City snowboarding

The best places in town to ride handrails
and build kickers

by MARC SCHULTZ

As you've no doubt noticed, we have a sizable mountain right in the heart of downtown. Mount Royal rises 763 feet high and the surrounding Parc du Mont-Royal occupies almost 500 acres. As snowboarders have always made the best of any situation, the mountain offers a variety of challenges for every level of riding.

Handrails line the many staircases all over the park and there are some good steep inclines that provide an opportunity to build some worthy kickers. Knowing where to go after a good snowfall will help you save time, so to expedite your search here's a list of some of the best spots. Remember, snowboarding on some parts of the mountain is forbidden, so going for glory comes with the added risk of a fine from the Mayor's office.

1 Université de Montréal, west campus
Corner of Lacombe & Louis-Colin
Metro: Université de Montréal
UdeM is a location where you can get a little bit of everything. There are about 100 yards of moderate incline and it's bordered at the top by a 15-foot cement wall. With a little push from your friends you can drop off the wall into a nice transition. The incline flattens a bit in the middle before sloping down again, so it's a great place to put a decent size jump. On the right there are three sets of rails that are perfect for first timers, since they sit nicely out of the way from any visible hazards.

2 Université de Montréal, south-east campus
Top of Vincent-D'Indy
Metro: Edouard-Montpetit
This is the site of the old ski lift. The university ski team used to practice on the slope many years ago and there was even a mogul skiing competition held on the pitch behind the football stadium in the early '90s. The middle of the abandoned run is perfect for building a kicker.

3 Congrégation de Notre-Dame
Corner of Claremont & NDG
Bus: #133
This little hidden Westmount gem has some great handrails. There's a perfect 30-foot rail at the back of the Congrégation that slopes just right. There are no real hazards around either, so with a push from your friends and a little lip to get on the rail, this is a great spot to practice your skills. There are two other steeper rails on site as well. The Congrégation is attached to an infirmary, so you might get hassled for being on private property.

4 The Boulevard
The Boulevard & Lansdowne
Buses: #66 & #124
A 48-foot handrail that lines the steps down to The Boulevard is in an opportune location. The first 12 steps provide an in-run and the rest is left to be ridden. However, don't go too far or too fast because the last six feet shoots straight down onto the busy street. This rail isn't recommended for first timers.

5 Maison Smith
Parc du Mont-Royal
Ch. Remembrance
Behind Maison Smith, which is near Beaver Lake, are two sets of stairs that converge into one as they climb up the back of Parc du Mont-Royal. The lower part offers a great opportunity to get up on the rail. This 60-foot rail definitely brings bragging rights to anyone who attempts it. Take note of the big rocks that are sticking out all over the place - be sure you know where you can bail out and where you can't.

6 Parc du Mont-Royal
Peel & des Pins
Just 50 feet up the mountain you'll find a moderately steep handrail that is low to the ground. It's in a nice location with no real obstacles, with the exception of the concrete steps. It being a pretty steep rail, make sure if you attempt this one, it's not your first time.

7 Parc du Mont-Royal
Another great rail can be found on a little side path if you continue straight up the mountain from the Peel entrance. This one is a little more accommodating to beginners since it's not as steep. The rail is also unusually low, and with a little push, getting on this one should be easy.

8 Parc du Mont-Royal
The main trail in the park is called Chemin Olmsted. If you follow the trail west from the Peel entrance, at one point you will see two very long staircases heading to the summit of the mountain. The second of these two handrails is 40-feet long and offers a solid in-run. The landing can be problematic but is negotiable for the experienced rider. Beware of the many little rocks that pepper the surroundings.

9 Parc du Mont-Royal
The lookout at the top of the mountain may offer a beautiful view, but if you head just 200 yards behind the chalet you'll see yet another opportunity to test your bravado. There are four kinks on this difficult rail that would probably challenge even the seasoned pro. On the plus side, it's at the summit and therefore gathers more snow to pad your fall.

10 Saint-Joseph's Oratory
Queen-Mary Metro: Côte-des-Neiges
No list would be complete without the famous rail at Saint-Joseph's Oratory. The mammoth rail, which has been featured in Snowboarder magazine, is only for the very daring. It's over 200-feet long and climbs a 30-degree slope. It would truly require a miracle to make it all the way down, and in that sense, the location is perfect.