Canadian Resort Newswire

Hot News from the Canadian Ski Resorts
compiled by Patrick Thorne, The SnowHunter

Snowmaking Begins For 2005-6 Season at Whistler

Whistler Blackcomb, Canada, (Snow24) – Whistler Resort awoke recently to sub-zero temperatures in the alpine region, and the snow guns fired up for the first time in preparation for the upcoming winter season.

We flew our new guns into place yesterday by chopper,” says Bob Pasch, Whistler Blackcomb’s snowmaking manager. “We began to make snow in the alpine last night, and tested out our new infrastructure to ensure everything's ready for the season. I’m happy to report all is in order.”

With cold nights forecasted for the next few days, Whistler Blackcomb could start to see snow accumulation shortly. “Our guns are poised and ready to go,” says Pasch. “We will take advantage of every opportunity to make snow, which will enhance the base for the natural snow that is most certainly on its way.”

Whistler Blackcomb invested heavily this summer in snowmaking upgrades and summer grooming, to provide improved snow conditions and greater terrain access in the early and late season.

We’re looking at an official opening on November 24 right now,” says Stuart Rempel, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Whistler Blackcomb. “We’ll open as soon as we can though. If Ullr (Norse god of snow) is good to us this fall, we’ll open early.”

No indication has been provided by Ullr yet as to what opening day will be, but the cold nights and early snowmaking opportunity has the resort primed waiting for the first snowfall to the valley.

“There are a lot of excited people in town,” says Rempel. “The Matchstick Productions’ ski movie world premiere happened at the Roundhouse Lodge last Thursday night, which got everyone pumped for a big winter. We’re ready!”

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New International Race Center for Sun Peaks Resort

Sun Peaks, Canada (Snow24) – Recognizing that facilities for early season ski and snowboard training will be in demand leading up to the 2010 Olympics; Sun Peaks Resort has embarked on a three phase program to develop the best on snow training facilities in western British Columbia.

For Phase 1, more than $1 million has been spent this past summer to upgrade the Coquihalla ski run to create the Race Center, install state of the art snowmaking, safety netting and wiring for the electronic timing of races from new race huts. Taking advantage of the excellent terrain on the east facing side of the Sunburst Ridge, the Race Center will eventually comprise three courses and a new dedicated quad chairlift. A new public ski trail will be built adjacent to the new Race Center in phase 3.

“There is no doubt that early season training with guaranteed snow above 1,600 meters (5,200 feet) will kick off our season much earlier than in the past,” explained Darcy Alexander, Vice President and General Manager of the Sun Peaks Resort Corporation.

"We are also in discussion with race teams from around the world to train at Sun Peaks leading up to the 2010 Olympics and beyond.” Public skiing and riding for the 2005/06 season is scheduled to open on November 19th, 2005.

Ecosign Mountain Planners of Whistler, designers of race courses for the Salt Lake and Calgary Olympic games, have planned the Sun Peaks’ race center to meet International Ski Federation specifications for both slalom and giant slalom. The word has already started to spread through the ski racing community and teams from around the world are inquiring about booking space for early season training at the new race center.

“We’re thrilled about the addition of a world class racing facility here at Sun Peaks,” enthused Doug Mackenzie, President of the Sun Peaks Alpine Racing Club. “The new center will be a great benefit to our local and developing racers and it will be fantastic to eventually be training alongside teams from around the world.”

Phase one of the Race Center opens this November and will host the Canadian Masters Alpine Championships in April 2006 as well as ongoing training and racing throughout the season. The new dedicated Racing Center will be designated the Nancy Greene International Race Centre at Sun Peaks when it is officially opened in early November.

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Silver Star gets Bigger

Silver Star, Canada (Snow24) – On-mountain developments at Silver Star in western Canada this winter include the expansion of the Silver Woods front side terrain by 54 percent. The area is perfect for families with five intermediate runs, two advanced runs and a beginner run, and lots of glade “tree islands,” serviced by an express quad lift.

The new Silver Woods lift transports skiers to the Roller Coaster Trail, which has been extended to 130 meters (429 feet) below the base of Comet Express. The new express quad lift is 340 meters (1,200 feet) in length, and whisks skiers and boarders to the top in less than five minutes. From the top of the lift guests can return back to the village or to accommodation in the knoll area.

Also new this season is the luxurious Snowbird Lodge. This five-star accommodation is located at the end of the village closest to the slopes. Each of the well-appointed 54 units are decorated with rich cherry wood cabinets and granite counter tops; heated tile floors refine the experience. The Lodge has some of the most stunning views on the mountain.

This December, the local Sovereign Lake Nordic Center will host World Cup Cross-Country Ski Races on its trails in Silver Star Provincial Park. About 160 of the world’s best cross-country skiers from 25 nations will compete in the races on the 10th and 11th of December.

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Whistler Announces Plans for 40th Anniversary Season

The resort typically spends approximately $13-15 million each summer on investment and maintenance for the upcoming winter season.

This year there’s a strong focus to further improve the experience for families and beginners. There’ll be a new Tube Park at Base II on Blackcomb Mountain with six to seven different sliding chutes. The Whistler Mountain Family Zone will increase in size this year and is being moved to Ego Bowl, separated by gates from the run above. This move will separate the Family Zone from the entrance to the Whistler Mountain Habitat Terrain Park, creating better flow for each of the user groups - advanced skiers and riders heading into the Terrain Park, and families with children and/or beginners heading into the Family Zone. The Family Zone includes favorites such as Ego Bowl, Enchanted Forest, Bean Sprout, Cougar Run, and Lower Emerald Lift Line providing variety for all skill levels within the family.

Investments this year in snowmaking infrastructure and summer grooming will pay off in increased efficiency and productivity of snowmaking, and improved conditions on the lower mountain and early season runs.

Advancements in snowmaking technology as well as increased capacity on Whistler Mountain will be in place by November, including the addition of automatic guns to improve snowmaking efficiency. Whistler Mountain will see ongoing investment in snowmaking over the next four years as the site of the alpine skiing events during the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

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Sun Peaks Plans First Ski Resort Ice Hotel

Guests arriving at the hotel will be greeted in a spectacular reception area where ice-sculptures and towering ice columns soar up to a vaulted ceiling complete with a chandelier made entirely of ice.

The hotel will be reconstructed each winter and operate between December and April. The Ice Palace is the first ice hotel to be built in an existing resort setting.

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New Eco-Friendlier Snowmaking at Lake Louise

Snowmaking improvements include new environmentally friendly nozzles and pumps and the addition of new snow guns as part of the resort’s on-going commitment to water use reduction and environmental sustainability.

New Snow Cats have been added to the resort’s grooming fleet to continue its commitment to maintaining top-notch grooming standards. There are also new express ticket kiosks will get skiers and riders doing what they love best - faster and more conveniently.

“Our focus for Lake Louise this season is to provide our guests with the ultimate skiing/riding experience by improving our snowmaking and grooming capabilities as well as continuing to provide guests with the best overall resort experience possible,” said Matt Mosteller, Senior Director of Business Development for Resorts of the Canadian Rockies, owners and operators of Lake Louise Mountain Resort.

The improvements round off a year which saw the opening of the new six-passenger Grizzly Express Gondola in February that whisks skiers and riders from the base of the mountain to the top in mere minutes. The new gondola gives skiers and riders faster access to the Alpine than any other resort in the Rockies.

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Silver Star Expands

The new Silver Woods lift transports skiers to the Roller Coaster Trail, which has been extended to 130 meters (429 feet) below the base of Comet Express. The new express quad lift is 340 meters (1,200 feet) in length, and whisks skiers and boarders to the top in less than five minutes. From the top of the lift you will be able to return back to the village or to accommodation in the knoll area.

