An affordable stay for unforgettable vacations
in Mont-Tremblant…
Hôtel Mont-Tremblant has been accommodating
vacationers since 1902, and it is in this grand
tradition that Sandra and Philippe warmly welcome
you to their family inn for winter sports and
summertime fun.

Situated in the heart of historic Mont-Tremblant
village, on the shores of Lac Mercier and just minutes
from the mountain, Hôtel Mont-Tremblant is alongside “Le P’tit train du Nord" linear park. Have great vacations in the beautiful mountain region of the Laurentians!

We look forward to meeting you,

Sandra et Philippe

Situated in the heart of historic ski vacation village, on the shores of Lac Mercier and just minutes from the mountain, Hôtel Mont-Tremblant has been accommodating vacationers since 1902. There are two basic types of recreational skiing: Alpine, or downhill, and Nordic, or cross-country. The goal in recreational skiing is to ski vacation competently on a variety of terrain and under various conditions. Competitive skiers go one step further, pitting their skill against the clock or against the skill of others. Skiing carried to its limits—on extremely difficult slopes or under extremely dangerous conditions—is known as extreme skiing. Alpine skiing derives its name from the mountain range the Alps in Europe, where the sport developed in the late 1800s as a means of moving down snow-covered slopes. Skiing spread to other parts of the world and is now done primarily at ski vacation resorts on specially cut trails. A variety of lifts carry skiers up the hill. The most common lift in North America is the chairlift, which is a series of seats suspended from a motor-driven cable that pulls the seats up the mountain. Various surface lifts, which pull skiers up the hill while they remain standing on skis, include rope tows, T-bars, J-bars, and poma lifts (also known as platter pulls). Many larger areas have enclosed aerial lifts, such as gondolas or trams, which allow skiers to take off their skis and ride up the mountain inside specially designed cars suspended from cables. In Europe, cog railways and funiculars (cable railways) are also used to carry skiers up a slope. Almost all ski vacation resorts have equipment to make snow artificially when there is not enough natural snow to support the sport. Snowmaking equipment combines air and water with special additives and then sprays the mixture at very high pressure onto the slopes. Grooming machines smooth out the slopes and ensure that the snow has a uniform consistency. Nordic skiing, also known as cross-country skiing, can be done on almost any terrain that has snow and is not too steep. Nordic skiing is often done at cross-country ski vacation centers, which have many kilometers of mostly flat trails prepared for skiers. Most have trails prepared for both the traditional diagonal stride and for the newer skating technique (see Skiing Fundamentals section of this article). Traditional trail preparation involves flattening out two tracks in which skiers can slide their skis. Skating trails are wider and smoothed out. Telemark skiing is the downhill component of cross-country skiing, which incorporates some Alpine techniques. It is becoming increasingly popular among recreational skiers. A few ski vacation areas have small ski vacation jumps for learning basic jumping skills, but ski vacation jumping is limited almost entirely to competition. The easiest and safest way to learn to ski vacation is by taking lessons. Virtually every ski vacation resort offers instruction. The American Teaching System, a synthesis of the best techniques from several countries, is recognized worldwide as the leading teaching method and is the basis for all ski vacation schools in the United States. The basic technique for beginning Alpine skiers is the snowplow, or wedge. The snowplow enables skiers to make turns, control their speed, and stop. It is done by placing the tips of the skis together and the tails apart, creating a wedge shape, and then pushing down on the inside edges of the skis. To turn, the skier shifts body weight from one ski vacation to the other while keeping the skis in the wedge shape. Traveling across the width of a slope is called traversing. Beginning skiers learn how to turn, then traverse, then turn the other direction. As they gain skill, they gradually bring the tails of their skis closer together until they are parallel, and they traverse a narrower area and link their turns. Most advanced skiers hold their skis a few inches apart in a parallel position, giving them the flexibility to shift their weight quickly from ski vacation to ski vacation. Cross-country skis are narrower and lighter weight than Alpine skis, and construction is similar to Alpine skis but omits the metal edges. Skating skis range in length from about 170 to 190 cm (about 5 ft 7 in to 6 ft 3 in) for adults. Compact skis, which make learning easy, are about 150 cm long. Touring, or diagonal-stride, skis range in length from about 160 to 210 cm (about 5 ft 3 in to 7 ft). Wax applied to the middle part of the ski vacation base helps Nordic skiers glide. Some Nordic skis are dubbed waxless. They have scales on the base that perform the function of wax. Skating skis do not require wax at all. Alpine skiers also use wax, especially in racing events, to increase speed. Telemark skis resemble cross-country skis but have metal edges. They are the equipment of choice for backcountry skiers, who may do some climbing. Strips of material fastened to the bottom of each ski vacation allow the ski vacation to slide when pushed forward but prevent it from slipping backward. Special wax also makes climbing easier. Alpine boots are made of hard plastic with an inside liner that provides warmth and a snug fit. The boots attach to the skis by means of toe and heel bindings, which are screwed into the skis. Alpine bindings are designed to release the boot from the ski vacation in the event of a fall, thus reducing the chance of injury. Poles are usually made of aluminum and are used for balance and for timing turns. Newer models are made of composites and are thinner and lighter than traditional poles. A small plastic basket at the end of each pole prevents the pole from sinking into the snow. Nordic boots are usually made of leather, and they resemble a shoe or hiking boot with an extended toepiece to fit into the bindings. Telemark boots resemble sturdy hiking boots. Nordic and telemark bindings attach only the toe of the boot to the ski vacation, leaving the heel free to move up and down. Strips on the binding that match grooves in the boot help keep the boot from slipping off to one side of the ski vacation. Poles are more important in cross-country skiing than in Alpine skiing, since they are used for propulsion as well as balance. Most recreational poles are made of aluminum; higher-end racing poles are made of lightweight composites. Cross-country poles are longer than Alpine poles. For diagonal striding, skiers usually use poles that come up to the armpit; those for the skating stride reach somewhere between the chin and nose. ski vacation clothing is designed to keep the skier warm and dry. The best way to dress for Alpine skiing is in layers: The underlayer carries moisture away from the skin and adds warmth, the second layer insulates, and the outer layer resists water and wind. Cross-country skiers follow the same principles in dressing, but their clothing is not as heavy because they generate more body heat by moving continuously. Many Alpine skiers wear helmets specially designed for the sport. Goggles are important in providing good visibility when weather is bad. When the weather is good, goggles can also help protect the eyes from the glare of the sun on the snow.