Nakiska Ski Area
Phone: (403) 591-7777
Fax: (403) 591-7780
Training Centre Inquiries:
[email protected]
Resort Address:
P.O. Box 1988
Kananaskis, Alberta T0L 2H0
Pre-season Training at Nakiska
Nakiska is designated as a National Training Centre by Alpine Canada Alpin, which used the famed 1988 Winter Games resort as a major staging site for Canada’s advance of the 2010 Olympics.
Nakiska, known as “Calgary’s Closest Mountain”, is an ideal ski racing and training facility. This Alberta resort, where Canadian Karen Percy Lowe won two Olympic medals in 1988, is used today as a pre-season , in season & post season training facility for teams from around the world.
Millions of dollars have been spent jointly by the Alberta Government and Resorts of the Canadian Rockies (RCR) to upgrade training facilities and add modern safety equipment to upgrade the resort to current international standards.
Nakiska also fosters the development of Canada’s future skiing champions by hosting public, schools, ski clubs, and provincial teams throughout the entire ski season.
Teams Training at Nakiska
Every year, key players of the racing field at the annual Lake Louise Winterstart World Cup train at Nakiska prior to the event. Who trains at Nakiska: Canada, France, Italy, Russia, Finland, Poland, Australia, New Zealand, Spain, Czech Republic and Japan just to mention the most recent ones.
Benefits of the Nakiska Training Centre to Alpine Canada Alpin Athletes
-A training centre founded on a “Canada first” based partnership.
-A guaranteed training site from early November of each year.
-Terrain exclusive to racing and training, entirely separate from the public use areas.
-Safety systems to current FIS standards.
-A location suitable for FIS, NORAM and World Cup technical events.
Pre-Season
The ski area will open for ski teams training in early November, providing athletes from Canada and around the world with the ability to use mountain facilities and designated racing tracks. Nakiska has hosted pre-season race training for the past twenty years.
Track Improvements
Recent improvements include widening three training runs to 60 metres, extending the core training run Mapmaker by 650 metres, maintaining 11 kilometres of safety B-netting, enhanced snowmaking on Mapmaker from top to bottom, and an overall 40% increase in snowmaking capabilities.
Lift Improvements
The Gold Chair Express significantly improves optimization of “on snow” time for all participants. Travel time shortened by more than 50% will maximize the intensity of training for all levels.
Resort Snowmaking
Nakiska boasts a world-class snowmaking system, which provides the ability to consistently make snow and prepare training runs for November ski training. The system is constantly updated, annually maintained and professionally operated by the resort team.
Did you know that Nakiska’s snowmaking system has the ability to produce up to 46cm of snow to cover 1 acre in just one hour? Or how about a foot and a half of snow over a football field (including the end zones) in an hour and a half??
Other Visitors
Nakiska also hosts Canadian Provincial Teams and clubs from Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia. Ski colleges from the United States are regular visitors, and factory, provincial and development teams from Japan, Australia and New Zealand are regular Nakiska early season visitors as well.
Safety
Safety is paramount for racing and training. All race training trails are FIS homologated runs, heavily fenced top to bottom using BARRY B net system. There is no public access to training runs during pre season training. Professional rescue team is available at all times.
2023 PRE SEASON TRAINING
| DATES | |
|---|---|
| First day of pre-season training | November 4th, 2024 |
| Last day of pre-season training | December 20th, 2024 |
| Note: Nakiska reserves the right to adjust dates if necessary | |
| TRAINING SESSION HOURS | |
| AM Session | 7:45am – 10:30am + slip |
| MIDDAY Session | 10:30am – 1:15pm + slip |
| PM Session | 1:15pm – 4:00pm |
Please note that on weekends and holidays only the AM session is guaranteed.
| RATES | |
| AM Session | $105.00 |
| MIDDAY Session | $105.00 |
| PM Session | $83.00 |
| AM Double Session | $162.00 |
| MIDDAY Double Session | $125.00 |
| ** DH TRAINING | $1275.00 |
| ** SGS TRAINING | $775.00 |
All prices are in CDN dollars, per participant, per session and include regular lunch. Premium lunch add $16.50. GST of 5% will be added to all prices.