Also new this season is the luxurious Snowbird Lodge. This five-star accommodation is located at the end of the village closest to the slopes. Each of the well-appointed 54 units are decorated with rich cherry wood cabinets and granite counter tops. Heated tile floors refine the experience. Snowbird Lodge has some of the most stunning views on the mountain.

This December, Sovereign Lake Nordic Center will host the World Cup Cross Country Ski Races on its trails in the beautiful Silver Star Provincial Park. About 160 of the world’s best cross country skiers from 25 nations will compete in the races on the 10th and 11th December, 2005.

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Peak to Valley Team Race at Panorama
Panorama, Canada (Snow24) – Set to host the third annual Peak to Valley Team Race between March 31st and April 2nd, Panorama’s rugged landscape will play host to over 150 competitors in a thigh-burning, endurance-inducing ski challenge.

Patterned on a similar race in Whistler, this challenge will see participants skiing over 923 vertical meters (3,000 vertical feet) and 180 gates in one fell swoop. But skiers and riders participating in this event don’t have to be among the select few to wear the Olympic gold to compete. On the contrary, this is one race that is all about having fun on the mountain, catching a few rays, and providing a memorable story for a captive audience come Monday morning.

The Peak to Valley Race will see teams of four compete in combined age categories with only one carded athlete permitted per team. This super long Grand Slalom (GS) race will test the endurance and speed of participants as they try to conquer a course with the same vertical drop as three regulation GS courses in a row.

Based on last year’s success story, Panorama presents the ideal landscape with slopes designed for speed. Indeed, the ski destination has already played host to several competitions of a more serious nature - notably as the site where the Canadian women swept the Super G podium at the Nor Am Cup a year ago.

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One Man Lord of the Rings Trilogy in Whistler
Whistler, Canada (Snow24) – This March 12th and 13th, performer Charles Ross returned to the Maurice Young Millennium Place in Whistler to perform a one-man show.

Last year he graced audiences with a fast, furious and funny one-man rendition of the original Star Wars Trilogy. This year he performed the Lord of the Rings Trilogy.

Charles recreates, without the use of costumes, set, or special effects, Peter Jackson’s movie trilogy, and plays all the characters, performs the music, fights the battles, cries the tears, and ultimately triumphs over evil, in only 3,600 seconds.

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Québec City among Top Five World Ski Destinations
Québec City, Canada (Québec City Tourism) – Québec City proudly stands out among the “World’s Five Best Big City Ski Destinations” according to a feature published on the MSNBC website. Québec City features three major ski resorts, cross-country ski and snowmobile trails totaling hundreds of kilometers, all very handy. Mont Sainte-Anne and Stoneham are praised by ski enthusiasts for trail quality and impressive slope drops. In addition to a breathtaking view over the St. Lawrence provided by Le Massif de la Petite-Rivière-Saint-François, an hour’s drive away from Québec City, skiers here can barrel down the mountain with the river practically at the tip of their skis.

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Whistler Ready for 2005 FIS Snowboard World Championships
Whistler Blackcomb, Canada (Snow24) – The 2005 Fédération Internationale de Ski (FIS) Snowboard World Championships open at Whistler on January 15th and run through to the 23rd marking the first time the prestigious event will be held in North America. Visitors will be able to watch the world-class competition free of charge.

Whistler will host 400 of the world’s best snowboard athletes from 40 countries to compete in the disciplines of Halfpipe, Big Air, Snowboard-Cross, Parallel Giant Slalom, and TELUS Parallel Slalom for the title of World Champion. The event, one of the biggest lead-up events to the 2010 Winter Games for Whistler and the province of British Columbia, is also an important qualifying event for the 2006 Olympic Winter Games.

K-OS, a popular Canadian hip-hop band, will be performing live at the TELUS Whistler Conference Center on January 17 to close out the Championships.

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Motorola and Burton to Launch Hi-tech Boarderwear
(Snow24) – Motorola and Burton will launch a new range of boarderwear later this year incorporating mobile phone and MP3 player technology. The range will include jackets, helmets and caps and use blue tooth technology.

The jackets will have a padded casing for a Motorola cell phone and an MP3 music player. They will feature a device on the sleeve that lets the wearer control incoming and outgoing calls, and toggle back and forth to music, sending audio signals to removable speakers in the hood.

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The 24th of Tremblant is a Success
Mont Tremblant, Canada (Snow24) – In twenty hours, this fundraising campaign at Mont Tremblant on December 12th brought in $412,938.

Right up to the end, participants in “The 24h of Tremblant” skied and surfed relentlessly in order to complete as many runs as possible on behalf of the children of the Fondation Charles-Bruneau. Up to a few seconds before the stroke of twelve noon, team mates were still crossing the finishing line, ensuring that the final runs would count towards their objective. This total commitment paid off in every sense, since not only did they achieve that objective, $400,000, but went well beyond it.

It should be stressed that because of the high winds that were blowing on Saturday morning, the competition had to be postponed until 4 p.m. This late start stimulated the competitors to do everything in their power to make up for the four-hour delay.

This year, the highest score for donations was achieved by the Cybèles team. The North Face team took second place, and the Dirty Dozen came in third. Ski Presse, whose team covered a total of 335.7 kilometers (209 miles), carried off the distance prize. The runners-up were the Fairmont team, followed by Max Ski Service/NewAd.

While the pedestrian village of Mont Tremblant was celebrating these events, the atmosphere on the slopes was one of festive excitement, both before the start of the competitions and throughout the evening, as invited guests of honor skied along with the participants and encouraged them. The evening was also highlighted by the many artists who entertained the spectators.

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New at Québec’s Mont Blanc This Season
Mont Blanc, Canada (Snow24) – Mont Blanc ski area has replaced two T-bar lifts with magic carpet lifts on the beginners’ slopes, both 66 meters (215 feet) in length.

A new “Exhibition” trail is to be inaugurated under the chairlifts. Car parking capacity has also been improved on the Mont Blanc side with the removal of two tennis courts and the landmark flying saucer.

An unloading zone has been set up on the Mont Blanc side in order to facilitate access to the station. Skiers may now arrive within 25 meters (81feet) of the ticket office and 50 meters (163 feet) from the lifts.

Mont Blanc has purchased 10 additional snow cannons for the season. Using the latest technology, these cannon will give additional snowmaking capacity to the station as well as allowing the trails to be opened earlier in the season.

The latest model of slope groomer, the Bombardier BR350, has also been purchased offering the most advanced trail maintenance capability. Only three Québec stations are currently using these machines.

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Marmot Basin Adds More Tough Terrain
Marmot Basin, Canada (Snow24) – Following on from the successful opening of the new Cornice expert run, accessed by a 15-minute hike from the top of the Eagles Ridge quad chair this season, Marmot Basin in Alberta, Canada, will be adding more tough terrain for the 2004-2005 season.

The approach to “Murray’s” will be accessed with a hike to the top of the Knob chair and will allow for amazing descents on powder days.

Marmot Basin is also installing new signage across the area this summer. More than 65 new signs and five panorama maps will help direct skiers and boarders around the expanding opportunities that Marmot has on offer.

The resort has also purchased a new Bombardier winch cat to help with grooming the ever increasing choice of steeper terrain.

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New Quad at Le Massif
Le Massif, Canada (Snow24) – Legendary Le Massif/Le Petite-Rivière-Saint-François near Quebec City in eastern Canada has reported that despite less snow than the previous record season, 2003-04’s four months of operation still matched that record year for skier visits.

Le Massif is investing five million Canadian dollars to expand its skiable domain for next season. Improvements will include the installation of a detachable quad to replace the existing fixed double chair, the creation of six new trails and the further clearing of several glades trails. The resort will also introduce air/water technology to increase snowmaking capacity, thereby offering better conditions at the base of the mountain.

