructors post some of their information on the club website (https://keshikadventures.com/ski-instructors/). It would nicer to chat with instructors on the lift chair.
For the sake of safety, we DO NOT offer semi-private for kids under 5. Each kid younger than 5-years old MUST take private lesson(s).

Logistics & Planning

We have WeChat groups for carpool purpose. You can post your request there. Carpooling fees are at the discretion of the driver.
Safety is the top priority for everybody. You are at your own risk at the ski hill. OCSC recommends that all skiers put on helmet at all time on the snow (no matter you are skiing or just standing at the slope), set binding DINs at the proper value, and ski at your level at all mountains. If you take a ski lesson, your instructor will give you clear safety instructions. Ski instructors reserve the right to NOT offer the lesson if you do not follow the safety instructions. In this case, your lesson fees are not refundable.

Absolutely! Our programs don't just serve the communities surrounding Ottawa; we also attract many friends from the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), Kingston, and even the Montreal region.

Especially during the Christmas and New Year period, our Holiday Camps offer highly compelling value for skiers across Eastern Canada. If you require assistance with accommodation, please feel free to contact us. We will do our best to help you find suitable lodging for approximately one week.

Crucially, Ottawa is situated in a river valley region, offering unique advantages:

  • Local Hill Advantage: Within an hour's drive, you can find four or five "small but mighty" ski hills. These spots are excellent for all skill levels to practice and progress, and their pricing is very attractive.

  • Big Mountain Option: If you seek a larger mountain experience, the famous Mont Tremblant in Quebec is a popular destination in Eastern Canada. Many Ottawa skiers choose to make it a day trip. However, if you plan to ski for several consecutive days, staying near Tremblant is an excellent choice—the après-ski atmosphere, complete with hot springs and beer, is fantastic.

Ready to experience it firsthand? Let's chat about your trip planning!

For friends who are experiencing skiing for the first time, preparing in advance will ensure a smoother and more enjoyable experience. Please pay attention to the following key points:

1. ⛷️ Lift Tickets and Purchase Strategy

  • Beginner Ticket (Magic Carpet): If you are skiing for the first time, we recommend considering the ticket type that grants access only to the "Magic Carpet" (conveyor lift). This ticket is cheaper than a regular group pass, but it does not include group discounts and must be purchased at the ticket window on the day of your visit.

  • Regular Group Pass: Group discount passes usually have a deadline of four days in advance. Therefore, you must plan and purchase early to take advantage of the savings.

2. 🥽 Equipment Rental

  • Group Discounts: If you need to rent equipment, check if the rental fee can be combined with the lift ticket to get a package group discount.
  • Efficiency: By participating in a group rental, the resort prepares your equipment in advance, saving valuable time otherwise spent on on-site fitting.
  • Flexibility: There is no fee for cancellations made 12 hours in advance, so booking as a group does not compromise flexibility.
  • We suggest you consider both needs together when planning.

3. ❄️ Weather and Travel Arrangements

  • Snowfall Challenge: While fresh snow on your ski day is exciting, it can pose additional challenges for traffic. Please allow sufficient driving time.

  • Time Buffer: If you have booked a fixed-time lesson, or if you need to queue up to rent equipment/purchase tickets, be sure to allocate enough time for travel and potential waiting lines. Please drive carefully, especially in adverse weather.

4. 🍽️ Food and Dining Arrangements

  • The Lodge: The ski lodge is spacious and bright. You can enjoy your own packed food here. Teammates who are not skiing can also relax, read, take photos, or even enjoy a day away from daily tasks or remote work.

  • Water: Hot water is available for free at the resort, but bringing your own water bottle can help you avoid long queues during peak hours.

  • Hot Food: We recommend using an insulated food container or bringing food that does not require heating (like sandwiches). While some resorts offer microwaves, you often need to ask a staff member for assistance, which can be time-consuming.

  • Specialty Drinks: The resort also offers hot chocolate, which is popular with children, and Après-ski beverages favored by adults, which you can purchase as you like.

5. 🧤 Appropriate Clothing

  • Technical Gear: Wearing suitable winter snow sports apparel will help you stay comfortable for several hours on the slopes.

  • Warmth Details: Many people remember items like hand warmers (toe warmers) and neck gaiters/balaclavas, but children's gloves are often overlooked. Some parents prepare extra dry socks or liner gloves, which is a very thoughtful and practical measure.

  • Cold Strategy: In extremely low temperatures, you should increase the frequency and duration of your breaks in the lodge to warm up. Please observe and understand your own body's needs for warmth.

6. 📞 Staying Connected

  • WiFi: The ski lodge at Mont Cascades provides free WiFi.

  • Meeting the Coach: Sometimes the coach may not be able to check messages instantly while on the run. To ensure a smooth start/end to your lesson, please agree on a clear meeting location and time with your coach in advance and ensure communication is maintained.

