Ski Confederation approved!

Foothills Nordic Ski Club and the City of Calgary have partnered to improve Calgarians’ access to cross-country skiing within the city. As a long time provider of volunteer ski trail grooming at Confederation Park Golf Course, Foothills Nordic Ski Club now has a new agreement with the City of Calgary that includes snow farming and harvesting and snow making. These improvements will augment natural snow and provide a more consistent ski experience for Calgarians and are a must for Calgary’s chinook-influenced climate.

With WinSport Canada’s June 2016 announcement to install a tube park through the cross-country ski trails at Canada Olympic Park local cross-country ski clubs and skiers were left scrambling to find an alternate venue for the 2016/17 season. Foothills Nordic took decisive action, raising over $87,000 in just over a month, to purchase capital equipment and cover projected operating expenses for proposed improvements at the city-owned golf course.

Foothills Nordic Ski Club president, Kevin McLean, is very pleased that the club was able to raise funds and finalize a new operating agreement with the City on such a short timeline. “We wouldn’t have been able to do it without a tremendous amount of support and hard work on the part of the city, our donors and volunteers.”

Despite world-class cross-country skiing within the mountain parks beyond Calgary, facilities within the city are a necessity for the long-term viability of the sport, securing the livelihood of “grassroots programming necessary for creating the next generation of Nordic enthusiasts”, says Kevin Sandau, former Canadian Ski Team Member and Foothills Jackrabbit. Cross-country skiing at local golf courses and parks provides Calgary’s children, youth and adults with access to outdoor recreation within the city, promoting healthy, active lifestyles.

In addition to its partnership with the City of Calgary on the Confederation Park Golf Course project, Foothills Nordic Ski Club is also committed to working with other Nordic clubs toward improved cross-country ski capacity throughout the city.

More details to come. For further information click here.