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Whistler Blackcomb Encourages Locals to Take an Active Role to Prevent Forest Fires
Whistler Blackcomb, Canada (Whistler Blackcomb Resort) – Whistler has already received a high fire rating this season and is actively engaged in fire prevention, and encourages locals to do the same – not just to protect the mountains, to protect the entire valley.

"Some fire causes are beyond our control, like lightning,” says Stanley Kelly, Whistler Blackcomb Trail Maintenance Manager. “But the majority of fires we put out on the mountains are caused by people who drop their cigarettes, or whatever they’ve been smoking, from the chair lift. One cigarette could start a forest fire, which might burn down the entire valley. We need to respect our natural environment and be especially careful this summer."

Smoking aside, Whistler Blackcomb would also like to remind people that starting campfires on the mountains is forbidden. Whistler Blackcomb officials encourage locals and visitors alike to report any on-mountain smoke or fires.

“The reason small fires become large fires is that they don’t get extinguished quickly,” Stanley continued. “If the public works with us to locate and extinguish fires quickly, hopefully we can put to rest small fires before they grow out of control.”

Besides the damage to one’s conscience if the mountains were to catch on fire, the legal and financial repercussions are potentially huge. If a person is found liable for starting a fire, that person is responsible for all of the extinguishing costs and the cost of all of the damage. This includes loss of timber, loss of property and loss of future revenue.

Currently, Whistler Blackcomb carries fire tools on all mountain vehicles and has fire boxes stashed in key locations on both mountains. All on-mountain staff will complete a basic fire suppression course this summer, and the snowmaking systems will remain charged and ready to deliver water.

“We’ve discussed placing snowguns in strategic locations on the mountains, so that in the event of a fire we can turn them on and douse the flames,” Kelly went on to state. “If fire danger increases, we may resort to this, and we will also have Blackcomb Helicopters fly over our mountains in the evening to ensure fires haven’t started post-operations.” Whistler Blackcomb asks locals to dial 911 immediately if they witness a fire on the mountains.

“We’re not trying to discourage people from getting out and enjoying the summer, but we do need people to be smart,” Stan added. “Don’t smoke or start fires in areas where fires aren’t allowed and observe campfire bans in the valley if they’re in place.”

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New Trails, New Stunts, and More Rides for Mountain Bikers at Fernie
Fernie, Canada (Resorts of the Canadian Rockies) – Fernie Alpine Resort continues to expand its mountain bike operations. Totally new trails and stunts, extensive rebuilding of existing trails and features, will ensure another great summer at the resort. The resort will significantly increase uplift capacity for the summer, on the Elk Quad Chair, operating July 1st through September 6th. Both the Elk Quad and the Timber Quad Chair will run August 7th-8th and August 12th – 15th.

The resort is excited to announce that Ryan Shultz, creator of signature resort trails, will be working with Fernie Alpine Resort this summer. In partnership with Devinci, Fernie Alpine Resort is expanding its mountain bike trail system, with new trails and big new stunts. Ryan will bring his unique brand of inspiration to the trail construction. With extensive machine and handwork, the trails and lifts will be ready for opening on July 1st.

Construction of Mr. Berms began last summer and will be completed this spring. The trail will be extended and will empty into the new Dual Slalom course located on the lower mountain. This smooth cruising trail, featuring high-banked turns, will appeal to riders of all levels including beginners. A new trail to be constructed this spring is Slant 6. The trail will cater to riders from intermediate to expert and will be constructed with numerous jumps, smooth landings and high speed corners.

The popular Ary-Al Assault and Phat Larry’s trails will be rebuilt this spring to create state of the art stunts and obstacles built to current freeride standards. Based on the huge success of the obstacle and stunt area on the Moose Slope last summer, plans are to expand the progression park and create a safe place to practice bike-handling skills including dirt jumps, teeter-totters, ramps and more.

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New Development For Sun Peaks
Sun Peaks, Canada (Snow24) – Sun Peaks Resort in British Columbia has announced the kick-off of Phase Two of its master development agreement. This plan involves $11 million (Canadian) in capital expenditures that will affect all areas of the resort.

Following its 12th consecutive year of growth, the investment this summer will go towards improvements include a 100% increase in lift capacity on the Mt. Morrisey Express Chairlift, a new lift for Tube Time -Tube Park, two new groomers, 25% increase in snowmaking, building the Back in Time skier bridge linking Mt. Morrisey to the Burfield base area, building the Mt. Morrisey ski bridge underpass eliminating skier road crossing and new ski resort software (RTP) to improve customer service and guest experience. There’ll also be improvements to mountain biking facilities.

There will also be substantial work at the base with new lodging construction and landscaping. The total estimated value of projects in the start of Phase Two of the master development agreement is $285 million. This year’s building construction is valued at $72.5 million and Phase Two real estate coming to market is $212.5 million.

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New Runs and Lifts Part of $128 Million Summer Spend at Big White
Big White, Canada (Snow24) – Rapidly expanding Big White Ski Resort in British Columbia has announced a massive summer construction project scheduled for completion prior to the start of the 2004-2005 winter season. About $127.9 million is the total value that will be spent on infrastructure and luxury accommodation and will include two new chair lifts, a state-of-the-art ski and snowboard terrain park, new on-mountain day lodge including viewing deck, six new intermediate and advanced runs expanding the resort’s skiable terrain by 200 acres, two new grooming machines, and luxury resort accommodation bringing the on-mountain bed base total to over 14,000 beds.

A new double chair to allow both skiers and snowboarders better access and turn around time to Big White’s famous Cliff Area will be built this summer. The lift will be approximately 554 meters (1,800 feet) long with a vertical drop of 246 meters (800 feet). Along with this construction, the area boundary will be expanded to include the East Peak.

To the west of Blue Ribbon, off the Gem Lake Express, six new intermediate runs will be cut this summer. This will add just under 200 acres of skiable terrain and increase the overall skiable terrain to just under 2,800 acres. This is the first phase of expansion of the Gem Lake area, with more to come in the future.

The new Terrain Park area will centralize snowboard and ski park, rail garden, half-pipes, boarder/skier-cross and fun family race area. The park will incorporate an Olympic size 138-meter (450-foot) long Super Pipe with 5-meter (17-foot) transitional walls that meets World Cup FIS and X Games standards. Other features will include a regular-sized half- pipe with 3.6-meter (12-foot) walls, 138 meters (450 feet) in length; an intermediate terrain and rail park; an Advanced Combined Terrain and Rail Park; a Boarder/Skier -Cross Course capable of hosting Olympic FIS qualifying events; World Cup Ski and Snowboard Events, and X games qualifiers and National Championships.

To compliment and help build these features, there will be snowmaking throughout the park area. This will allow the features and half-pipes to be opened earlier in the season. This area will also be home to 2010 go for the Gold Fun race course with lanes for skiers and snowboarders.

Overlooking all of these venues will be an on-mountain lodge with food and beverage facilities, a large out door deck and washroom facilities. However more than 95% of the investment is on a vast increase in lodging options, with more than 1000 new beds to be added this summer in more than a dozen fresh developments.

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Cutters Cup Moves Back to Canada
Lake Louise, Canada (Snow24) – Lake Louise in Alberta, Canada will host this year’s Superpark 8 Cutters Cup Event. Exclusive terrain park builders from Mammoth and June Mountain, California; Breckenridge, Colorado; Park City, Utah; and Lake Louise, Alberta; get together at this annual event to combine forces in building the ultimate park for top athletes. Included in this team of designers is Jeff Patterson, builder of Lake Louise Terrain Park, and Clayton Carroll, builder of Nakiska Terrain Park. In the past, athletes such as Todd Richards, Danny Kass, Travis Rice, Kurt Wastell, Peter Line, and others from all around the globe have been present for this world-class event.

