SkiBig3 grace days: How do they work?

If you’re like most people, getting your ski or snowboarding legs back isn’t easy. Sometimes it takes a rest day (or two) to enjoy a week on the slopes - especially if it’s your first snow trip all season. SkiBig3 grace days are designed with your sore legs in mind. Plus, they’re a great way to take a break from your boots and enjoy everything else Banff and Lake Louise have to offer.

Maybe you want to try a new winter sport or maybe you want to treat-yo-self to a spa day - whatever your reason is, here’s everything you need to know about SkiBig3 grace days and how to use them on your holiday. 

SkiBig3 grace days are designed with your sore legs in mind. If your ticket is for 2 or more days - you've got grace days! | Photo by Josh Segeleski

How many SkiBig3 grace days come with a SkiBig3 Lift Ticket?

Spending 2 (or more) days on the snow? You have grace days!

Even short trips should come with time to rest and explore. That’s why all SkiBig3 Lift Tickets that are 2-days or more come with grace days. 

Snow Day: Grace Day Ratios

What does a "2 out of 3" or a "3 out of 5" SkiBig3 Lift Ticket mean?

That’s a great question. It might seem we’re trying to through fractions at you, but don’t worry this isn’t grade 9 math. It’s just the way we talk about our tickets in terms of snow days to their corresponding grace days. Let’s break it down.

Let’s say for example you bought a 2-day lift ticket. That means you’ve got 2 days on snow (aka days you paid for). It also means, according to the table above, that you’ve got 3 days to use your paid-for days. So, we say your ticket is a 2 out of 3 SkiBig3 Lift Ticket, meaning it’s valid for 2 of 3 days and you’ve got 1 grace day.

Now let’s say you’re staying a little longer. In this case, you get more grace days. So, for example, if you buy a 3-day SkiBig3 Lift Ticket that means you’ve got 3 days on-snow (paid for) but 5 days to use these three days. Meaning, your ticket is what we call a 3 out of 5 and you’ve got 2 grace days.

Does it matter what order you use SkiBig3 grace days in?

Not at all. If you’ve got 2 or more grace days, you can use them back to back or spaced out. It’s your choice. Let’s look at the 3 out of 5 example, above, to explain.

Here's an example...

Let’s say you arrive, shred up a storm for one day, and then realize you might need more than one day to recover. In this case, you can ski one day, rest for two days, and then ski the last two days. In the end, you’ve used your 3-day ticket in 5 days.

Now, let’s say it’s a bit different. You arrive, shred for two days straight (because the snow is so incredible), take a rest day, and then get one more day in before you take off. In this case, it’s the same thing - you’ve used your 3-day ticket in 5 days, regardless of when you rested.

Grace day? Rest day? What's the difference?

There is no difference! Grace day, rest day, flex day - they’re all the same thing. We just didn’t want to call it a rest day, because (let’s be honest) there’s often so much to ski and do in Banff and Lake Louise there’s not much resting involved!

Plan your days around the conditions. You don't need to take your grace days in any particular order. Keep shredding if the snow's good! | Photo by Josh Segeleski

How to book your SkiBig3 Lift Ticket

When you purchase your SkiBig3 Lift Ticket, always select the start date of your ticket based on the first day you plan to be on the snow. For example, if you plan to visit Banff and Lake Louise for 8 days and ski for 3 of those days, you should purchase your ticket to start on your first day of skiing and then you will have a total of 5 days from then to use your 3 days of skiing. Make sure you don't select your SkiBig3 Lift Tickets to start too soon if you're planning to be in-destination for a while.

An important note about rentals

While your SkiBig3 Lift Ticket has grace days built-in, be aware that your rentals do not. This is because when your rentals leave the shop, regardless of whether you use a grace day or not, they are still not in the shop on your SkiBig3 grace days therefore they are still being “used”.

Knowing this, when you book rentals, think about how many days you plan to spend on the snow and factor in the rest days you plan in between.

So, for example, if you purchase a 3-day lift ticket and you plan to ski two days, take a rest day, and then ski one more day you will need to book your rentals for 4 days (3 ski days + 1 rest day).

Still got questions?

We hope that this article answered your questions about rest days, but if you’re still looking for more information our vacation specialists will be happy to help you. You can call them at 1-844-754-2443 or use the chat function here on our website.

Other pages you may be interested in

SkiBig3 lift ticket frequently asked questions

Planning your vacation? Start here

Current Ski & Stay vacation packages

Activities and experiences in Banff and Lake Louise

First-timers guide

Rental rates and information