Le Massif
Encyclopedia
Le Massif is a ski mountain northeast of Quebec City
, Canada
, overlooking the St. Lawrence river.
, Québec, Canada, a 75 minute drive from Quebec City
. It has the highest vertical in Eastern Canada.
Apart from a big vertical drop and lots of snow, Le Massif de Charlevoix's main claim to fame is that the area is accessible both from the top and from the base. There are three peaks, two of which are currently developed.
Skiing season usually lasts from early December to late April.
Le Massif de Charlevoix gets a lot of snow, and keeps it, as it also gets little rain for an eastern ski area. The natural snowpack (in the trails) can exceed eight feet at the summit on a typical winter. However, the base is at sea level and can lose its snow quickly once April rolls in.
La Charlevoix, the steepest trail, is home to the only alpine training center east of the Rockies for Canada's athletes. This trail, with a steepest pitch of 64%, is considered by many to be one of the top three most difficult women’s downhill trails in the world.
2001 was a year of significant change for Le Massif. A new road was built from route 138 to the top of the mountain. The distance between Quebec City and Le Massif summit was then reduced to 70 km instead of the 95 km previously needed to reach the base via the village of Petite-Rivière-Saint-François. At the same time, The Cap Maillard was raised by 35 meters to create La Charlevoix, an FIS
standard downhill trail mapped by alpine course designer (and champion) Bernhard Russi
. With La Charlevoix, Le Massif is now able to host the elite of alpine skiing.
Daniel Gauthier, co-founder of le Cirque du Soleil
, bought le Massif in 2002. Daniel Gauthier is no longer a co-owner of le Cirque du Soleil and has used part of the proceeds of the sale of his participation in that venture to purchase Le Massif.
In 2005, Jean-Luc Brassard
, the 1994 Olympic Champion
in freestyle mogul skiing, became a spokesman for Le Massif.
In 2009, after a year record of 915 cm of snow, le Massif added 26 acres (105,218.4 m²) of hors piste skiing on Mount A Liguori.
Beginning in September 2011, a new tourist train service
from Quebec City began operation, making a stop in the winter at Le Massif.
The project has a budget of about C$
180 million in new investments, in addition to the $50 million already spent and comprises three parts:
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, overlooking the St. Lawrence river.
Description
Le Massif de Charlevoix ski area is located in Petite-Rivière-Saint François, CharlevoixCharlevoix
The Charlevoix region, located in Quebec, includes parts of the north shore of the Saint Lawrence River and the Laurentian Mountains region of the Canadian Shield...
, Québec, Canada, a 75 minute drive from Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
. It has the highest vertical in Eastern Canada.
Apart from a big vertical drop and lots of snow, Le Massif de Charlevoix's main claim to fame is that the area is accessible both from the top and from the base. There are three peaks, two of which are currently developed.
Skiing season usually lasts from early December to late April.
Le Massif de Charlevoix gets a lot of snow, and keeps it, as it also gets little rain for an eastern ski area. The natural snowpack (in the trails) can exceed eight feet at the summit on a typical winter. However, the base is at sea level and can lose its snow quickly once April rolls in.
La Charlevoix, the steepest trail, is home to the only alpine training center east of the Rockies for Canada's athletes. This trail, with a steepest pitch of 64%, is considered by many to be one of the top three most difficult women’s downhill trails in the world.
History
Skiing at Le Massif started at the end of the 1970s, with snowmobiles towing groups of skiers from the main road at the top and a van serving as the lift. In the early 1980s, commercial operations started with la Société de développement du Massif. Starting in 1983-1984, school buses were used to drive skiers from the base to the top after each run. In 1992-1993 two lifts were installed : a quad high speed chair and a double chair.2001 was a year of significant change for Le Massif. A new road was built from route 138 to the top of the mountain. The distance between Quebec City and Le Massif summit was then reduced to 70 km instead of the 95 km previously needed to reach the base via the village of Petite-Rivière-Saint-François. At the same time, The Cap Maillard was raised by 35 meters to create La Charlevoix, an FIS
International Ski Federation
The International Ski Federation, known by its name in French, Fédération Internationale de Ski is the main international organisation for ski sports...
standard downhill trail mapped by alpine course designer (and champion) Bernhard Russi
Bernhard Russi
Bernhard Russi is a former alpine ski racer. He was an Olympic, World Cup, and World champion in the downhill event....
. With La Charlevoix, Le Massif is now able to host the elite of alpine skiing.
Daniel Gauthier, co-founder of le Cirque du Soleil
Cirque du Soleil
Cirque du Soleil , is a Canadian entertainment company, self-described as a "dramatic mix of circus arts and street entertainment." Based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and located in the inner-city area of Saint-Michel, it was founded in Baie-Saint-Paul in 1984 by two former street performers, Guy...
, bought le Massif in 2002. Daniel Gauthier is no longer a co-owner of le Cirque du Soleil and has used part of the proceeds of the sale of his participation in that venture to purchase Le Massif.
In 2005, Jean-Luc Brassard
Jean-Luc Brassard
Jean-Luc Brassard is a French Canadian freestyle skier, winning the gold medal at the 1994 Winter Olympics in the sport's debut as a medal event. Brassard has been credited with popularizing the wearing of bright knee pads to show off absorption and leg position for mogul skiers to best show...
, the 1994 Olympic Champion
Freestyle skiing at the 1994 Winter Olympics
-Aerials:February 24, 1994-Moguls:February 16, 1994-Aerials:February 24, 1994-Moguls:February 16, 1994-External links:*...
in freestyle mogul skiing, became a spokesman for Le Massif.
In 2009, after a year record of 915 cm of snow, le Massif added 26 acres (105,218.4 m²) of hors piste skiing on Mount A Liguori.
Beginning in September 2011, a new tourist train service
Charlevoix tourist train
The Charlevoix tourist train is a passenger rail service planned to operate between Quebec City and La Malbaie, Quebec, with an additional stop in the winter at the Le Massif ski area, a distance of about . It is owned and operated by Le Massif de Charlevoix, which also owns the Le Massif ski area...
from Quebec City began operation, making a stop in the winter at Le Massif.
Development
Le Massif is about to undertake a major development known as Territoire Le Massif. This will open up the third peak to skiing, but mostly transform the mountain and surrounding area into a distinctive four-seasons resort, while respecting environmental values.The project has a budget of about C$
Canadian dollar
The Canadian dollar is the currency of Canada. As of 2007, the Canadian dollar is the 7th most traded currency in the world. It is abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or C$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...
180 million in new investments, in addition to the $50 million already spent and comprises three parts:
- La Ferme (The Farm): Hotel, services and activities in Baie-Saint-Paul, on the site of a burned-out farm.
- La Base (The Base): Services, lodging and activities at the base of Le Massif, West of the village of Petite-Rivière-Saint François.
- Les Crêtes (The Ridges): Services, lodging and activities at the summit of Le Massif.
See also
- Charlevoix RailwayCharlevoix RailwayThe Charlevoix Railway is a short-line railway that operates in the Charlevoix region of Quebec Canada. From 1994 to 2009 it was a subsidiary of the Quebec Railway Corporation, a short line operator. Since April 2009 it has been owned by...
- Groupe Le Massif Inc.
- List of ski areas and resorts in Canada
- Mont-Sainte-AnneMont-Sainte-AnneMont-Sainte-Anne is a ski resort in the city of Beaupré, Quebec, Canada, located about northeast of Quebec City. The mountain has a summit elevation of 800 metres above sea level and a vertical drop of 625 m . There are 66 trails covering on three different sides of the mountain...
- Stoneham Mountain Resort