The Torch hits the slopes

By Jim Barr, SnowSeekers Inc.

Over the past two days, the Olympic Torch has been carried to some pretty stellar places and now, it’s been carried through the Canadian Rockies and into some pretty spectacular spaces.  Twenty-two years ago the Government of Alberta helped to open up Nakiska as part of the 1988 Olympics, an outstanding ski resort tucked away in Kananaskis country – it was the site yesterday of Olympic history, which incorporated a collection of up-an-upcoming athletes. The folks from Resorts of the Canadian Rockies, the owners of Nakiska, put on a great celebration

The return of the Olympic Flame to Nakiska was a triumphant one that included skiers from the Nakiska Ski Team. It was pretty cool to see them rip the slopes as they made their way down towards the Flame.  Over at Sunshine, the celebrations continued with the addition of a lasting 2010 legacy here in Banff.  Whistler Blackcomb has installed a temporary chair that will take people from the base of Creekside up to the finish line for the downhill events.  Afterwards, it will have a permanent home at Sunshine Village.

“Sunshine has played host too many Olympic athletes who have trained here. With the installation of this chair, we help to continue that legacy,” said Sunshine’s president, Ralph Scurfield. “It was a partnership with Whistler Blackcomb that said, ‘OK, we will get the chair if you guys buy it once we are finished with it,’” said Scurfield, in a special celebration that welcomed the Olympic Flame to the slopes of Sunshine this morning.

Sunshine has been known to be an environmentally friendly ski destination, having received multiple awards for its environmental efforts. The resort welcomes the new chair in May where it will replace the Strawberry chair, helping to enhance the visitor’s experience. For more on the new installation and for all the exciting details on Sunshine please click here.

Just up the road, a big party was happening on the slopes Lake Louise Ski Area – owner Charlie Locke dawned his chariot (a snow cat with a pretty impressive set up on the back so he could stand and wave at the crowds) to take the flame up the slopes of Louise. The folks at Louise had constructed a pretty stellar ski jump outfitted with the Olympic rings to welcome the Torch in style. Ski jumpers, a solid ski run with a collection of ski instructors and a crowd of admirers were all a part of the action.

There were more than a few spectacular ice sculptures too, all in celebration for the Ice Magic events that are taking place this weekend at Lake Louise Village.

Make sure to catch the Travel Alberta Olympic Torch Relay videos on YouTube at www.youtube.com/user/TravelAlbertaCanada

For full stories on Western Canada's winter destinations, visit snowseekers.ca and friend us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

Delirium Dive is Now Open

Delirium Dive is back in business.

The ultimate in big mountain experiences got the green light from Sunshine’s snow safety team and is open for the season. It’s the earliest opening in the Dive’s 10-year history.

“This is what extreme skiers and riders wait for all year,” says Doug Firby, associate director of communications at Sunshine Village. “The fact that we’re able to open the Dive so early in the season is proof of how much snow there is at Sunshine Village right now.”

Big mountain riders know that an influential Australian newspaper last year named the Dive one of the top 10 off-piste runs in the world. That’s because, with 600 acres and 2,000 vertical feet, this in-bound terrain is enough to make its expert skiers and riders, well, delirious.

More terrain for Big White and Sunshine Village

British Columbia's Big White Resort now has 18 runs open as of Nov. 21 while Alberta's Sunshine Village announced the opening of Goat's Eye and the terrain park today. Sunshine now has all three mountains open, giving skiers and riders a tonne of options to play on.
Ready for a preview of the Olympics? Make sure to head to Alberta's Lake Louise Ski Area for the Louise World Cup which kicks off with the men's alpine events Saturday, Nov. 28 followed by the ladies Dec. 4. The races are part of Banff's WinterStart Festival – a kick off to the ski season and Christmas.

For more on these resorts and many others in Alberta and British Columbia, visit www.snowseekers.ca

SnowSeekers first turns of the season!

check it out! we got our first turns in with the cameras at Sunshine Village in Banff. It was a great day, having some fun with the cameras, shredding some gnar.

SnowSeekers first of many go-guides submitted to Apple

Yesterday was a big day in SnowSeekers world.  We made our first of many submissions to our friends at Apple with our SnowSeekers Go-Guides.  Launching Dec 15, 2009 SnowSeekers is stoked to announce a world first- Go-Guides for your iPhone and Blackberry....

Here is the outline we sent into Apple:

Heading into any winter resort can be a daunting experience especially when you consider something the size of Whistler - consistently ranked as the number 1 ski resort in North America (13 years running by Skiing Magazine - October 2009).  Unlock the best of Whistler by having the latest and greatest information from the resort right on your iPhone.  Over 40 years of industry expertise has gone into the construction of these SnowSeekers Go-Guides.

Considering between the two mountains - Whistler and Blackcomb - that there are well over 200 runs and that the village of Whistler includes dozens of bars, restaurants and shopping options, this app will provide you with all the information you need to maximize your winter vacation.  Not knowing where to eat, where to ski and what to do while in town is a challenge for any skier or snowboarder, whether it’s your first or tenth visit to the destination.  Leave Whistler having the best time possible, pick up a the Whistler SnowSeekers Go-Guide today.

This app includes:

      STILL TOP SECRET!!! but things like GPS locator technology, digital trail maps and daily snow reports are all in there, plus lots of other exciting features.

This digital guide book was crafted by the ski and snowboard industry experts at SnowSeekers™ Inc.  Recently recognized by the Canadian Government as one of Canada’s most innovative companies these SnowSeekers™ Go-Guides are part of a cross platform Western Canadian based new media company which brings its audience the best of the best from the winter destinations throughout Alberta and BC via a TV series, a e-newsmagazine website @ www.snowseekers.ca and a series of SnowSeekers™ Go-Guides including Whistler, Fernie, Banff and many others found here in iTunes.

Upon the start of the Whistler SnowSeekers™ Go-Guide you will be welcomed by a short video introducing Whistler and all its potentials.  After this short movie a table of contents allows you to further your areas of interest with chapters on:

-The Mountain

-Dining, Après and Nightlife

-Accommodations

-Off-Hill Attractions/Events

-Transportation

-Shopping

-Deals & Coupons

and within each section you’ll find those tips from the locals to deliver you the “inside edge” to what Whistler has to offer.

13 titles are coming including Mount Washington/Comox, Whistler, Vancouver (Cypress/Grouse/Seymour), Sun Peaks, Big White, SilverStar, Revelstoke, Golden/Kicking Horse, Red Mountain/Rossland, Fernie, Kimberley, Banff (Sunshine/Lake Louise/Norquay) and Jasper/Marmot Basin.  They will retail for only $1.99 per title and will be available soon off the iTunes and BlakcBerry apps stores.

For more info drop us a line at info@snowseekers.ca

Languages:

English

Requirements:

Compatible with iPhone and iPod Touch

Requires iPhone OS 3.0 or later

Data connection