Le Massif Mountain Magic In Canada

During my time as editor of the Skier & Snowboarder magazine, I skied with several Olympic medal winners, ski champions and World Cup race winners. And I have noticed that in every case, even after retiring, they never lose their competitive nature.

Whether it’s running a few gates on the slopes, silly snow competitions, or a drink-fuelled game in the après ski bar, they always want to win – but then this is one of the traits that took them to the top of their sport.

During visits to the Quebec region of Canada, I have skied a few times at Le Massif de Charlevoix, which is very much in my own top 10 of favourite places to ski.

On my last visit, I was offered the chance to add to the list of champions I have skied with by spending the afternoon with Jean-Luc Brassard, who won a gold medal for Canada in the Freestyle event at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer.

A Day on the Slopes with Jean-Luc Brassard

Jean-Luc, who was then a ski ambassador for Le Massif, first led a group of us down a fairly gentle run, where we took in the unique and stunning views over the frozen St Lawrence River, as he wanted to take a look at our varying abilities before deciding what slopes to take us on.

There was quite a big difference between the skiers and a couple of almost beginner snowboarders. Therefore, he decided to do a few runs with the boarders first, with a promise that he would meet up with the skiers later – and that was the last we saw of him on the slopes!

Those crafty boarders monopolised him for the rest of the afternoon and we didn’t see Jean-Luc again until we were all enjoying a drink in the Summit Lodge at the end of the day. After what was probably a few too many beers, I started telling Jean-Luc tales about the different ‘games’ I had played against world champion skiers both on the snow and in the bar.

“OK,” he said, “as you didn’t get a chance to race me on the snow, you can take me on at arm wrestling.” And that’s how I found myself with my elbow in a puddle of beer, grappling with a steely-eyed, fit as a butcher’s dog, Canadian ski hero.

With Jean-Luc being cheered on by his home crowd, I didn’t stand a chance and accepted defeat gracefully. Afterwards, Jean-Luc signed my jacket as a reminder of the day I took on another Olympic champion – and lost!

Why Le Massif is So Special

Fortunately, as I already had knowledge of Le Massif from previous visits, I was well aware of what a great place it is to ski, even without a tour with Jean-Luc. The first interesting fact is that when it opened, skiers unusually arrived by road at the top of the mountain as the ski ‘village’ is perched dramatically about 2,000 feet above the St. Lawrence River in the Charlevoix region of Québec.

Le Massif de Charlevoix has grown from a rugged local ski hill into one of eastern Canada’s most distinctive mountain resorts, famous for its interesting runs and panoramic river views.

From ‘Ski Down, Bus Up’ to International Resort

Skiing at Le Massif began in the late 1970s in a far more rustic fashion than today. Visitors in those early days would ski down to the banks of the frozen St. Lawrence River. There were no ski lifts, but skiers and, later snowboarders, could board buses and coaches that shuttled them back to the summit.

This unusual ‘ski down, bus up’ system became part of the mountain’s legend and gave Le Massif a backcountry-style atmosphere during its early years.

A major turning point in Le Massif’s history came when the mountain was purchased in 2002 by Daniel Gauthier, one of the co-founders of Cirque du Soleil. Gauthier saw enormous potential in the dramatic Charlevoix landscape and has helped transform Le Massif into an internationally recognised destination while preserving its natural beauty and local culture.

Under his leadership, substantial investment flowed into the resort which saw the modernisation of lifts, snowmaking, expanded terrain, and improved guest facilities. Gauthier’s broader vision and long-term strategy helped attract international visitors, more investment, and eventually the arrival of the Club Med Québec Charlevoix resort.

Club Med Québec Charlevoix

Many Canadian ski areas do not have their own on site accommodation, but the Club Med Québec Charlevoix resort has elevated Le Massif’s profile as one of eastern Canada’s premier mountain destinations.

Club Med Québec Charlevoix opened directly at the base of the mountain in 2021, and past expansion projects have seen the addition of more skiable terrain, expert runs, glades, and improved infrastructure while preserving the mountain’s dramatic river-to-summit experience.

The resort became the first Club Med Mountain resort in North America, providing all-inclusive ski accommodation at Le Massif and introducing the area to a broader international audience. Guests now enjoy ski-in/ski-out lodging, dining, and direct access to the slopes overlooking the St. Lawrence River — a striking contrast to the humble school-bus era that helped define the mountain’s early character.

Stays at the Club Med Québec Charlevoix can be booked through Ski Line. Their experts can also arrange ski holidays to other Canadian ski areas, including Whistler, Banff, Lake Louise and Tremblant. For more information on all these destinations, any early or special booking offers, plus the different types of accommodation available, speak directly to the Ski Line experts using the contact details, or online chat facility. You will find these contact details on the Ski Line website.