Snowboarder Magazine turned Superpark into a full-blown extravaganza in 1997 and terrain park builders have been creating and producing more challenging parks ever since. On May 1st to 4th, the annual event makes its return to Canada at Lake Louise Mountain Resort, exhibiting the combined efforts of these designers in a complex Terrain Park, challenging and showcasing the world's best riders and park designers.

Matt Mosteller, Senior Director of Business Development for Resorts of the Canadian Rockies said, “This is a must see snowboarding event; not only showcasing riders talents but also the behind the scene talent and artistic work of the cat drivers!”

The existing Lake Louise Terrain Park will be deconstructed April 26 and 27 and the reconstruction for the event will take place April 28 to 30.

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Mission Accomplished at Le Massif
Petite-Rivière-Saint-François, Canada (Group Le Massif) – Once again, skiers and snowboarders have proved themselves totally smitten with Le Massif de Petite-Rivière-Saint-François’ many particularities – not surprisingly, skier visits for the 2003-2004 season hit last year’s record.

The Charlevoix ski area offered 123 days of skiing to its sports fans, promoting the highest vertical drop east of the Canadian Rockies, while management draws extremely positive conclusions for activities conducted between December 12th and April 12th 2004.

Despite a whimsical start to the season that suggested a dip in skier visits, important snowfalls blanketed the 36 trails with 150 centimeters over the average precipitation found at other Quebec ski areas. Optimal snowfalls combined with quality man-made snow early in the season curbed the effects of Mother Nature’s moodiness, to the great joy of all those who took advantage of such exceptional coverage - right up until closing date.

Events highlighting local happenings, like The Rendez-Vous Telemark, Panoramas & Paintbrushes, The Great Horned Owl’s Party, The Reggae Bash and The Rossignol Massif Open certainly drew their lot of supporters and sheer originality assuredly raised sports fans’ enthusiasm. The Pontiac-GMC Canadian Senior Championships also projected Le Massif into the limelight on both the national and international scene, with Canadian athletes’ spectacular performance on “La Charlevoix”, the National Training Center trail. In turn, Le Massif received high praise for this trail’s technical attributes and the quality of the ski area’s organizational skills.

The General Manager, Daniel Rochon, is enthusiastic about the season’s results. “Our leading objective was to consolidate our actions, offering top-notch customer service worthy of the visitors honoring us with their company. Results are significant and reveal that we reached our objective. This standard in customer service will be upheld, perpetuating our tradition of an experience like nowhere else! The success of a business like ours largely depends on the people we welcome onto our slopes and those we employ,” states Rochon, adding that it’s due to their precious collaboration that Le Massif is able to delight in such success.

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Fortress Mountain Ski Area will not open in 2004-2005
Kananaskis, Canada (RCR) – Resorts of the Canadian Rockies (RCR) has announced that it will not be operating Fortress Mountain Ski Area for the 2004-2005 winter season. The next year will be spent exploring options to create a sustainable Fortress operation, with a focus on an environmentally sensitive solution to long-term viability.

“Fortress Mountain Ski Area faces significant economic challenges that make the current operation not economically viable,” says Matt Mosteller spokesman for Resorts of the Canadian Rockies. “Major contributing factors include significant decline in skier visit numbers and increased operating costs due to age of the chairlifts,” added Mosteller.

RCR said it intends over the next year to work collaboratively with the provincial government, leading educational organizations and others to explore what options can deliver a sustainable future for Fortress Mountain.

“The costs of having Fortress being responsible for maintaining the provincial government access road year around, property taxes on an assessed value that far exceeds the market value of the resort, sky rocketing insurance premiums, escalating energy costs, and government limitations precluding on-hill accommodations has resulted in Fortress Mountain being unable to generate positive cash flow to make the necessary improvements it needs to continue operations,” said Mr. Neil Jackson, General Manager of Kananaskis, at Resorts of the Canadian Rockies. “Despite substantial capital expenditures and improvements at the ski area in the Fall of 2003, Fortress for the 2003 - 2004 winter season, still could not generate enough skier visits to be economically viable,” added Jackson.

Resorts of the Canadian Rockies have had preliminary discussions with leading educational institutions to determine the potential of establishing a year round environmental education center in Kananaskis.

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It’s 80’s Week: Fast Times at Lake Louise
Lake Louise, Canada (Resorts of the Canadian Rockies) – This April, Lake Louise Ski Resort is bringing back the atmosphere of “Hot Dog the Movie” and “Ski Patrol.” Take a trip back in time to the 80’s, dig out the neon ski suits, headbands, stretch pants, straight skis and head for the mountains for a flashback to the past for an entire week, April 19th to 24th. There will be tubing competitions, the Kokanee King and Queen of the Mountain, snow volleyball, the Dating Game and Name that Tune. Also watch out for special guest appearances by Wasabi Collective and Northern Pikes at the Kokanee Kabin.

“This will be ‘The Spring Party’ to be at in the mountains. Don’t miss out on the fun. It’s sure to be an event that will create memories with your current friends and the new ones you will meet,” says Matt Mosteller, Senior Director of Business Development for Resorts of the Canadian Rockies.

The events scheduled for the week include: Undie-5-Hundie (wear a piece of underwear in this fun ski/snowboard race), snowbeach volleyball outside the Kokanee Kabin, 80’s Name that Tune at the Kokanee Kabin, “Fantasia Party” at the Sitzmark Pub, The Dating Game & the Flashback Party at Hoodoo Lounge in Banff, tubing party at Temple Beach and Kokanee King & Queen of the Mountain contest.

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New Zealand Super Dog Team Certified in Canada
Lake Louise, Canada (Resorts of the Canadian Rockies) – A special Search and Rescue team has recently been accredited with their Canadian Avalanche Rescue Dog Association (CARDA) Certificate and is now posted at the Lake Louise Mountain Resort. Mel Potter and her four-year-old Border Collie NZ Sheepdog cross, Red, have become the first New Zealand team to be certified in Canada. Red and Mel ride the chairlifts together and can get down just about any terrain on the mountain.

A CARDA Certificate allows this highly specialized team to move safely through avalanche terrain in search of human scented articles. Avalanche dogs are trained to find the strongest source of human scent coming from the snow. Once detected, they mark the source by digging or barking. Using dogs for avalanche rescue is the fastest way to find buried individuals who are not wearing a beacon. In addition, Rescue Dogs are trained to find people on the surface who are unconscious or who have fallen in tree wells.

“Red is a very important member of our Snow Safety Team. We are very proud of our team and their commitment to safety in the mountains,” says Matt Mosteller, Senior Director of Business Development for Resorts of the Canadian Rockies. “Make sure to stop by Snow Safety or at the top of Summit Platter to say hello and meet Red,” added Mosteller.

Search and Rescue dogs can work in the dark and in weather conditions that limit helicopters. This type of rescue has been proven to be very effective in search and recovery time. Mel and Red train two to three times a week throughout the year and are very excited to be apart of the Snow Safety Team at Lake Louise.

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Vancouver Mountain Film Festival Stops at Kimberley Alpine Resort
Kimberely, Canada (Kimberley Alpine Resort) – Kimberlely Alpine Resort and The Kootenay News Advertiser, in support of the Kimberley Search and Rescue, presented the Vancouver Mountain Film Festival and special guest, Sean Isaac, at the North Star Centre at Kimberley Alpine Resort on April 2nd and 3rd. The event included two different slide shows, a selection of the best films from the 7th Annual Vancouver Mountain Film Festival and a question and answer period with climber and adventurer, Sean Isaac.

Sean Isaac, a full-time professional climber, is one of Canada’s leading big wall, alpine and mixed climbers. Sean has completed thirteen expeditions in the past seven years, forging new routes up remote and obscure alpine peaks, including Kyrgyzstan, Northwest Territories, Peru, Pakistan and Patagonia. Sean is also an accomplished competition climber and makes his home in Canmore, Alberta.