That's a very popular thought, and you've asked a question that is right up our alley! This topic is definitely worth discussing in detail. Our senior coaches, examiners, and parents who have successfully navigated this journey are eager to share their insights with you. Please contact us at https://keshikadventures.com/contact-us/

Ski Registration

OCSC organize ski trips to several local ski hills, such as “Mont Cascade”, “Camp Fortune”, “Mont Saint Marie”, and “Calabogie”.
Addresses of these ski hills are:
  • Mont Cascade: 448 Chemin du Mont-des-Cascades, Cantley, QC J8V 3B2
  • Camp Fortune: 300 chemin Dunlop Chelsea, QC J9B 2N3
  • Mont Saint Marie: 76 Chemin de la Montagne, Lac-Sainte-Marie, QC J0X 1Z0
  • Calabogie : 30 Barrett Chute Rd, Calabogie, ON K0H 1H0
Thanks to OCSC’s strong bargaining power, club members enjoy great pricing of lift tickets, rentals and services. Detail pricing can be found at the OCSC website (https://keshikadventures.com/activities/). Please note that prices are subject to change without notice.
No. All lift ticket prices are flat and firm. You can purchase season pass at your wish from the ski resort.
Registration link (google form) posted in advance on the calendar for the coming week (Monday to Sunday). A notification email with the payment and rental information will be sent to each person who registered the trip after the deadline. If you want to change your registration please directly reply to the notification email with your change request. IMPORTANT: If you need rental, it is very important that you fill up information (weight, height, ski level, etc.) upon registration. Otherwise, you may wait 30 minutes or longer to get your rental. If you also register a lesson, please arrive the hill at least 30 minutes prior to the lesson to get your rental and dress up.
On the club website (https://keshikadventures.com/activities/), down at the bottom, there is a Ottawa Chinese Outdoor Club calendar where you can find the schedule information. Alternatively, you can double check with the organizer at the Wechat group (not recommended though).
Yes. Registrations will be closed Wednesday 10pm for Saturday trip, and Thursday 10pm for Sunday trip.
We understand sometimes things happened. Depending on each ski hill, on-site registration maybe accepted, but no guarantee. Late registration fee will be applied (see https://keshikadventures.com/activities/ for more detail)
  • Confirmation & Modifications: Once your booking is confirmed, you will receive a payment email. If you need to make any changes (such as updating height/weight and sizes) or adjust your package (e.g., cancelling a rental while keeping the lift ticket), please reply directly to that email. This allows us to locate your booking records immediately.

  • Stress-Free Cancellation: Cancellations made before 8:30 PM the night before the activity date are completely free of charge.

  • Flexible Adjustments:

    • Advance Requests: Please use the "email reply" method for all size updates or rental cancellations.

    • On-Site Adjustments: If your request is sent late and the information has already been transmitted to the resort, we may not be able to process it via email in time. In this case, you can still ask the resort staff to manually adjust your equipment at the rental counter. Please note: On-site adjustments may require additional queuing; we recommend arriving early to allow extra time.

  • Contact Email: For any other questions, please reach out to us at: keshikadventures@gmail.com

💡 Small Tips:

  • Book First, Decide Later: While group registration closes 3.5 days in advance, you can still modify or cancel up until 0.5 days (the evening before) prior. We recommend securing your spot first and finalizing your plans later.

  • Skip the Wait: Equipment for group bookings is pre-prepared by the resort, significantly shortening the wait time on the day. Plan ahead to maximize your time on the slopes!

You can pick up your lift tickets at the main lodge of each respective ski hill. We suggest that you pay exact cash in order to get your tickets faster and easier. Usually, tickets will be distributed before 10:30am. Once you pay and get your lift/rental combo tickets, you need to go to the rental office to get your rental equipment. You may speed up the process by telling the rental staff that you are one of the Ottawa Chinese ski club members (sometimes, just say Chinese).
That means you are late. We understand it is always because of traffic. It’s your responsibility though to find us after regular hours. You may find us either at the baby hill in the morning or in the main lodge during the lunch time.

Cancellation Policy

Yes, you can cancel your registration without a reason. However, you need to notify the OCSC 12 hours in advance of the ski trip (ie, 21:30 the day before the trip) to waive cancellation fees
You just need to pay FULL payment (tickets, rentals, or lessons) owed for the trip you missed when you participate in the NEXT ski trip.
The first time no-show is treated as “last minute cancellation”. Individuals who have “no-show” for more than once will be “Blacklisted”. If a club member is “Blacklisted”, then his/her individual membership will be suspended until membership due is paid again plus “last minute cancellation” payment owed is paid in full. For nonmember, OCSC will charge $15 extra to reinstate his/her privilege to participate in the next ski trip. Please note: OCSC is run by volunteers. A no-show not only gets volunteer organizers some troubles (e.g. return tickets), but also affect other skiers (e.g. postpone lessons).