See the fastest ski racers on the planet kick-start the North American season in late November when they visit the Canadian Rockies in Alberta – and get a taste of what’s to come at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

Lake Louise Ski Area in Banff National Park is again the site of the FIS World Cup for Downhill and Super G skiers (men’s Nov. 28-29 and ladies’ Dec. 4-6, 2009).

Check out new Travel Alberta ski and snowboard packages, and read more for tips on how to make the best of the Lake Louise Winterstart – including getting your own early start on the season.

Already Snow in the Rockies

With snow already falling in the Canadian Rockies at Alberta’s six major ski resorts and some Alberta ski resorts planning early November starts, the stage is set for a memorable showdown at Lake Louise Ski Area.

Aside from the festivities at the mountain area where the races are held, the communities of Banff and Lake Louise – both in UNESCO World Heritage site Banff National Park – feature an all-ages festival called Winterstart. You can watch live feeds of the men’s race on JumboTrons in Banff, as well as a Santa Claus parade.

For families, Winterstart is an opportunity to ski early in the season, participate in fun family festivities and explore local culture. For hard-core skiers, it’s a chance to see the best in the world and ski beside them. For those who love night-life and skiing, Banff has much to offer.

Ken Read is an Olympic alpine ski racer who has won World Cups. Now president of the Alberta Alpine Ski Association, he provides the lowdown on World Cup highlights in this Travel Alberta Q & A session.

What can you get at the World Cup at Lake Louise that you can’t get elsewhere in North America?

Good, early season, reliable snow, for starters. The skiing starts earlier here than elsewhere, so in the first few weeks of November we have all three ski resorts in the Banff area – Mt. Norquay, Sunshine Village and Lake Louise Ski Area -- up and running for public skiing.

The European, American and Canadian racers come here because of the reliability of the snow and they use it to train, too – and that includes using Marmot Basin Ski Resort in Jasper National Park and Nakiska Resort just west of Calgary. Not many places in the world can offer this. (Castle Mountain is in southern Alberta). You get man-made snow here as well as all-natural snow of a variety you only get in the Canadian Rockies.

How important is this race as a prelude to the Olympics?

The Lake Louise Winterstart is a well-established classic venue. It is the kind of track everyone wants to start the season.

Any tips for people who are coming to Lake Louise for the first time?

Lake Louise has a lot of neat nooks and crannies in the village and at the hill. Laggan’s Mountain Bakery is a great place for baked goods and coffee. Check out the Wallister Stube for dining in the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, where they have fondues that would delight any Swiss. Baker Creek Chalets is a hidden gem if you’re looking for a place to stay.

If you want to ski or snowboard at Lake Louise Ski Area during the races, get into the back chutes for some fun. If you want to watch the race, the best place to watch is at the finish area, so you get the big screen and the commentary with the play-by-play.

Or if you want to get closer to the action to get a sense of what it’s like for the racers, you can ski alongside the run on the upper part, especially on Wiwaxy down to Coach’s Corner. As you ride the lift you can watch the athletes go rocketing by on the Men’s Downhill.