“We are very excited to be the host location for such a great showcase of mountain culture. It is also a great community event, as all the net proceeds will go towards assisting our much needed Kimberley Search and Rescue organization,” said Chris Elder, Marketing Manager for Kimberley Alpine Resort.

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Sam Wormington Day a Huge Success
Kimberley, Canada (Kimberley Alpine Resort) – The founder of the Kimberley Ski Club, Sam Wormington, was in town recently to be honored with the Queens Golden Jubilee Medal for his visionary work in developing the ski lift foundations on North Star mountain. MP, Jim Abbot, presented the medal to Sam, in front of 130 people, at a luncheon in his honor at the Kimberley Alpine Resort. Resort Marketing Manager, Jikke Stegeman, presented a watercolor painting by local artist Darleen Thompson on behalf of the Kimberley Bavarian Society Chamber of Commerce and friends and staff of the Kimberely Alpine Resort.

Many other activities around the resort wrapped up the luncheon. The Jon Burdon Duo played at the North Star Centre and Ferdy Belland played an intimate performance at the Stemwinder Eatery. A torchlight parade was also held in Mr. Wormington’s honor on Saturday night, to a very appreciative and receptive crowd.

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TELUS World Ski & Snowboard Fest in Whistler
Whistler, Canada (Tourism British Columbia) – The world’s best attend the TELUS World Ski & Snowboard Fest in Whistler. It is a competition and one of the world’s biggest snow parties at Whistler April 16 – 25th. The TELUS World Ski & Snowboard Fest, in its ninth year, is a blast. It is kicked off with the Ripzone Snowboard Invitational with superstar riders converging on Whistler for three days of snowboarding madness.

It continues with a myriad of free outdoor concerts, world-class sporting events, photography and film presentations, non-stop nightlife, and the best spring skiing and riding conditions on the planet. New in 2004 is the Canadian Technical Skiing Championships, an international competition for groups, pairs and individual qualifiers for the World Powder 8s. It takes place April 19-23. The World Skiing Invitational closes the festival, celebrating the end of the competitive ski season with its renowned nighttime Salomon Big Air, Whistler’s self-proclaimed party of the year.

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Ice Fishing at Mont-Sainte-Anne
Québec, Canada (Resorts of the Canadian Rockies) - The hunting and fishing association of the Côte-de-Beaupré is offering the unique experience of fishing on ice at Mont-Sainte-Anne.

Everyone is welcome to participate in this very special activity of fishing trout in the lake right at the base of the mountain. Opening hours are from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm Friday to Sunday. This activity will also be available during the week, upon reservation for groups. The pêche blanche is allowed until March 31st. The cost is $25 and it includes a family fishing permit, the right to capture five trout and all the necessary equipment. A reception post is located near the lake.

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Speed Skiing at Sun Peaks
Sun Peaks, Canada (Snow24) – The fastest speed skiers from around the globe converged on Sun Peaks Resort in Canada’s British Columbia from March 5th to 7th to compete for FIS World Cup Speed Skiing points as well as the coveted Velocity Challenge trophy.

This season is the 15th year of this spectacular event, making it the longest running speed skiing race in the western hemisphere and the only FIS World Cup speed skiing event to be held in North America this season.

Sun Peaks Resort sees racers from 10 countries battle on the technically difficult Headwall Speed Skiing Track. Racers reach speeds of up to 170 kmh (106 mph) and accelerate from 0 to 170 kmh in approximately eight seconds on the 300-meter (approx 1,000-feet) long, 50-degree course.

Sun Peaks Resort is home to the fastest skier in Canada. In April last year Sun Peaks resident Don Gagnon set a new Canadian Speed Skiing Record at 226.27 kmh in Les Arcs, France.

“If you have never witnessed the sight or sound of the world’s best speed skiers flying past you, barely touching the snow, then you do not want to miss this spectacle of speed,” states Vince Accardi, Director of Marketing and Media Relations for Tourism Sun Peaks.

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Drink Beer, Go Skiing
British Columbia, Canada (Snow24) – The Columbia Brewery in British Columbia has announced the introduction of the first beer bottle series designed to celebrate and promote the Canadian province’s mountain resorts as well as several in neighboring Alberta . The Kokanee “Signature Mountain Series” will feature seven B.C. ski mountains randomly displayed on twelve million specially labeled Kokanee bottles, encouraging beer drinkers to visit North America’s leading ski destinations, including Big White, Fernie, Panorama, Sun Peaks, Mount Washington and Whistler.

“As BC’s mountain brewery, our thinking behind the Signature Mountain Series is to create a dynamic tool to celebrate Kokanee’s glacier fresh source and some of the hottest mountain resorts in the world, which also happen to be in our backyard,” said Dave McAnerney, Brewery Manager, Columbia Brewery.

The specially labeled backside of Kokanee’s bottle will soon be appearing across Canada, reflecting Kokanee’s status as the Columbia Brewery’s only national brand.

“Kokanee beer drinkers are hip, active and love the outdoors, which is perfectly reflected in the ski culture and mountain resorts featured in our Signature Mountain Series promotion,” said McAnerney.

In addition to the seven BC mountain resorts, the Signature Mountain Series also features two resorts from Alberta: Lake Louise and Marmot Basin.

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Mountains of Snow
Fernie, Canada (Resorts of the Canadian Rockies) – Skiers and riders visiting Fernie (British Columbia) this season have enjoyed the best snow pack in the Canadian Rockies. Fernie Alpine Resort currently boasts a snow pack of 278 cm (109 in), the biggest in the Canadian Rockies. Fernie has had excellent conditions all season, with 657 cm (259 in) of the white stuff falling to date. “Plain and simple, with over 26 cm in the last 24 hours, Fernie is hands down, the place to go for Powder!” says Matt Mosteller, Senior Director of Business Development for Resorts of the Canadian Rockies.

Fernie Alpine Resort, located in southeastern British Columbia, has invested nearly $3.5 million into improvements for this season in order to provide a higher quality customer experience. Improvements include base area refurbishments such as more ticket windows, larger Guest Services area, expansion of the popular Mean Bean from coffee shop to deli, new log structure to house the Mountain Edge Retail Shop, improved snowmaking facilities, at mid-mountain a Yurt and improved bathroom facilities are in place at the Bear’s Den.

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Largest Snowfall this Year in Whistler
Whistler/Blackcomb, Canada (Snow24) – Whistler/Blackcomb received 45 centimeters (18 inches) of new snow in one night recently, the largest recorded overnight snowfall this season. The heavier than expected fall has boosted Whistler/Blackcomb’s base to 230 centimeters (91 inches). The sheer amount of snow delayed lift openings.

Whistler Mountain manager, Paul Skelton, was busy opening up terrain but he took time out to say, “There is a lot of snow on the mountains. The temperature is dropping, which will dry things out and should make for excellent powder skiing over the coming days.”

The year-to-date snowfall total at Whistler/Blackcomb is now 671 centimeters (264 inches), making this the eighth best season to date. In all of the other winters with this much snow at the end of January, Whistler/Blackcomb has smashed past its yearly average of 360 inches.

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Twenty-four Hour Ski and Board Race
Mont-Sainte-Anne, Canada (Snow24) – The success of the past four years of the “24 Hours of Le Mont Race” held at Quebec’s Mont-Sainte-Anne left expectations high for this year’s race held January 24th and 25th.

The race is open to teams or individuals and participants can choose to just join in for fun or race at a competitive level. Among the solo entrants is 68-year-old Charlotte Provencher, who is among many of the previous entrants to be back in the race again this year for a fourth time.

The event is staged on the Gros Vallon and La Beaupré trails. New for the fifth staging of the race is the exclusive energetic “Upper 24H” cocktail that is served during the 24-hour party taking place at the Chouette Bar. A non-alcoholic version of the cocktail is available. The party lasts 24 consecutive hours with outdoor spas to keep everyone warm.

