The Leg Burner is a ski patrol endurance race—a word-of-mouth, post-operational tradition at Lake Louise Ski Resort that tests technical skill, stamina, and social cohesion. Unlike sanctioned FIS or freeride events, it is promoted only by word of mouth; participants are typically told to find a patroller in early April for the year’s date.

Timing. The race runs in late spring—often mid- to late April—after lifts close and patrol completes the final sweep. Late-season “slushy” snow increases friction and demands more skating and tucking on flatter sections.

Course. ~831 m vertical; route can vary with conditions. Start on Shoulder Roll (Run #136) in the Back Bowls—steep, wind-affected; immediate eccentric load on the legs. Merge into Boomerang (Run #133); despite its blue rating, sustained pitch and late-afternoon bumps make it a lactate accumulator. Traverse Boomerang Flats (skating can be decisive in warm years). Pass the base of the Paradise Chair. Descend Ski Out (Run #155)—~5–8 km, green, but the hardest phase: quadriceps loaded, flat trajectory, sustained tuck. The clock does not stop at the base; racers unclip, sprint up two flights of stairs to the deck between the main lodges, and consume a full cup of beer (or soft drink) without spilling before time is recorded.

Format. Individual time trial, 30-second intervals. Categories by gender and equipment (skis vs snowboard). Elite times ~10 minutes; casual participants 20+ minutes. Tandem teams (two on one pair of skis) have competed.

“Leg burner” runs. Beyond the race, the term describes sustained vertical terrain. Larch Poma—intermediate mogul run with no flat break—is a classic quad-shredder. The resort’s 991 m vertical and 170 runs support continuous descents up to 8 km. See Whitehorn Back Bowls for the Boomerang corridor and West Bowl egress—a newer “leg burner” linking bowls to base.