If there is any question you are unable to find an answer for or any point you require clarification or additional information on, please contact us, we're more than happy to speak with you.
Please ask to leave a message for Snowhawks Raven directors, Mitch or Heather.
Snowhawks uses only luxury coaches. Our company of choice is Coach Canada Transportation. There are washrooms on every bus. Skis and snowboards are stored underneath the bus for safety.
All buses are staffed by Snowhawks adult chaperons. In addition, most of our instructors ride on the bus as well. Our staff are there to take attendance, establish and enforce some reasonable guidelines for conduct, and to generally assist members. If you are interested in becoming one of our chaperones, please contact our office.
Please notify us in advance. Parents are welcome to drive their children to the hill, but it is imperative on their part to have their child there and ready to go by the proper time.
Travel time to Mount St. Louis is approximately one and a quarter hours and to Blue Mountain is approximately one hour and fifty minutes. The Mt. St. Louis, Christmas and Spring Traveller Programs visit Mt. St. Louis exclusively, whereas the Blue Mountain Program travels to Blue Mountain for all 8 sessions. In addition to highway travel time, the buses also follow a route within the city which may add up to a half hour depending on where one lives. Our objective is to be at the hill for 9:00 a.m. and leave the hills at 4:00 p.m.
We ask that parents be on time when picking up their child at the end of the day. If a parent is late, either an instructor, chaperon or responsible adult will stay with the child, or in some instances a chaperon may take the child home with them (if the parent is very late). On occasion, the bus may have to wait with a child and this inconveniences parents down the line, so please be on time. If we have advance knowledge that a bus will be very late (say more than 30 minutes), we will send an email letting the parents know.
It is the parents responsibility to be on time. Those who are late more than once might lose bus privileges with no refund. We do this as it is unfair to all the other parents further on the route who must wait or our "volunteer" parent chaperones who often have other committments upon return to the city.
The rule of thumb here is no! Allowing this can only add confusion. In addition, there may not be space on the other bus. Having said that, accommodation can be made in certain circumstances. For instance, IF there is space and IF it is arranged in advance, allowance may be made for families where a parent is going to be out of town or if the parents no longer live together.
We use a company called Coach canada Transportation. Please note, however, that on occasion charter bus companies do 'borrow' buses from each other or there might be other organizations at the same location using the same bus company. This is why we ask that you please make note of the exact location we tell you to go to and as an extra precaution, please ask the supervisor on the bus if it is a Snowhawks bus. One should also check with the supervisor that the bus is for their program… i.e. Mount St. Louis Traveller vs. Blue Mountain Traveller.
The buses will attempt to be as prompt as possible. Other than the first week, they will leave the designated stop at the times indicated. Should you miss the bus, you have three options:
The buses will let the kids off as close to the hill as possible. The kids will be given their lift pass on the bus. They will get off the bus wearing their ski/snowboard boots and will then gather their skis or snowboard. On the older kids’ programs, our members will walk to the hill and either go directly to their lesson or to the ski and snowboard school meeting place. On our "Snow Kids" Mount St. Louis Traveller or with younger ones on our Christmas or Spring Traveller programs, our instructors will help carry equipment and walk the children to the class meeting area.
Occassionally parents or a family friend may have to pick up a member at the hill. The following protocol should be followed.
Yes. If your friend gets on at an earlier stop, they can save you a seat. However, if your friend is on a different bus route, one of you would have to drive to a different stop to catch the other bus. Note, however, that our buses do fill and seats (and memberships) are available on a first come first served basis.
The number one ski & snowboard retailer in the GTA is Sporting Life. They've earned that reputation over years of satisfying their clients with their knowledge and customer service and no one stands behind their products like they do!
Given that kids are always growing, there is probably no need to buy the best equipment possible. For youngsters, ask about the Junior Half-Back program. Sporting Life initiated this program and they are still the best! Most kids choosing to snowboard prefer a freestyle or free ride (all-mountain) board. Above all, buy something that fits well, is comfortable and is of an appropriate length, stiffness, etc. For members participating in freestyle skiing twin-tip ski's should be purchased.
YES - Helmets are mandatory for all members and staff.
The trick here is to make things as simple as possible for your son/daughter. A well-labelled ski or snowboard bag will not only protect the equipment underneath the bus, but they also make it easy on mom or dad at the pick-up location as there is less chance of taking the wrong poles, skis or board. Also, send with a small boot duffel bag and help us educate your son/daughter to put everything in it once they get back on the bus, ie. boots, goggles, gloves, neck tube, loose clothing, etc… lunches and snacks can also be stored in here. Please put names on everything!
Consult the weather forecast, or check the Snowcast on the Snowhawks website for the destination of the day. Then dress accordingly, from head to toe: helmet (with optional helmet beanie or thin silk or micro-fleece balaclava); goggles (if skiing fast, or if it's a cold day); neck warmer or face mask; adjustable layers on top (polypropylene long underwear, warm fleece or sweater, vest, and ski or snowboard jacket); ski/snowboard/winter mitts or gloves; layers on bottom (polypropylene long underwear or sweat pants, snow pants, with cuffs secured over the boot tops); dedicated ski or snowboard socks (one pair only); ski/snowboard boots.