The “24 Hours of Le Mont” is getting some attention on the international scene with amateurs from Switzerland, France, and Scotland showing interest. Last year, a Brazilian chose Mont-Sainte-Anne to take part in the 24-Hour race.

Half of the profits from the event go to the Quebec Handicapped Skiers Foundation. A team of blind skiers from the “Association Sports-Leisure for the Blind” takes part in the twenty-four hour event and can try out a run blindfolded with a guide.

Participants have access to the comfort of the gondolas during the night and at the awards ceremony buffet, all participants should find their due.

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Forty Years Later, Stoneham Names its Trails
Stoneham Mountain Resort, Canada (Snow24) – The 32 trails of Stoneham Mountain Resort near Quebec have been baptized 40 years after the resort was originally created. During the past four decades the runs have only had numbers, which is unusual in North America.

There’s a story behind each of the new trail names, including number 42 “La Bossanova,” a mogul run that apparently gives a feeling of dancing on the bumps (mogul is a bosse in French) and “La Bomba” (trail 46) is a tribute to the already legendary Alberto Tomba who won the World Cup slalom held at Stoneham in 1993.

“Le Monstre” (trail 49) is so named as it can scare even experts and “La Rock and Roll” is the 4B run that takes in the jumps and big airs of the Snowpark which features a lot of jumps and big airs. Trail One becomes the “Walter Moisan” as a tribute to the resort’s founder.

Stoneham Mountain Resort is celebrating throughout its 40th season with special discounts, musical groups from the 60’s to the modern day, numerous 40th-anniversary prizes, competitions, and après-ski.

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Take the Bus
Banff, Canada (Snow24) – Resorts of the Canadian Rockies has announced a new service, the Nakiska and Fortress Ski Bus. Guests staying in the Banff and Canmore area can now take in two more great ski areas with a convenient day bus. Operating every Friday throughout the season, the ski bus will pick up from most hotels in Banff and the Wendy’s/ Esso Station in Canmore. Twenty-four-hour advance reservation is required for Friday pick-ups for Canmore hotels.

Nakiska, the Olympic mountain located 90 kilometers (55 miles) west of Calgary in Kananaskis Country, remains Western Canada’s premier race center. The $100,000 purchase of snowmaking nozzles and electrical upgrades increased the snowmaking output by 40% for this winter, allowing for great snow coverage regardless of natural snowfall.

Fortress Mountain Ski Area is located in the Kananaskis Valley, on the edge of the Alberta Rocky Mountains. This special place provides some of the best adventure skiing in the Rockies set against a spectacular backdrop. With 35% more terrain, skiers and riders will have access to some of the most beautiful backcountry skiing.

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Biker-X Competition at Mont-Sainte-Anne and Stoneham
Mont-Sainte-Anne, Canada (Snow24) – The first of a series of three “Mountain Biking on Snow” competitions was staged at Mont-Sainte-Anne, Quebec, on January 17 and 18, 2004. Mont Gleason hosted the second on February 7 and Stoneham Mountain Resort will host the grand finale on February 21.

Mont-Sainte-Anne is the only resort to present the three disciplines used during the Mountain Bike World Cup in the summer: a Downhill competition at 10am and a 4-Cross at 1pm on Saturday 17th and a Cross-Country at 11am on Sunday 18th.

All weekend long, an expo village will entertain at the base of the mountain and many grants and prizes will be given out to the winners and the participants as well.

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Tremblant Expands Expert Terrain and Adds Second Park
Tremblant, Canada (Snow24) – Tremblant in Quebec, Canada is adding two new expert trails on its north side and thus is increasing the total skiable terrain from 610 acres to 625.5 acres.

The new “Supérieur” run is 936 meters (3,042 feet) long and situated between the “CBC” and the “Géant.” The second new trail, “La Griffe,” is 750 meters (2,438 feet) long and is located between the “Windigo” and the “Dynamite.”

In addition, the resort has added a second park on the south side under the “Flying Mile Express” lift. It includes expert terrain with seven jumps and 11 rails/jibs.

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Fortress Opens Late Because of Too Much Snow
Kananaskis Valley, Canada (Snow24) – Fortress Mountain in Western Canada was set to open December 12th with a significant overhaul of the lift system. However, too much snow slowed the progress of the upgrades and the resort had to delay opening until December 19th.

The unusual early season abundance of snow has made it difficult for the machinery to take position to complete the construction.

“These early season conditions are outstanding but unusual,” says Neil Jackson, General Manager of Kananaskis Resorts with the Resorts of the Canadian Rockies, indicating that the conditions for this time of year are not average based on the past five seasons. “It should make for some great adventure skiing once construction is complete,” adds Jackson.

Fortress Mountain Ski Area is located in the Kananaskis Valley, on the edge of the Alberta Rocky Mountains, an hour and a half from Calgary. This season the resort has expanded its terrain by 35%, adding 248 acres, increasing the mountain’s skiable terrain to 937 acres. Fortress Mountain operating days will be Wednesday through Sunday for the 2003-04 ski season

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Resort Snowfall In Western North America
North America (Snow24) – Although New England has not been having its best ever snow season, Canadian and US resorts in Western North America have been enjoying some spectacular conditions thanks to huge snowfalls. Whistler in Canada is a particular beneficiary of huge snowfalls.

Park City Mountain Resort in Utah rang in the New Year with record-breaking snowfall totals. November and December snowfall totals topped 200 inches, or close to 20 feet, leaving the mountain covered with the most snow since the 1983/1984 season. Snowfall so far has exceeded the total for the entire 02-03 season.

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Jasper in January
Jasper/Marmot Basin, Canada – The annual Jasper in January festival kicks off on January 17th and runs for 16 days through to February 1st. Events include a snow sculpture contest, the “Taste of the Town,” sleigh rides, ice skating and costume parties, ice rescue demonstrations, the ever-popular chili cook-off, and special evening entertainment and a whole lot more.

Marmot Basin is in full swing with all lifts operating and all-natural snow. Adult lift ticket rates during the festival are only $41 (Canadian) and Marmot will be hosting such on-mountain events as the Fun, Fat, & Forty Race, the Mountain to Valley Relay Race and Family Fun Races each weekend. Skiers and riders should not miss the “Jeep Super Demo Days” (January 24 & 25) featuring the latest ski and snowboard equipment. Also be sure to check out the “Freewheel Battle of the Boards” in the Marmot Terrain Park on Sunday January 25 - only $5 (Canadian) to enter and open to all ages and abilities.

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Scots Fernie International Interschools Cup
Fernie Alpine Resort, Canada (Resorts of the Canadian Rockies) – Fernie Alpine Resort and the Scots College from Sydney, Australia, joined together to stage the inaugural Scots Fernie International Interschools Cup. The event took place on Jan 11th and was open to all children and youth aged 5 through 19, from any country and of all abilities.

The race was held on Fernie Alpine Resort's Silver Fox Trail, and medals were awarded for the top three places in each category. The race is a dual slalom format, with two runs for each competitor on the NASTAR-style course. Ranking is done by the smallest margin/most consistent time between the two runs.

“Its great to be chosen as Canada's top destination for fun and events by Scots College,” says Matt Mosteller, Senior Director of Business Development. “Fernie is a perfect place to get our youth out on this hills enjoying this awesome event,” added Mosteller.

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2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Awarded to Vancouver-Whistler
Whistler, British Columbia (Tourism Whistler) – On July 2, 2003, the International Olympic Committee selected Whistler and Vancouver as hosts for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Whistler is the proposed venue for the Alpine (downhill, super G, giant slalom, slalom, combined), Nordic (biathlon, cross country skiing, nordic combined), Sliding (bobsleigh, luge, skeleton) ski jumping and all Paralympic events. Whistler is also home to a range of cultural events and a media center. For more information: www.winter2010.com.

