As I don’t know how to drive, planning a snowboarding trip from Toronto was challenging. After researching online for hours, Blue Mountain seems like my best option thanks to the daily shuttle service run by AU Coach Tours between downtown and the resort. It departs from City Hall at 8:30 am (other locations and pick-up times are also available) and arrives at Blue Mountain at around 11:30 am. I would have a good few hours to practice on the slopes before catching the returning bus at 6 pm.

That was the plan until I mentioned it to my colleagues who were excited to join me and would love to sit behind the wheel. Unexpectedly, from riding the bus solo, my plan turned into a road trip in a sleek SUV rented from Enterprise.

Dubbed as the third-busiest ski resort in Canada, after Whistler-Blackcomb in British Columbia and Mont Tremblant in Quebec, Blue Mountain encompasses 43 trails and 11 lifts, catering for beginners, experts, and any levels in between. As my colleagues and I are first-timers, we purchased a Snow How + Play ticket, which includes access to beginner lifts, ski or snowboard rentals, a helmet, and a range of winter activities, from snow tubing and mountain coaster to ice skating.

Compared to other resorts in the country, the price of the day pass offered by Blue Mountain is on the high side, but their two-hour beginner group class is surprisingly affordable, priced at only CAD44. From how to attach our boots to the snowboard and get off the magic carpet, to slide down on the heel side and change directions, our instructor in a smart blue suit taught us step by step. We were exhausted after the class.

Even after a pepperoni pizza and a cup of coke, none of us was ready to hit the slope again. So, we went for the Ridge Runner Mountain Coaster, which spans 1km in length and travels up to 42km per hour. It’s an exhilarating way to enjoy the captivating snowy view, though the ride is rather bumpy at full speed. A camera is attached to each cart so you can purchase the video as a souvenir and share the experience with your family and friends.

Hearing pop music blasting out and seeing piles of red snow tubes on the ground, we knew we were at the right spot for snow tubing. The fun part doesn’t come without effort. We need to drag the tube uphill by ourselves. After you sit inside the tube, you have a choice of going down facing forward, facing backward, or, best of all, spinning. Tips: don’t put all your weight into the bottom of the tube as the bumps may hurt your tailbone.

An hour before leaving the resort, we headed for the bunny hill to practice snowboarding again. As it was quiet after dark, I didn’t need to worry about hitting someone on the way down. By the time I felt a bit more confident and started to enjoy this sport, it was time to go. Liken to many other activities, enjoyment usually starts after you acquire the basic skills and see improvement. Therefore, when we feel like a failure at something, try to give it one more chance because you may be just on the edge of falling in love with it.