Like most small town main streets, Canmore’s is about shopping, dining, arts and culture, but for one weekend a year, it’s also skiing fun for everyone.
As part of the Haywood Ski Nationals 2011, Canmore hosted Community Celebrations over the weekend (March 11-14) and, for the second year, Main Street was transformed into a cross-country ski track between Sixth and Eighth Avenues.
The 800 metres of groomed track featured special events, races and demonstrations, and blocks of public use time with free equipment loans provided by Trail Sports. Bright sunshine and spring temperatures also helped ensure a positive experience for visitors and locals alike.
Malibu, California resident Steve Chambers has history in Canmore and was an enthusiastic supporter of the idea of a unique event like the Community Celebrations.
“I work as a helicopter ski guide in Revelstoke and home used to be here in Canmore. (My) family is visiting while I have some days off and we just happened to time it really well with this little event,” Chambers said.
“I’ve always loved all the events that take place here at the Nordic Centre, and the fact that they’ve closed down Main Street and no one seems to mind is awesome. You think you’re going to come and just watch for a couple of minutes, but then you don’t want to leave. The weather’s nice and the kids are having a good time. It’s been great.”
In addition to public use time, a number of local organizations and schools hosted special events designed to promote healthy lifestyles. Elizabeth Rummel, Our Lady of the Snows and Canmore Collegiate High School all held school activities on the track, and dog sled demonstrations and the Xterra Winter Triathlon also featured prominently on Sunday (March 13).
One of the highlights on Saturday (March 12) was the Jackrabbit Mini Sprints for four to 11 year olds. Hosted by the Canmore Nordic Ski Club, kids of all experience levels and abilities had the opportunity to take a few laps up and down the street to the cheers of an enthusiastic crowd. Race announcer Thomas Grandi called the action for the fun-filled event, and returning Jackrabbit Mini Sprints coordinator Alaric Fish was pleased with the turnout.
“I think it was a really successful day. It’s really about a fun event to have kids skiing down Main Street. I saw a lot of smiling faces, so I think it was good,” Fish said after the last race was run.
A lot of time and effort goes into making an undertaking as large as the Community Celebrations work, and the hope is the celebrations are gaining momentum.
“I’m excited that the various players came back and made the investment to put the snow down,” Fish said. “There’s some funding that comes from the downtown businesses and from local hotels (through the Destination Marketing Fund and the Downtown Business Association) and that’s a critical piece, so we’re really grateful for that help.
“I would like to see this continue in the future. It’s something pretty unique in Canmore. It’s good to be part of it.”
The Community Celebrations were also supported by the Town of Canmore, the Canmore Nordic Centre, Tourism Canmore Kananaskis and Travel Alberta.
Later in the afternoon on Saturday, the Rocky Mountain Adaptive Sport Centre demonstrated the latest equipment used in Para-Nordic skiing, and had a number of sit skis available for public use. As well, Fast and Female hosted an evening of Zumba dancing and cross-country skiing for girls and women of all ages to promote their empowerment through sport program. Bright pink dominated the scene and prizes were given out for best dancers and best costumes.
Throughout the day people dropped by to take a few laps of the course, or simply enjoy the scene on Main Street. Rachel O’Neal moved from the UK and settled in Canmore recently with her husband Mark and son Jamie, and was swept up in the spirit of the event.
“I think it’s absolutely brilliant,” O’Neal said. “I think it’s great fun for all the family, the kids are loving it, and it’s the first time I’ve ever done it,” O’Neal said with a laugh. “And I haven’t fallen over yet, so yeah, it’s just good fun for all the family and it’s just nice to have a warmer day.”
While the springtime temperatures made for pleasant days for those enjoying the track, laying down two blocks worth of snow proved problematic.
Downer Contracting was tasked with moving snow from the Nordic Centre to the downtown core and the track set up occurred on Thursday night (March 10). Warm temperatures complicated the process as heavy snow loaded into the trucks stuck to the bottom and sides of the buckets and would not slide out once on site. Eventually, a front end loader was called in to help pull the snow out.
To compound the issue, snow squalls at 9 p.m. and again at 10:30 p.m. on Thursday night caused closure of the lower end of Spray Lakes Road temporarily. Final grooming of the track wasn’t complete until 6:30 a.m. Friday.
“We had some issues on Thursday night putting the snow in,” event manager Ric Proctor said. “And we really want to apologize and thank the residents of Main Street for their patience. But then you look on the track at three o’clock on Saturday and you see all these kids being introduced to the sport and you realize we’ve already exceeded expectations with the event.
“Canmore is the home of the Canadian cross-country and biathlon teams, and what better thing to do than to introduce these children to the sport? Some of them have obviously done it before, but this is a unique opportunity that captures their imaginations.”
Ski loans for Saturday and Sunday were between 400 and 500 pairs each day, and averaged three pairs per loan. The total number of skiers taking advantage of the free track over the weekend is unknown, but the well attended school activities and number of people who also brought their own gear to use the downtown track easily exceeded usage from the year before.
“We know that we’re delivering long-term marketing benefits to the community,” Proctor said as yet another young person shuffled by, “but the thing that’s really starting to strike me is we’re introducing a healthy lifestyle to our children. And we’re showing our visitors that we’re into that lifestyle too.”
Plans have not yet been made for a third downtown ski track in 2012, but an International Biathlon Union series of races is scheduled for February of next year, and would make a good partner for another Community Celebrations event.
