Nakiska
Encyclopedia
Nakiska is a ski resort
in the Kananaskis Country region of the Canadian
province
of Alberta
. It is located 83 km (51.6 mi) from Calgary, west on Highway 1 (Trans-Canada Highway
) and south on Highway 40 (Kananaskis Trail).
Set on the face of Mount Allan, Nakiska has 64 trails with four chairlifts (3 High speed Quads
and 1 Double), 1 Reg Magic Carpet
and 1 Monster Carpet) set up over an area of 3 km² (1.2 sq mi). The longest run has 3.3 km (2.1 mi), from a top lift-served elevation of 2258 m (7,408.1 ft) to the base elevation of 1479 m (4,852.4 ft).
Nakiska is now owned by Resorts of the Canadian Rockies, also owner of the Fernie
, Kimberley
, Mont Sainte Anne and Stoneham ski resorts.
. Nakiska hosted the ten alpine skiing
events, as well as freestyle
moguls skiing, then a demonstration
event. A temporary surface lift
to the gusty top of the mountain was used for the men's downhill
event. This poma still remains to be seen when disembarking from the top of the "Gold Chair" and is sometimes turned on for avalanche control. The start of the men's downhill was at 2412 m (7913 ft).
In 2008 Nakiska Ski Area was named the official Training Centre of Alpine Canada (ACA). Each year Nakiska, welcomes Alpine Teams from around the world for early season ski training. During the summer of 2008 the ski area embarked on a series of renovations. Snowmaking enhancements increased capacity by 33%. The 100 metre Monster Magic Carpet was added and the creation of a dedicated Training Run was completed on Mapmaker.
In 2009, in preparation for the 2010 Olympics, more enhancements occurred. A new High Speed Quad lift was installed (Gold Chair Express) replacing the original fixed grip (Gold) chairlift. The ride time is 4.7 min compared to the old time of 9.7 min.
In 2009 new ski trails were also created with the addition of the new Monster Glades (trails in the trees).
Ski resort
A ski resort is a resort developed for skiing and other winter sports. In Europe a ski resort is a town or village in a ski area - a mountainous area, where there are ski trails and supporting services such as hotels and other accommodation, restaurants, equipment rental and a ski lift system...
in the Kananaskis Country region of the Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
province
Provinces and territories of Canada
The provinces and territories of Canada combine to make up the world's second-largest country by area. There are ten provinces and three territories...
of Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
. It is located 83 km (51.6 mi) from Calgary, west on Highway 1 (Trans-Canada Highway
Trans-Canada Highway
The Trans-Canada Highway is a federal-provincial highway system that joins the ten provinces of Canada. It is, along with the Trans-Siberian Highway and Australia's Highway 1, one of the world's longest national highways, with the main route spanning 8,030 km...
) and south on Highway 40 (Kananaskis Trail).
Set on the face of Mount Allan, Nakiska has 64 trails with four chairlifts (3 High speed Quads
Detachable chairlift
A detachable chairlift or high-speed chairlift is a type of passenger aerial lift, which, like a fixed-grip chairlift, consists of numerous chairs attached to a constantly moving wire rope that is strung between two terminals over intermediate towers. They are now commonplace at all but the...
and 1 Double), 1 Reg Magic Carpet
Magic carpet (ski lift)
A magic carpet is a type of surface lift installed at ski areas to transport skiers and snowboarders up the hill...
and 1 Monster Carpet) set up over an area of 3 km² (1.2 sq mi). The longest run has 3.3 km (2.1 mi), from a top lift-served elevation of 2258 m (7,408.1 ft) to the base elevation of 1479 m (4,852.4 ft).
Nakiska is now owned by Resorts of the Canadian Rockies, also owner of the Fernie
Fernie Alpine Resort
Fernie Alpine Resort is a ski resort, located on Lizard Range, near the town of Fernie, British Columbia in Canada. It is known particularly for its high annual snowfall, reportedly the highest of any resort in the Canadian Rockies, and for its powder skiing...
, Kimberley
Kimberley Alpine Resort
Kimberley Alpine Resort is a ski resort located in Kimberley, British Columbia, Canada.It is located in the Purcell Mountains, on the east face of North Star Hill...
, Mont Sainte Anne and Stoneham ski resorts.
History
Construction of the resort begun in 1986, in preparation for the 1988 Winter Olympics1988 Winter Olympics
The 1988 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XV Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event celebrated in and around Calgary, Alberta, Canada from 13 to 28 February 1988. The host was selected in 1981 after having beat Falun, Sweden and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy...
. Nakiska hosted the ten alpine skiing
Alpine skiing at the 1988 Winter Olympics
Alpine skiing at the 1988 Winter Olympics consisted of ten events, held near Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The ten events were held at the Nakiska ski area in Kananaskis from February 15-27, 1988....
events, as well as freestyle
Freestyle skiing at the 1988 Winter Olympics
Freestyle skiing was a demonstration sport at the 1988 Winter Olympics. The venues were Canada Olympic Park for aerials and ballet, and Nakiska for moguls. This was the first appearance of freestyle skiing at the Winter Olympics.-Placement table:...
moguls skiing, then a demonstration
Demonstration sport
A demonstration sport is a sport which is played to promote itself, most commonly during the Olympic Games, but also at other sporting events.Demonstration sports were officially introduced in 1912 Summer Olympics, when Sweden decided to include glima, traditional Icelandic wrestling, in the...
event. A temporary surface lift
Surface lift
A surface lift is a type of cable transportation system used to transport skiers and snowboarders where riders remain on the ground as they are pulled uphill.Types of surface lifts include the Poma lift, J-bar, T-bar, rope tow, and magic carpet....
to the gusty top of the mountain was used for the men's downhill
Downhill
Downhill is an alpine skiing discipline. The rules for the Downhill were originally developed by Sir Arnold Lunn for the 1921 British National Ski Championships....
event. This poma still remains to be seen when disembarking from the top of the "Gold Chair" and is sometimes turned on for avalanche control. The start of the men's downhill was at 2412 m (7913 ft).
In 2008 Nakiska Ski Area was named the official Training Centre of Alpine Canada (ACA). Each year Nakiska, welcomes Alpine Teams from around the world for early season ski training. During the summer of 2008 the ski area embarked on a series of renovations. Snowmaking enhancements increased capacity by 33%. The 100 metre Monster Magic Carpet was added and the creation of a dedicated Training Run was completed on Mapmaker.
In 2009, in preparation for the 2010 Olympics, more enhancements occurred. A new High Speed Quad lift was installed (Gold Chair Express) replacing the original fixed grip (Gold) chairlift. The ride time is 4.7 min compared to the old time of 9.7 min.
In 2009 new ski trails were also created with the addition of the new Monster Glades (trails in the trees).
External links
- Ski Nakiska.com - official site