It’s no secret that British Columbia is the host province for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Add superior facilities with tried-and-true terrain and you have one golden training opportunity for the 2008/09 season. Let us count the ways:
Vancouver Island’s Mount Washington Resort will host the Canadian, Swiss, Swedish and US Snowboard race teams; on the nordic side, the resort’s Raven Lodge will welcome the Swedish Cross Country and Biathlon teams alongside the German Biathlon athletes. www.mountwashington.ca
Both the men and women’s Canadian National teams will suit up at Cypress Mountain on Vancouver’s North Shore. www.cypressmountain.com
Whistler Blackcomb will be centre stage as a training ground for the Canadian Alpine Ski Team; athletes from France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Canada (among others) will train for Bobsleigh, Skeleton and Luge disciplines at the Whistler Sliding Centre. www.whistlerblackcomb.com; www.whistlerslidingcentre.com
Sun Peaks Resort, in the Thompson Okanagan, welcomes the Austrian Ski Team for the third year in a row, as both the men and women’s teams prepare for Slalom, Giant Slalom and Super G events at the lift-accessed training centre. www.sunpeaksresort.com
Nordic reigns supreme at Silver Star Mountain Resort as the Norwegian Cross Country and Biathlon teams set to cross paths with the squads from Finland and Australia; also on the mountain, Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre will provide the track for teams from Norway, Russia, Austria, Australia, New Zealand, the US and Canada. www.skisilverstar.com; www.sovereignlake.com
Further south at Apex Mountain Resort, National Aerialist teams from Canada, Australia, Japan and the Ukraine will take to the skies. www.apexresort.com
With the only dedicated Paralympic Training Centre in Canada, Kimberley Alpine Resort will welcome teams from Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada and the US to the Kootenay Rockies. www.skikimberley.com
New Developments Underway for Hudson Bay Mountain:
September 2008 marked the first foray into transformation territory for Hudson Bay Mountain, formerly Ski & Ride Smithers, a Northern BC mainstay for skiers and boarders who love the steep and deep. Long revered for its stash of powder, Hudson Bay Mountain set in motion their master plan for development - a multi-year expansion that promises the introduction of residential units to the slopeside scene in 2009. And that’s not all. Added acreage is also in the works, thanks to the development of the Trail to Town, or Rotary Community Trail, set to better connect the mountain to the town of Smithers and increase the skiable area on Hudson Bay Mountain by five per cent. This project guarantees growth: an overall increase in vertical of 52 per cent, offering skiers and boarders 1,750 feet of lift-serviced access, plus additional terrain to ski your way into town. As added icing on the cake, the Rotary Community Trail, spanning eight kilometres and ready for riding in the 2008/09 season, ensures that Hudson Bay Mountain will now boast one of the largest vertical drops in BC. Situated just outside the town of Smithers, east of Prince Rupert, Hudson Bay Mountain is nestled between the peaks of the Hudson Bay and Babine Mountain ranges – a snowy spot that beckons the powderhounds. And with further plans in the works for Spring of 2009, Hudson Bay Mountain is just starting to turn up the heat. In a frosty fashion, of course. www.skismithers.com
In Fernie, it’s all a Kokanee Snow Dream: The Kootenay Rockies are legendary for their powder. Add a mythical Sasquatch, or Yeti, endless runs, and a few tall cold ones to the mix, and you’ve got the makings for one cool winter festival. This snowy season, Fernie Alpine Resort beckons the boarders and the beasts with equal fervour during their Fernie Kokanee Snow Dreams fest, January 30 - 31, 2009 – an annual après ski bash set to celebrate the season in an overtly boisterous manner. Onslope, there’s plenty of that legendary powder, while copious distractions minus the boards await with competitions that include Best Sasquatch Mating Call and Best Imitation of the Kokanee Ranger (hint: pull out the aviators for this one). As an added bonus, the Kokanee Glacier Girls are sure to be but a mating call away. Situated above the historic mining town of Fernie, the resort - like the town - has a cool, laid-back vibe; here, it’s all about snow. And it’s easy to see why, with an average snowfall of 29 feet and five alpine bowls that pledge powder few resorts can match. Add to this the new Delta Airlines direct flights from Salt Lake City into the Canadian Rockies International Airport in nearby Cranbrook, and getting to the snow for this festive winter festival just got a whole lot easier. So hit the slopes before heading in for a frothy Kokanee beer, complete with a few tall tales. And let the big guy next to you – fur and all – know that this is the stuff of powder dreams. www.skifernie.com
