Nakiska
{{Short description|Ski resort in Alberta, Canada}}
{{Infobox ski area
|name = Nakiska Ski Resort
|logo = Nakiska Logo.svg
|picture = Kananaskis-Nakiska Ski.JPG
|caption = Slopes of Nakiska on Mount Allan in March 2007
|location = Mount Allan, Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada
|nearest_city = Calgary: {{convert|83|km|abbr=on}}
|coordinates = {{coord|50.944|N|115.147|W|type:landmark_scale:50000|display=inline,title}}
|pushpin_map = Alberta#Canada
|pushpin_relief = 1
|map_caption = Location in Canada
|vertical = {{convert|735|m|abbr=on}}
|top_elevation = {{convert|2260|m|abbr=on}}
|base_elevation = {{convert|1525|m|abbr=on}}
|skiable_area = {{convert|1021|acre|km2|abbr=on}}
|number_trails = 64
13px 16% - Easiest
13px 70% - More Difficult
13px 10% - Most Difficult
13px 4% - Expert
|longest_run = {{convert|3.3|km|abbr=on}}
|snowfall = {{convert|250|cm|-1|abbr=on}}
|snowmaking = Extensive, 75%
|nightskiing = No
|liftsystem = 4 Chairlifts
- 3 High Speed Quads
- 1 Double
1 Magic Carpet
|lift_capacity = 8,830 / hr
|external_link = [http://www.skinakiska.com/ skinakiska.com]
}}
Nakiska is a ski resort in western Canada, in the Kananaskis Country region of the province of Alberta. It is located {{convert|83|km|mi|abbr=on}} from Calgary, west on Highway 1 (Trans-Canada Highway) and south on Highway 40 (Kananaskis Trail). "Nakiska" is a Cree word meaning "to meet" or "meeting place."{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=XwFlAAAAIBAJ&pg=1020,320748&dq=nakiska+cree&hl=en|newspaper=Edmonton Journal|title=Mt. Allan weathers criticism|last=Ireland|first=Joanne|date=December 11, 1986|page=E7}}{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ckJYAAAAIBAJ&pg=7083,2181315&dq=nakiska+cree&hl=en|newspaper=Spokane Chronicle|agency=Associated Press|title=Skiers rave about mountain|date=December 25, 1987|page=D2}}
Set on the east face of the southern end 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 {{convert|3|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}.{{Cite web| url= http://www.skinakiska.com/the-mountain/stats-and-maps.aspx| title= Statistics| author= Ski Nakiska| access-date= 2007-07-01| url-status= dead| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140418012330/http://www.skinakiska.com/the-mountain/stats-and-maps.aspx| archive-date= 2014-04-18}} The longest run has {{convert|3.3|km|abbr=on}}, from a top lift-served elevation of {{convert|2258|m|abbr=on}} to the base at {{convert|1479|m|abbr=on}}.
Nakiska is owned by Resorts of the Canadian Rockies, which also owns the Fernie, Kimberley, Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, Mont Sainte Anne, and Stoneham ski resorts.[http://www.skircr.com/ Resort of the Canadian Rockies]
History
The site was selected in 1983{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zndkAAAAIBAJ&pg=4541,663454|newspaper=Calgary Herald|title=Mount Allan set for pre-Olympic ski challenges|date=September 22, 1986|page=E4}}{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=j30xAAAAIBAJ&pg=6445,4133587|newspaper=Montreal Gazette|agency=Canadian Press|title=Ski body supports Mount Allan site|date=December 8, 1983|page=B-17 }} and opened for skiing in the fall of 1986,{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=VAFlAAAAIBAJ&pg=6144,5795480|newspaper=Edmonton Journal|title=Nakiska is for all|date=November 20, 1986|page=E5}}{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=63pkAAAAIBAJ&pg=1589,3021875|newspaper=Calgary Herald|last=Slade|first=Daryl|title=Nakiska ready for onslaught of enthusiasts|date=December 4, 1986|page=E8 }}{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=XwFlAAAAIBAJ&pg=1004,325343|newspaper=Edmonton Journal|last=Ireland|first=Joanne|title=Mixed reviews for Nakiska|date=December 11, 1986 |page=E8}} in preparation for the 1988 Winter Olympics. Pre-Olympic races on the North American Cup circuit (Nor-Am) were held in December 1986{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=63pkAAAAIBAJ&pg=1638%2C3019346|newspaper=Calgary Herald|last=Slade|first=Daryl|title=Skiers to put Mount Allan to the test|date=December 4, 1986|page=E8}}{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=6r4yAAAAIBAJ&pg=1376,870664|newspaper=Ottawa Citizen|agency=Canadian Press|last=Woods |first=Paul |title=Mount Allan faces official FIS test|date=December 12, 1986|page=C2}} and World Cup downhill and super G races were held in March 1987.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=cEJgAAAAIBAJ&pg=1166%2C1841681|newspaper=Star-Phoenix|location=Saskatoon|last=McConachie|first=Doug|title=Graham finishes second, still has shot at ski title|date=March 9, 1987|page=B-3}}{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dkJgAAAAIBAJ&pg=1096%2C77646 |newspaper=Star-Phoenix|location=Saskatoon|last=McConachie|first=Doug|title=Boyd new Canadian downhill king|date=March 16, 1987|page=B-2}}
At the 1988 Winter Olympics, Nakiska hosted the ten alpine events, as well as freestyle moguls skiing, then a demonstration event.[http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1988/orw1988pt1.pdf 1988 Winter Olympics official report.] Part 1. pp. 128-43. A temporary surface lift to the gusty top of the mountain was used for the men's downhill event. This poma can be seen from the top of the "Gold Chair" and is sometimes used for avalanche control. The starting gate of the men's Olympic downhill was at {{convert|2412|m|abbr=on}}, {{convert|154|m|abbr=on}} above the present lift-served summit. That race was postponed a day due to {{convert|98|mph|abbr=on}} winds at the summit.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=D-hVAAAAIBAJ&pg=7091%2C3477407 |newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard |agency=(Los Angeles Times) |last=Lochner |first=Bob |title=Zurbriggen snatches downhill gold |date=February 16, 1988 |page=3D }}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Yj5QAAAAIBAJ&pg=3232%2C1642527 |newspaper=Toledo Blade |agency=Associated Press |title=Zurbriggen not worrying about gold |date=February 16, 1988 |page=18 }}
In 2008, Nakiska 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 in Vancouver, more enhancements occurred. A new high-speed quad lift was installed (Gold Chair Express), replacing the original fixed-grip (Gold) triple chairlift. The ride time is 4.7 minutes, less than half of the previous chair's 9.7 minutes.
