‘Frozen Thunder’ gives athletes a head start on training
The unique ski trail at Canmore's Nordic Centre stretches 2 kilometres long
CBC News
Posted: Oct 19, 2012 4:24 PM MT
Last Updated: Oct 19, 2012 7:50 PM MT
Canada's cross-country and biathlon world cup athletes are getting a head start to the training season in Canmore – thanks to Frozen Thunder.
It's a unique ski trail, made from last year's snow that was stored through the summer under a thick layer of sawdust.
The track was modeled after similar ones in Europe, but it's the only one of its kind in North America.
Frozen Thunder was first created in 2009.
At that time it was about 400 metres long, but after adding more snow every year, it’s now two kilometres long.
Athletes say the early start to the season gives them a big advantage.
“Having the snow out where is a huge benefit for us, staying at home and getting on snow early where we use to have to chase that, one of our areas was Finland before…Finland this time of year is not that much fun,” said Robin Mckeever, a coach for the Canadian Paralympic cross-country ski team.
This year, Frozen Thunder will host its first early season race.
More than 100 nordic athletes from Canada and the U.S. will compete in Canmore, on October 26th.
Share Tools
Latest Calgary News Headlines
- "Catastrophic" crash kills 1
- Emergency crews are on the scene of a fatal motor vehicle crash along Highway 8 and Range Road 34, just west of Calgary. more »
- Calgary Marathon to cause detours, delays
- The Calgary Marathon will cause a number of traffic detours and delays in the city over the weekend. more »
- 2nd Huntington Hills victim in serious condition, police say
- The second victim of a violent N.E. attack that killed one person is now listed at being in serious condition at hospital. more »
- St. Stephen's church to sell pulpit, pews
- The 117-year-old church is selling its pulpit and pews, with all proceeds going towards refurbishing the church. more »
Must Watch
Top News Headlines
- Toronto mayor's brother says he never dealt drugs
- The brother of Toronto Mayor Rob Ford has vehemently denied allegations in Saturday's Globe and Mail that he was involved in the illicit drug trade in the 1980s. more »
- Hockey Canada votes to ban bodychecking in peewee hockey
- Hockey Canada's board of directors voted to eliminate bodychecking from peewee-level hockey on Saturday in Charlottetown. more »
- Neil Macdonald: How serious is Obama about curbing the drone surge?
- In a key speech this week, the U.S. president set out a host of supposed new safeguards for America's controversial practice of remote-controlled rough justice. But as Neil Macdonald writes, the underlying rationale for drone use has not fundamentally changed. more »
- Ontario man lost in Australian mountains has survival skills
- The sister of an Ontario man who disappeared in Australia's Snowy Mountains nearly two weeks ago says she remains hopeful he will be found, partly because of his training as a Canadian Forces reservist. more »
- "Catastrophic" crash kills 1
- Loblaw company recalls President's Choice juice
- Calgary Marathon to cause detours, delays
- 2nd Huntington Hills victim in serious condition, police say
- Muslim leader weighs in on recent extremist attacks
- Redford defends plan for increased PC party input
- St. Stephen's church to sell pulpit, pews
- Pilot program could see dog park patrollers
- 2nd woman charged in Gleichen homicide