Whistler Adaptive Sports Program Carves Unique Tracks for Skiers with a Disability: Consistently ranked as North America’s premier ski and snowboard resort, Whistler Blackcomb has a big reputation. And an even bigger incentive to keep raising the bar for every skier and rider. The Whistler Adaptive Sports Program’s Ski and Scotiabank Learn to Ride Lessons do just that with a series of adventures geared to bring out the burgeoning skiers and boarders in people of all abilities. A non-profit organization aimed to make sports accessible, the program caters to a broad spectrum of skiers and boarders from beginner to advanced; a line-up of highly-trained, certified instructors, guides and assistants ensures access to every glide and turn is more than just a winter night’s dream. Instruction is tailored to each participant, and options are as bountiful as the powder. Programs include: Sit-skiing with Bi-skis and Mono-skis, ideal for adventurers with limited lower body strength and disabilities; offerings for visually and hearing impaired skiers; programs for standing skiers using two, three and four track techniques, and innovative programs for individuals with developmental or cognitive disabilities. The latter functions as a therapeutic program, focusing specifically on individualized ski or snowboard instruction with the use of specialized equipment. Should boarding be boss, the program also offers up an array of powder-packed outings perfect for breaking out the snowboards. Beyond the tutored turns, Whistler Blackcomb’s snowy setting also proves an ideal environment for individuals to develop social skills, improve communication and build self-esteem. And with the landmark unveiling of the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola (complete with wheelchair accessibility) December 12 - a daring venture that will unite the two towering mountain peaks that define this destination - there’ll be even more incentive to take to the slopes. www.whistleradaptive.com; www.whistlerblackcomb.com
Mike Wiegele Helicopter Skiing Tempts First-Timers to Hit the Heights: Looking for a little elevation, complete with snow and skis? Mike Wiegele Helicopter Skiing will take the tracks to new heights this snowy season with an offering aimed specifically at first-timers – or anyone else looking for a quick heli-ski vacation. After all, who better to bring into the fold than eager newbies seeking a novel powder adventure. First Timers Dream Package banishes the notion that heli skiing is all about helicopter costs, long minimum stays and hard-to-reach operations with a two day/two night package priced at just $2,000. That’s not a typo. And forget about being an expert. This operation, the heart of the Cariboo and Monashee mountains, will showcase first-hand why the combination of specially-designed wide powder skis or boards with the natural variety of terrain in the mountains allows intermediates to experience one spectacular environment. With unlimited vertical skiing at an operation revered for its snow, adventurists can take it all in with professional guiding, powder skis or snowboards, safety equipment and run after endless run. Hearty meals, including a few dining experiences sure to be out of the stratosphere, full spa facilities and luxury accommodation amid handcrafted log chalets provide the indoor perks that pull this package artfully together (make sure to book by December 24, 2008). While Wiegele has hosted princes, presidents and plenty of movie stars, this is one operator anxious to expand his loyal following by offering up an elevated experience of a lifetime. Just the kind of thinking you’d expect from one of the province’s pioneer heli ski operators. Time to make some new tracks. www.wiegele.com
Apex Mountain Resort Promises Winter Adventure at its Peak: While big certainly has its advantages when it comes to skiing, there’s much to be said about the smaller winter gems, tucked amid out-of-the-way settings, blanketed with snow. Such is the case with Apex Mountain resort, a family-friendly jewel situated in BC’s south Okanagan. With a name that literally translates to zenith, or peak, Apex shelters sunny skies, wicked terrain and some six metres (20 feet) of the white stuff annually. Here, you’ll find a blend of smooth cruisers and steep chutes, along with four lifts including a high-speed quad that delivers 605 metres (2,000 feet) of vertical in just seven minutes. Long line-ups? Not unless you’re hankering for a place at the pool table at the resort’s Gunbarrel Saloon. New this season, it’s glade skiing galore with the introduction of “Hidden Gold” run, plus there’s an opportunity to keep the excitement going well into the evening with a new park offering up night skiing. If a rush is more to your liking, simply make your way down the same slopes set to host both the BC Alpine Men’s and Women’s Super-G and Downhill events, January 19 - 25, and a BC Series event where the province’s best will compete in Moguls, Dual Moguls and Big Air, February 13 -15. Plus there’s plenty off the slopes to distract; rev it up with snowmobile tours, take to the outdoor rink with ice hockey, tour the trails on cross country skis or experience the cool calm on a snowshoe tour. No matter your choice, you’re bound to find a gem worthy of the crown. www.apexresort.com