In 2009 new ski trails were also created with the addition of the new Monster Glades (trails in the trees).
[http://www.skinakiska.com/news-and-info/glades.aspx Ski Nakiska News and Info - Monster Glades addition]
The Olympic flame still burns at the entrance to the resort. Of note is that the men's downhill shown on the board inside the restaurant is not the actual run used. With test skiers saying the proposed run was too easy, the men's downhill course was changed with only 3 days to go, leaving no time to change the course board which had already been painted and mounted on the wall inside the restaurant.
On November 13, 2017, the French Alpine ski racer David Poisson died in a crash during training.{{cite web|url=http://whtc.com/news/articles/2017/nov/13/frenchman-poisson-dies-at-35-after-training-accident/|title=Alpine skiing-Frenchman Poisson dies in training accident|first=Midwest Communications|last=Inc.|website=1450 99.7 WHTC|access-date=14 November 2017}}
Climate
A weather station located west of the ski area records temperature and wind speed. The station is above the tree line at an elevation of {{convert|2543|m|abbr=on}}. It has reported wind gusts as high as {{convert|219|km/h|abbr=on}}{{cite web |title=Daily Data Report for September 2011 |url=https://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_data/daily_data_e.html?StationID=10104&timeframe=2&time=LST&Day=1&Year=2011&Month=9# |website=Environment Canada |access-date=25 August 2021}}
{{Weather box
|location = Nakiska Ridgetop 1994-2020
|metric first = Y
|single line = Y
|collapsed = yes
|Jan high C = -5.6
|Feb high C = -6.6
|Mar high C = -4.4
|Apr high C = -0.5
|May high C = 4.8
|Jun high C = 8.6
|Jul high C = 13.7
|Aug high C = 13.0
|Sep high C = 7.8
|Oct high C = 1.5
|Nov high C = -3.5
|Dec high C = -6.5
|year high C = 1.9
|Jan mean C = -8.8
|Feb mean C = -10.0
|Mar mean C = -7.6
|Apr mean C = -4.1
|May mean C = 1.3
|Jun mean C = 5.2
|Jul mean C = 9.7
|Aug mean C = 9.0
|Sep mean C = 4.3
|Oct mean C = -1.6
|Nov mean C = -6.5
|Dec mean C = -9.6
|year mean C = -1.6
|Jan low C = -12.0
|Feb low C = -13.3
|Mar low C = -10.8
|Apr low C = -7.7
|May low C = -2.1
|Jun low C = 1.6
|Jul low C = 5.6
|Aug low C = 5.0
|Sep low C = 0.9
|Oct low C = -4.7
|Nov low C = -9.4
|Dec low C = -12.7
|year low C = -5.0
|Jan record high C = 9.4
|Feb record high C = 6.8
|Mar record high C = 9.1
|Apr record high C = 13.6
|May record high C = 17.6
|Jun record high C = 22.2
|Jul record high C = 25.0
|Aug record high C = 25.5
|Sep record high C = 24.3
|Oct record high C = 17.6
|Nov record high C = 9.0
|Dec record high C = 9.3
|year record high C = 25.5
|Jan record low C = -36.5
|Feb record low C = -37.2
|Mar record low C = -35.2
|Apr record low C = -25.6
|May record low C = -14.5
|Jun record low C = -6.9
|Jul record low C = -7.2
|Aug record low C = -4.6
|Sep record low C = -16.2
|Oct record low C = -24.3
|Nov record low C = -34.0
|Dec record low C = -36.1
|year record low C = -37.2
|source 1 = Environment Canada{{cite web |title=Daily Data Report for Nakiska Ridgetop |url=https://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_data/daily_data_e.html?StationID=10104&time=LST&Day=27&Year=2021&Month=8 |publisher=Environment Canada |access-date=22 August 2021}}
}}
See also
References
{{Reflist|2}}
Further reading
- {{cite journal |last1=Murphy |first1=Michelle |last2=Reichwein |first2=Pearl Ann |title=Manufacturing Nakiska: The politics of alpine ski hills, mountain parks, and the 1988 Calgary Olympic Games |journal=Olympika |date=December 2019 |volume=XXVIII |pages=29–64 |url=https://digital.la84.org/digital/collection/p17103coll10/id/20606 |issn=1188-5963}}
External links
- {{official website|http://www.skinakiska.com/}}
- [http://www.skinakiska.com/the-mountain/trail_map_1988.htm 1988 trail map] – Olympic runs
- [http://www.skircr.com/ Resorts of the Canadian Rockies] – company site
{{Ski resorts in the Canadian Rockies}}
{{Ski areas and resorts in Alberta}}
{{1988 Winter Olympic venues}}
{{Olympic venues alpine skiing}}
{{Olympic venues freestyle skiing}}
Category:Venues of the 1988 Winter Olympics
Category:Olympic alpine skiing venues
Category:Olympic freestyle skiing venues