Parks Canada says the 2016 cross-country world cup race in Lake Louise is not a done deal – but the event is already listed and being promoted on the Federation Internationale de Ski’s (FIS) website.
The FIS website says host venues are finalized, including the March 11, 2016 race in Lake Louise, and that detailed work plans in regards to competition programs and race formats are being conducted.
Meanwhile, Parks Canada recently gave the nod of approval to next week’s Jan. 14-15 NorAm Western Canadian Cross-Country Ski Championships, expected to draw up to 100 of the best domestic racers in Canada eager to test the future world cup site.
Conservation groups say they believe both this month’s test event was a done deal before an environmental assessment was completed. Trees were cut down in advance of the assessment and the race was listed on the Alberta World Cup Society’s website.
Parks Canada says neither race is or was a done deal.
“The 2015 event is as far as we’re looking right now,” said Alex Kolesch, Parks Canada’s manager of land use, policy and planning for Lake Louise, Yoho and Kootenay, in a recent interview.
“We considered this event because of the potential exposure of the amazing Nordic skiing opportunities in Banff National Park. Nordic skiing is a great way to connect people with nature and connect people with Banff National Park.”
If approved and the test race goes well, the idea is Lake Louise will be a confirmed stop on the 2016 Cross Country Canada Tour Du Canada, which will be the biggest cross-country ski event in the world next year. It will include races in Gatineau, Montreal, Quebec City, Canmore and Lake Louise and attract the best ski racers in the world.
Conservationists say the basic environmental impact assessment for next week’s test race has no reference within the document as to how the race will be evaluated or what criteria will be used to evaluate it.
Bow Valley Naturalists say there are significant differences between what a lower level NorAm event might include, versus what a world cup might require in terms of competitors, spectators, helicopter footage, media coverage, timing requirements, and officials.
“To call this a test race without outlining any meaningful evaluation criteria is, at best, deliberately misleading,” said Colleen Campbell, who sits on BVN’s board of directors.
“We fail to see how this is anything but a glossed over warmup for the benefit of FIS officials and suspect the 2016 world cup race has been tacitly approved already.”
Campbell said about one-third of the race takes place within the legislated boundaries of “declared wilderness.”
She said while low level cross-country track setting already occurs within these boundaries, an international race – with enhanced track setting, trail clearing, helicopters, sound systems, spectators – does not meet the intent of the declared wilderness legislation.
“BVN is very concerned about the potential precedent for holding any sort of competitive event in ‘declared wilderness’,” she said. “This has management implications not only for Banff National Park, but also for all ‘declared wilderness’ areas in all of Canada’s national parks.”
Kolesch said he does not believe consideration of the race is precedent setting, noting they are considering the proposal as a one-time event because of the potential opportunities to expose people to Nordic skiing.
“We will work really closely with the proponent to make sure appropriate measures are taken to safeguard the environment, minimize the impact to visitors and public safety,” said Kolesch.