* Nakiska reserves the right to adjust dates if needed to accommodate special circumstances
** DH/SGS training is offered in the AM, MIDDAY or PM session. On weekends and holidays DH/SGS traiining in AM sessions only. The organizing team is responsible for additional fee, which is in addition to the individual ticket price. Nakiska reserves the right to cancel or adjust DH/SGS training any time due to weather or other safety concerns.
| Download a PDF registration form |
| OTHER COSTS | |
| Drill Rental | $40.00 per day |
| Ski-Doo w/Driver | $125.00 per hour |
| Test Track/Gliding Track | $199.00 per session |
| Rapid Gate Rental Package* GS or SL Package | $100.00 per day |
| *This package contains 30 GS rapid gate sets. | |
| LUNCH | |
| Base Area Cafeteria (standard package) | 10:30am – 2:00pm |
| Finish Line Lounge (upgrade package) | 11:00am – 2:00pm* |
| * on weekends and holidays 11:00am – 1:00pm | |
| CAPTAIN’S MEETING | |
| Finish Line Lounge | 11:00am Daily |
| LIFT OPERATING HOURS | |
| Olympic Chair | 7:30am – 4:15pm |
| Gold Chair | 7:45am – 4:00pm |
| LIFT TIMES | |
| Olympic Chair | 7 minutes |
| Gold Chair Express | 6 minutes |
Times are for first/last chair on indicated lift
As of November 27, lift opening hours and session times can be adjusted
PLEASE NOTE:
| The captain’s meeting each day is mandatory for all team captains. Due to demand for certain training lanes, the following policy will be enforced: If two or more teams are requesting the same lanes on the same days, a draw will be carried out at the captain’s meeting to establish a rotation on that lane. There is a 3 day maximum per lane for each team. Otherwise, lanes will be assigned by Nakiska and negotiated at the captain’s meeting. | |
| Small teams with less than 10 participants train with other small teams if lane shortages occur. | |
| To keep the skiing environment as safe as possible teams may be organized on certain slopes according to skiing caliber. | |
| All courses must be slipped at the end of the AM and midday training session and clear of gates and equipment. | |
| During pre season Nakiska guarantees just one session per day. | |
| Any additions or changes must be pre-agreed upon at the captain’s meeting. | |
| All prices are in Canadian dollars. | |
| Please indicate your needs clearly on the registration form, so we can better serve you. | |
| Bookings are confirmed upon receipt of a 30% deposit. The balance is due upon departure. | |
| Nakiska will book space on a first-come, first-serve basis. | |
| All participants will be asked to sign a release of liability form before the beginning of their camp. | |
| During weekends and holidays Nakiska guarantees only the AM session reserved for race training. |
| Please contact [email protected] for Training and Lodging package information. |
Safety of all participants is constantly the most important issue. If unfamiliar with procedures, unhappy about conditions or safety issues, immediately contact Nakiska training coordinator. All safety issues will be dealt with immediately.
For more information contact:
Jan Sekerak at 403-819-5237
or E-Mail: [email protected]
Getting to Nakiska
At 83 km (52 miles) from the Calgary City limits, Nakiska is a short 49-minute drive from town. Just head west on Highway 1, then south on Highway 40, and you’ll be here before you know it.
Staying in Banff?
At 81 km (50 miles) Nakiska’s closer than you might think. This time go east on Highway 1 and then south on Highway 40. Total travel time: 1-hour, which makes Nakiska an often un-thought-of, but un-crowded, easy alternative to the big mountain resorts.
Canmore – Even Closer
Closer still is Canmore at only 56 km (35 miles), with it’s many hotels, motels, or bed and breakfasts options. Total travel time: 35-minutes, using the same route along highways 1 and 40.
