Updated April 25, 2025
There’s cold… and then there’s Canada cold.
I thought I was ready.
I had layers. I had fancy gloves. I had one of those buff/neck-warmer combos that make you look like a Mortal Kombat character.
But when it hit -28°C with windchill in Alberta, all that went out the window.
My goggles froze. My jacket felt like cardboard. My toes stopped existing by around run three.
The real answer to “how cold is too cold to ski in Canada” is… whatever temperature makes you start crying in the lift line.
For me? Somewhere around -25°C. For others, it might be -15. Some local hero will tell you they ski happily at -35, but let’s be honest—they’re lying. Or numb. Or both.
My strategy now:
Check the wind, not just the temp
Layer like I’m preparing for the moon
Take short warm-up breaks and don’t pretend I’m tougher than I am
And yes, I’ve fully bailed on ski days because it was just too cold. Zero regrets.
You’re not soft. You’re just human.
And sometimes the best call is staying inside, eating poutine, and waiting for the weather to calm the heck down.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to defrost my toes.
📝 TL;DR
Canada gets cold. Like, goggles-frozen-to-your-face cold. Everyone has a bail-out temp. Mine’s around -25°C. Don’t let pride ruin your toes.
