1. Introduction
Experience the breathtaking beauty of Lake Louise as you skate on its pristine ice rink, surrounded by the majestic Rocky Mountains.
2. Outdoor Winter Adventures
Wilson Sports is your go-to place for all outdoor winter gear rentals.
3. Why Lake Louise?
Enjoy various winter activities besides skating, from skiing to spas.
If you find yourself in Banff National Park in the winter, you must go skating on Lake Louise. It’s the most beautiful ice rink in the world. I dare anyone to claim a better spot for a game of pond hockey than Lake Louise in Banff National Park.
“The good ol’ hockey game! It’s the best game you can name!
And the best game you can name, is the good ol’ hockey game!” Music and Lyrics by Stompin Tom Connors
Pond Hockey On Lake Louise
For your outdoor winter adventures in Lake Louise, Wilson Sports has you covered. We met up with Bill and Julie at Wilson Mountain Sports, where they suited us up with skates, pucks, and sticks for a friendly game of pond hockey on the ice.
Ice Skating on Lake Louise
Set at the foot of Victoria Glacier, Lake Louise is an incredible setting surrounded by the Rocky Mountains in Alberta, Canada. Nestled in a corner of the lake is the luxurious Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, and once winter arrives and the ice freezes over, it’s time to skate.
When visiting Banff and Lake Louise, you don’t have to come with every piece of winter sports gear you own. You can rent from Wilson Mountain Sports or buy any forgotten items. Never fear, Bill is here!
Lake Louise is famous for its world-class skiing and snowboarding. Every year they host world cup events, and it was home to the Winter Olympics downhill race. It’s as world-class as it gets, drawing tourists from around the world. However, there are other activities to enjoy in Lake Louise during the winter months, such as cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, spas, and fine dining.
Bill took us downstairs to see his state-of-the-art skate and ski sharpening machine before heading out and shared the story of how his sharpening service is so good that he recently had someone FedEx their cross-country skis all the way from Quebec just to have them sharpened. Now that proves just how high-quality the service is!
After gathering all our gear, we took a short drive to the Lake Louise parking lot, where we left our trucks and walked along the path toward the Fairmont and the lake.
Zambonis were hard at work clearing the ice and creating various skating rinks for visitors to enjoy. One skating rink was perfect for those wanting to learn or skate leisurely, while the other was designated for the pond hockey players.
As the season progresses, the entire lake is cleared of snow, becoming fit to skate on. Now that would be awesome!
The arenas have mini pond hockey nets, so you don’t have to bring your own, and the size is perfect for enjoying a good game. It had been years since we’d been on skates, but as Canadians, we grew up on skates, so it didn’t take long to find our rhythm. Soon we were shooting the puck and stopping gracefully.
The only time I fell was when I went to retrieve a puck in a puddle of slush and misjudged where the ice met the slush, landing in a slightly messy situation. Fortunately, the mild weather kept me warm, even if I wasn’t dry.
Playing pond hockey at Lake Louise is a communal game. Anyone can join at any time, and the friendly atmosphere encourages conversation among players. However, nobody felt like competing against our team of four, which I attribute to us being quite skilled on the ice. (Okay, maybe I’m exaggerating a little.)
Though we never got a proper game started, we enjoyed shooting the puck around and taking turns as goalie. We ended up on the ice much longer than I expected. I had forgotten how enjoyable it is to skate on an outdoor rink. It’s far better than being confined to a traditional rink, as Lake Louise offers ample space to skate freely. Beginners can enjoy one rink, while everyone else has the liberty to roam.
If you go to Banff in the winter, make sure to skate on Lake Louise at least once. You’re participating in something truly Canadian.
- For gear rental and sales, visit Wilson Mountain Sports, located in Sampson Mall on Village Road in Lake Louise.
- For more information about travel to Banff and Lake Louise, you may visit BanffLakeLouise.com.
