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travel / adventure zone
| The Adventure Zone |
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| Photo courtesy Banff National Park |
WinterStart
In Banff National Park, it’s snowtime
By Tracy C. Read
A summer solstice party? Absolutely. A harvest celebration? Why not? The tradition of embracing the changing seasons is as Canadian as maple syrup. Which is why WinterStart, Banff National Park’s annual celebratory high-five for winter, makes perfect sense. Snow and sub-zero temperatures? Please. Bring it on.
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| Photo © iStockphoto.com |
Canada’s first (and some say, its most spectacular) national park, Banff has been paying homage to the snowy season for close to a century. In 1917, the first Banff Winter Carnival showcased cross-country skiing, ski jumping, curling, snowshoe and skijoring events, effectively launching winter tourism. By the 1930s, the Sunshine Village development had rapidly transformed the area into a downhill-ski destination. With the 1968 winterization of the Banff Springs Hotel, the development of the Trans-Canada Highway and the construction of the Calgary airport, the message was loud and clear: Banff was open for winter business.
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| Photo © iStockphoto.com |
Today, the park’s WinterStart Festival helps reinforce and fuel the community’s enthusiasm. The festival rolls out over two weekends (Nov. 8–9 and Dec. 4–6), and organizers have excelled at making sure there is something for everyone. As part of the Olympic warm-up, men’s and women’s World Cup racing events are scheduled for the Lake Louise area and spectators are promised a glimpse of the fastest alpine skiers on the planet.
Off the slopes and on the silver screen are showings of Warren Miller’s latest hi-def ski flick, “Dynasty,” narrated by freestylist Jonny Moseley, plus the award-winning Teton Gravity Research’s “RE:Session,” which introduces viewers to forbidden powder in Poland, new gap jumps in Utah and epic riding conditions in Alaska.
All the entertainment value isn’t up on the big screen by any stretch. Parks Canada’s theatre group Mountain WIT celebrates the park’s history through the magic of puppetry, mask and music, and kids can take part in face painting, crafts and cookie decorating. The Castle Carolers stroll through downtown Banff, and a gondola ride to the top of Sulphur Mountain puts you right in the middle of a mountaintop sing-along. With the Santa Claus Parade of Lights and an appearance by Vinyl Café favourite Stuart McLean, we can consider the season suitably welcomed.
For WinterStart’s full schedule, visit www.banfflakelouise.com
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