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Resorts of the Canadian Rockies Support Battle Against Childhood Obesity
Calgary, Alberta (Snow24) – Resorts of the Canadian Rockies (RCR), owners of several leading ski areas in Canada, have joined with various other businesses and government bodies to launch a free skiing or boarding experience for children in Alberta aged seven and eight.

“The Husky Snow Stars Grade Two FunPass program will provide all Grade Two students in Alberta with free access to the best ski resorts in Alberta and British Columbia for the entire 2003/04 ski season,” said Matt Mosteller, Senior Director, Business Development, RCR. The pass includes three complimentary days of skiing or snowboarding at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary and an RCR Super Pass, which includes a free season pass at Lake Louise, Fernie, Kimberly, Nakiska and Fortress, Mosteller adds, “Skiing is Alberta’s winter sport of choice for the whole family to enjoy.”

The FunPass program brochures, containing registration information will be distributed to all schools in the Province in late October.

Husky Energy, in partnership with ACA first introduced the nationwide skill development program in Alberta in 2001. The Husky Snow Stars program is currently offered to 4,000 children across Quebec, Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia. Husky Energy supports the program through the development of Snow Stars bibs, parent guides, coach guides, athlete report cards.

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Same Sex Weddings for Whistler
Whistler, Bristish Columbia (Snow24) – Gay couples wishing to marry can now do so at Whistler, where weddings of all shapes, sizes and seasons have been celebrated since the early 1900s when Rainbow Lodge opened on Alta Lake.

Now, weddings for gay and lesbian couples can also be officially and legally celebrated in Whistler after a ruling by the British Columbia Court of Appeal was announced in July 2003 permitting same-sex marriages in the Province of British Columbia.

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Marmot Basin Opening For Season With New Base Chalet and Added Terrain
Marmot Basin, Alberta (Snow24) – Marmot Basin ski area, located in Jasper National Park Alberta, Canada, opened on December 4, 2003, for the winter ski & snowboard season.

Construction crews put the finishing touches on a one million dollar improvement project to the lower floor of the Caribou Chalet located at the base of the mountain. Included in the renovation is a new, state-of-the art Rental and Repair Shop featuring the newest in ski & snowboard equipment, a new Guest Services Center and Ski & Snowboard School registration area as well as a new Group Sales Center and coffee shop featuring Starbucks coffee.

Other improvements implemented by Marmot’s new group of owners include the opening of two new bowls on Eagle Ridge known as the Sugar Bowl and the Birthday Bowl, the installation of a new Magic Carpet beginner lift in the learning area, new platters installed on the School House lift in the lower area, new food and beverage services with new menus and lower prices, and new runs signs throughout the mountain.

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Fernie Winter Sports School in the Top Five
Fernie, British Columbia (Fernie Alpine Resort) – Fernie Alpine Resort Winter Sports School was recently rated as one of the top five ski/snowboard schools in Canada for kids by Pure Canada Magazine (Fall/Winter issue). Writer Bill Scheller states that, “Fernie hasn’t forgotten that big mountains have to take care of little skiers and riders.” Fernie offers instruction for three and four year olds from the daycare who are given lessons in their own area. Scheller continues, “Fernie is quite specific regarding ski ability levels and matching this to terrain, lifts and instruction. This same philosophy of matching skill level with instruction continues into programs for older kids, with snowboarders beginning at age five, a full year or two earlier than at most areas,” adds Scheller.

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Big White & Silver Star Win Golden Ski Awards
Big White, British Columbia (Big White Resort) – The winners of this year’s Golden Ski Awards were recently announced. These prestigious awards are judged by the editors and contributors of The Good Skiing & Snowboarding Guide 2004 for resorts and amenities they consider have provided an outstanding level of service to visiting skiers and snowboarders over the 2002-2003 season. The guide, put together by Peter and Felice Hardy, offers independent, unbiased assessments of over 200 resorts around the world, with detailed analysis of the Top 100.

Big White won the title of "Family Resort of the Year" award for North America. Silver Star Mountain Resort won the title of best "Small Resort of the Year" for North America. "What a thrill it was to hear from Robert this morning after the awards were announced in London," commented Michael J. Ballingall, Senior Vice President, Schumann Resorts Ltd. for Big White and Silver Star Resorts.

"This will go a long way in thanking our staff and other resort accommodators and restaurant owners for their hard work, service and dedication they provide day in and day out at both Big White and Silver Star. Our company’s commitment to providing state-of-the-art and world-class infrastructure, our community’s commitment in providing a first class international airport and Mother Nature’s supernatural British Columbia will continue to prove that we are one of the greatest and safest vacation destinations in the world today,” continued Ballingall.

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Beginning of Snowmaking at Mont-Sainte-Anne and Stoneham Mountain Resort
Mont-Sainte-Anne, Québec (Monte-Sainte-Ann Tourism) – Over 40 snow guns will be in operation at Mont-Sainte-Anne 24 hours per day, weather permitting. They will be blowing over La Paradeuse, La Surprenante, the north side base and also the top of the mountain.

“We are very optimistic about the snowmaking progression with the cold weather planned for the next few days. We should gradually add a number of snow guns, to ensure that snow conditions are the best for the opening,” says Guy Bélanger, responsible for the snowmaking operations.

At Stoneham Mountain Resort, 24 snow guns will blow on trails #2, #7 and the half- pipe. Thanks to a new water pipe system, Stoneham will be able to increase its snowmaking efficiency this season.

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Eagle’s Eye Restaurant at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort Recognized as "Mountain Restaurant of the Year"
Golden, British Columbia (Kicking Horse Resort) – Kicking Horse Mountain Resort has added another prestigious award to their collection. The Eagle’s Eye Restaurant, the crown jewel of the resort’s operation, was awarded “Mountain Restaurant of the Year” by The Good Skiing & Snowboarding Guide 2004 for the second year in a row.

“Two consecutive wins is such great news,” said Marketing Manager Gord Vizzutti of Kicking Horse Mountain Resort. “Receiving this restaurant award is continuing proof that our Eagle’s Eye staff, service, Pacific Northwest cuisine, and mountaintop ambience, is a true hit with our global clientele.”

Last year, the resort received two 2003 Golden Ski Awards. In addition to the resort’s first “Mountain Restaurant of the Year” award, Kicking Horse Resort was also recognized as “Best New Small Resort of the Year” in North America.

The Golden Ski Awards are judged annually by the editors, contributors, and reporters of The Good Skiing & Snowboarding Guide. There are over 600 resorts worldwide in contention for these prestigious awards. Two winners are selected for each category, one from Europe and the other from North America.

Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, Canada’s newest all season mountain resort, is 2.5 hours west of Calgary on the Trans Canada Highway. The 2003/04 winter season is scheduled to commence on December 19 with expanded terrain.

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Panorama Ready For Historic Season
Panorama, British Columbia (Snow24) – Intrawest’s Panorama Mountain Village in Western Canada is gearing up for opening following summer lift installations that mark the biggest single expansion in the resort’s history. As reported in the spring, two new, state of the art, Doppelmayr quad chair lifts have been installed replacing a double chair and two T-bars, making Panorama a T-bar free zone when it opens in early December.

A new detachable high-speed quad named Champagne Express will replace the Horizon Double Chairlift and Champagne T-Bar while another new fixed-grip quad chair named Summit Quad will replace the Summit T-Bar. The new lift will move skiers and snowboarders almost two kilometers (1.25 miles) with an express ride time of just over six minutes - virtually three times faster than before. Uphill capacity for this lift is 1,800 skiers per hour.

“For those looking to get into Taynton Bowl, Panorama’s newest terrain expansion, this is really good news. With a faster route to the top, expert skiers and riders will be able to enjoy more of the glades, chutes and bumps to be had in this northeast-facing powder haven,” says Gord Ahrens, Panorama’s Vice-President and General Manager.

