Canada Olympic Park

Canada Olympic Park, Calgary

Canada Olympic Park, Summer 2005
Location Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Coordinates 51°04′47″N 114°12′57″W / 51.07972°N 114.21583°W / 51.07972; -114.21583
Top elevation 1,250 m (4,100 ft)
Base elevation 1,130 m (3,710 ft)
Skiable area 0.4 km2 (0.15 sq mi)
Runs 3
25% - Easy
55% - Intermediate
20% - Terrain Park
Longest run 639 m (2,096 ft)
Lift system 4 chairlifts, 4 magic carpet
Snowfall 1.14 m (3.7 ft) /year
Website Canada Olympic Park

Canada Olympic Park (COP) (formerly known as Paskapoo Ski Hill) is located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The park is operated by WinSport Canada (formerly the Calgary Olympic Development Association (CODA)). It is currently used both for high performance athletic training and for recreational purposes by the general public. During the 1988 Winter Olympics, Canada Olympic Park was the primary venue for ski jumping, bobsleigh, and luge. WinSport Canada still maintains these facilities for training and competitive purposes. In the winter, the park is also used for downhill skiing, snowboarding, and cross-country skiing. In the summer, COP is used for warm-weather sports such as mountain biking (there are 25 km (16 mi) of bike trails) and is also the site of a number of summer festivals.

The park is home to a summer challenge course and zip line. Many summer camps are available.

Major expansions and additions are under way to maintain the park's status as a training facility to gain back business and stature from the Vancouver 2010 venues.

On December 15, 2010, a phase of the Athletic and Ice Complex (AIC) opened which includes 3 ice surfaces to be used by Hockey Calgary and other groups as well as a restaurant. In 2011 the second phase will open which includes the 4th (Olympic size) ice surface to accommodate 3,800 fans. In 2012, the third phase will open which includes gyms, a public fitness centre, public sport development centre and a high intensity training centre for athletes. The AIC is located in front and to the side of the sliding sports training centre known as the "Ice House". The track in the Ice house can be seen from the upper floor corridor of the arenas.

The park is located in western Calgary, south of the Trans-Canada Highway, north of the community of Cougar Ridge and west of Bowness.

1988 Winter Olympics

The ski resort is one of the best-known legacies of the XV Olympic Winter Games which were held in Calgary in 1988. It was the main venue for this event, hosting: bobsleigh, luge (both at the now bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton track), nordic combined, ski jumping, freestyle skiing (aerials and ballet).[1]

Skiing and Snowboarding

Canada Olympic Park

Canada Olympic Park is a popular place for people looking to go skiing or snowboarding without driving out to the mountains. The hill is divided into three sections, the downhill racing section, the casual section and the terrain park.

The terrain park is of exceptional quality, and as of 2006, the halfpipe has been enlarged to be an exact replica of the halfpipe that was used for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Other features of the terrain park include spines, handrail, and tables.

There are currently 6 lifts that are being used on a regular basis, a four-passenger detachable high-speed chairlift, a four-person standard chair, and 4 Magic Carpets. There is also a single chair that provides access to one of the smaller ski jumps, and a double chair (which has been recently removed), that takes people from the base area to near the base of the 90 m ski jump tower.

Snowmaking

Canada Olympic Park relies almost exclusively on man made snow to create skiable terrain. Snowmaking usually begins in early December and depending on weather conditions usually ends in early February. The hill has an arsenal of snowmaking equipment including automated SMI PoleCat fan guns, 'Mckinney' stick guns, and a handful of aging SMI Highland fan guns. An onsight pump station provides high pressure water and air to hydrants located around the hill. When pumping at capacity the park consumes roughly 850,000 L/hr of water.

Ski Jumping Facility

Calgary Olympic Park Ski Jumping facility in February

Winsport also operates a ski jumping facility on the east side of the Canada Olympic Park campus. The facility has six jumps ranging in size from K4 to K95. Of the six jumps at Canada Olympic park three are used year-round (the K18, K38, and K63). The K4 and the K89 jumps are used exclusively in the summer months. The largest jump, the K95 is no longer used for ski jumping and serves exclusively as a party venue. Collectively the facility sees on average 28,000 jumps each year. The majority of which are in the summer months. The Ski Jump venue is home of the Altius Nordic SC club.

Mountain Biking

In the summer Canada Olympic Park is open for the sport of mountain biking. The high-speed chairlift is used with bike racks on the chairs. There are numerous trails on the hill's west side, complete with north shore ladder stunts and singletrack trails. The east trees just contain regular trails, with minimal stunts and jumps. COP is also outfitted with a downhill course that holds competitions through the summer. The trails are designed for all riding abilities. Canada Olympic Park also has a large dirt jump park and trials park. Summer sports camps run all summer with activities ranging from luge to ski jumping.

WinSport Arenas

In 2011, WinSport opened its ice facility that houses four ice rinks (an international ice size arena seating 3000, three NHL-size rinks (the Joan Snyder arena, and arena C & D)). The arenas have been used for curling, figure skating, power skating (for long and short track speed skating), ringette, and hockey. Also, the arena has hosted concerts, shows, and other sporting events.

During the summer of 2013, Hockey Canada held its Olympic orientation camp for perspective Canadian NHL athletes heading to the XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi. Due to injury concerns and insurance disputes, drills and scrimmage sessions were held off ice in a "street hockey/ball hockey" format.[2]

Markin-MacPhail Centre

In 2014, WinSport completed the Markin-MacPhail Centre. The centre is named after its benefactors Allan Markin and Keith MacPhail. The high-performance centre was designed as a training hub for Canadian athletes who have reached a provincial level of excellence. The center includes the ice arenas, a gymnasium, medical center for treatment and recovery, and an office tower who residences include the National Sport School as well as several national sport federations.

Canada's Sports Hall of Fame

In October 28, 2008, Calgary was chosen, among nine Canadian cities, to permanently host the nation's main sports hall of fame.[3] The foundation and construction of the new facility was laid on donated land by the former Calgary Olympic Development Association (CODA), now called the Canadian Winter Sport Institute or WinSport Canada. The cost of the project was C$50 million (about C$30 million was used to build the venue; another C$20 million for operating costs, through an endowment fund). It was opened to the general public on July 1, 2011, to coincide with the Canada Day festivities.[4] The former Olympic Museum and Hall of Fame location was turned into a training site for athletes, making it (OMHoF) redundant and the CSHOF the only sports-related museum there.

Expansion plans

On June 11, 2012, City Hall councillors voted against WinSport Canada's multimillion-dollar proposal to have some land at COP's base made into a "sprawling retail centre" by a vote of 9–5. However, WinSport has an option of redeveloping the land into smaller projects, over time, which can be "sustainable."[5]

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Canada Olympic Park.

References

  1. ↑ 1988 Winter Olympics official report. Part 1. pp. 110-27.
  2. ↑ "Canada's Olympic hockey hopefuls play ball hockey". North Bay Nugget. 27 August 2013.
  3. ↑ "CALGARY TO BE THE NEW HOME FOR CANADA'S SPORTS HALL OF FAME". The Canadian Press. October 28, 2008. Retrieved 2012-01-28.
  4. ↑ "Our History (Canada's Sports Hall of Fame)". CSHoF. Retrieved 2012-01-28.
  5. ↑ Markusoff, Jason (June 11, 2012). "Council scraps multimillion-dollar big-box plan at Canada Olympic Park in surprise decision (Land sale would have funded athletic programs)". Calgary Herald. Retrieved 2012-06-11.
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