Notes
The Alberta World Cup Society is awaiting final approval from Parks Canada for the 2015 Haywood NorAm Western Canadian Championship cross-country ski race at Lake Louise, which will serve as a test event for the first cross-country ski world cup race at the mountain hamlet.
The race, which will begin and end on Lake Louise, and use existing Lake Louise Loppett trails, needs to pass a Environmental Impact Study, however, both sides don’t believe any issues will arise between now and the Jan. 15, 2015 start.
“This is a proposed event on existing trails. Given its nature, we don’t anticipate any major modifications,” said Banff National Park Visitor Experience Manager Michael St. Denis.
The Western Canadian Championships race attracts the best domestic racers in Canada, and is anticipated to draw more than 100 athletes eager to test out the future world cup course.
AWCS’s Ken Hewitt said the biggest change to the course will be improved grooming. A PistenBully 100 on loan from Kananaskis Country will be used to provide a world cup-calibre trackset on the course, which will require slight modifications. Hewitt said there will be some tree removal to ensure the machine can pass through the narrow trails, but it will be “less than 20 trees” over the 15 kilometre course.
“We haven’t added to the course in any way, other than to ensure proper grooming on the course,” Hewitt said. “There will be less than 20 trees removed. Beyond that, Parks Canada has a standard for double track and we’ll be in that standard. The trails will maintain their natural feel. There will be no filling or terrain adjustment.”
Part of the race’s appeal will be the stunning backdrop of Lake Louise and the narrow trackset dodging through the trees. Compared to the wide tracks at the Canmore Nordic Centre, it will be a completely different raceenvironment for the skiers, although it will be a relatively easy course.
“It definitely won’t be the hardest course around. It’s not trivial. There is an ‘A’ hill. It’s not perfect, but FIS knows that,” Hewitt said.
Race organizers must also develop an emergency action plan, complete special permit applications and put contingency plans in place. Hewitt said if lake conditions unexpectedly deteriorate, the start will be moved to the Lake Louise bus parking area.
If the test event goes well, Lake Louise will become 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.
Hewitt said the next challenge will be ensuring world cup television crews and facilities fit into the event. Millions of Europeans tune into world cup races every weekend.
“We’ve never done a cross-country world cup race in Lake Louise, and we’ve put the race in a place with very few world cup facilities,” Hewitt said.
St. Denis said Parks Canada should make a decision on the race by the end of the year, based on a list of factors, including safeguarding the environment, ensuring public safety and meeting the needs of the event. The timeline leaves a scant two weeks before the event, but he doesn’t foresee any issues. He said the permit process is different in winter, as the snowpack reduces effects on the trail network.
“Personally, I believe this is an opportunity to showcase the winter offering here. Skiing in an iconic location showcases what visitors can do,” St. Denis said.