“With the addition of these chairs, we will also be putting in additional snowmaking equipment on the runs adjacent to the new quads to ensure we have adequate snow coverage on all of the elevation serviced by the new quads. For next year, there will be 1,077 vertical meters (3,500 vertical feet) of terrain serviced by snowmaking equipment,” Ahrens continued.

“These new chair lifts represent one of the most exciting new stages in our overall resort development Master Plan,” says Ahrens. “This project exceeds six million dollars and underlines our commitment to offer the kind of mountain experience that will bring visitors back again and again.”

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New Standish High-Speed Quad for Sunshine Village
Sunshine Village, Alberta, (Ski Banff) – Sunshine Village’s 75th anniversary season is just around the corner and conditions look promising for the anticipated opening day of November 14th. A new Standish high-speed quad is completed and ready for opening day. This new lift, Sunshine’s 7th quad chair, is the latest project in a long line of resort improvements that has seen the investment of over $40 million in the mountain in the past eight years. They are also opening new advanced terrain on Goat’s Eye Mountain.

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Fernie Improves Its Food and Facilities
Fernie, Canada (Snow24) – Fernie ski resort in Canada will be improving its food service this season with two major improvements. First, a permanent stonework barbecue will be located near the outdoor fire pit in the village plaza. Secondly, an environmentally friendly and unique structure known as a “Yurt” will find its home mid-mountain near the Bear’s Den. This will improve the mid-mountain food services, as well as providing a warming area for skiers and riders.

Services for skiers, including ticketing, retail, guest services and information will also be improved with the creation of a log village. A newly constructed log building will enhance the rustic and unique mountain setting of the resort while allowing guests to utilize resort services more efficiently. The new log structure will be located near the stone barbecue and fire pit in the village plaza.

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Early Snow Coats Western North America
North America (Snow24) – Most resorts in Western North America received an impressive covering of snow on at least their upper slopes. Fresh snow on Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains can be seen on the resort’s live web cams. Further West a dusting of fresh snow fell early at Silver Star Mountain Resort, the second snowfall received in a week.

It’s the same story at Big White. “It was only two years ago, October 20, 2001, that Big White Ski Resort was the first major resort in North America to open for skiing and snowboarding,” commented Michael J. Ballingall, Sr. Vice President, “and with early snow like this, we’re hoping this year will be the same.”

Jeremy Hopkinson, Vice President Outdoor Operations, stated, “the Schumann family, owners of Big White and Silver Star Ski Resorts, have always had a policy to open their resorts whenever snow permits, no matter what time of the year it is.”

In Alberta, Lake Louise, which is still open for summer business until September 30th, welcomed a good coverage of snow at 2,092 meters (6,800feet). The 2003/04 ski season is scheduled to begin on November 7th at Lake Louise ski area with their snowmaking in full operation beginning on October 15th.

“The first snowfall is always exciting for us, particularly when it comes so early in the year,” says Matt Mosteller, Senior Director of Business Development.

Fernie Alpine Resort, famed for its legendary powder and limitless terrain, received a light dusting of snow high in the alpine and expects more to come in the weeks to follow. Opening date for Fernie is scheduled for November 27th with major new developments in the works.

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Marmot Basin Completes Eagle Ridge, Phase Three Opens this Season
Marmot Basin, Canada (Snow24) – The 2003-04 season will mark the completion of Marmot Basin’s three-year Eagle Ridge Project. Eagle Ridge Phase 3 will consist of even more glading with the removal of hundreds more trees in Eagle East. The terrain in Eagle East provides a true wilderness skiing/snowboarding experience, which was vastly improved with last season’s mass glading project (Eagle Ridge Phase 2). In 2003-04, the terrain will be easier to access and exit from, and will augment the sensation of an out-of-bounds skiing and riding experience within the ski area’s leasehold boundary.

Marmot’s professional Ski & Snowboard School offers guided tours and instruction to those who want a taste of adventure in Eagle East. This program will appeal to stronger intermediates and advanced skiers and riders who want to discover the best of Marmot’s wildest new adventure terrain.

At the base of the slopes, Marmot Basin demolished its existing rental and repair area in the Caribou Chalet day lodge this summer and is investing in a brand new layout to host groups and individuals with greater efficiency and convenience. The new Rental and Repair Shop will offer Head/Tyrolia equipment and will be outfitted with new state-of-the-art computer systems. Returning guests will now be able to phone ahead and enjoy the convenience of a Rental Express Lane, with rental equipment having already been pre-set to the guest’s specifications. Once out of the new rental area look for Marmots new Ski School Desk to book lesson packages.

Marmot Basin will also install a new Magic Carpet lift in the lower area of the mountain to better serve beginner skiers and snowboarders. The new lift will assist instructors in teaching beginners the basics before heading out to more advanced lifts and slopes. Also, the School House T-Bar has been fitted with single person J-Bars this summer, making the lift much more user-friendly, especially for novice skiers and snowboarders.

Finally Jasper’s new daily connector service will greatly improve access to one of the most spectacular ski destinations in the world. Depart from your hotel in Jasper starting at 8am and arrive in Lake Louise or Banff by 12:15pm. Or head north along the Icefields Parkway starting at 1:30pm from Banff and arrive at 5:30pm in Jasper. Pickups and drop-offs are also available to and from Calgary and Edmonton International airports.

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More Snow For Lake Louise
Lake Louise, Alberta (Snow24) – Canada’s Lake Louise Ski Area, famous for its natural snowfall that gives it one of the longest seasons of any major resorts, is further expanding its back-up snowmaking system. The center will be adding 75 snow guns to its fleet for an increase of 30% to its snowmaking area in order to ensure the best possible snow conditions for the annual World Cup Alpine events and each end of its long November - May season.

This season is also the first in a three-year plan that will see a complete overhaul of the food and beverage services offering at the four on mountain day lodges at Lake Louise. The improvements include new menus with a fun, healthy and light offering.

Torchlight Dinner Evenings, a fun après-ski event, will be held on Monday and Thursday evenings this winter. As always the event includes hot appetizers, full buffet dinner, live entertainment and the highlight of the evening, a guided torchlight ski down the mountain.

Finally, Club Ski, Club Snowboard and Club Junior, Ski Banff-Lake Louise- Sunshine’s three-day tri-area guiding and instruction program will start on Sundays and Thursdays for the 2003/4 season. The Sunday start date is a better fit with the majority of guest’s travel schedules than the previous Monday start date.

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Canada Snowsports Boom Continues, Quebec Leads the Way
Research conducted by the Canadian Ski Council (www.skicanada.org) indicates the 2002-2003 ski and snowboard season was one of the “hottest” on record, with a total number of skier-rider visits for the country at 18.9 million, at par with last season. Both 2001-2002 and 2002-2003 were record setting ski seasons for Canada.

“We’re very pleased with last season’s skier-rider visits,” says Colin Chedore, President of the Canadian Ski Council. “Canadians are re-discovering winter as a time for outdoor sports and family fun. Conditions across Canada were phenomenal and we expect next season to be even better.”

Canada’s Eastern ski areas enjoyed the biggest increase. Quebec ski areas reported over 6.9 million skier and snowboarder visits in 2002/03 - a whopping 13 per cent rise over the 2001/02 season. Ontario ski and snowboard visits were up 7% over the previous year, from 3.0 million in 2001/02 to 3.2 million in 2002/03.

Atlantic Canada also experienced an exceptional season, with ski areas in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island reporting skier-rider visits at 570,000.

The West shared in the rest of the country’s success last season as well. Skier and rider visits came in at 5.5 million for British Columbia and 2.4 million for Alberta. These are great results for provinces that suffered from less-than-average snowfalls early on in the season.

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