Mountain Spirit Resort & Spa

I’d heard more snow was in the forecast but didn’t expect 15cm of fresh snow on our back step this morning. We rushed up to the hill by about 9:15am and thankfully the car park was only one third full. As usual, up the quad and over to the Easter chair was the priority. First thing we noticed was more runs were open. Anton’s was a must. As a snowboarder (aka slowboarder) I am not a fan of moguls. Being able to ride down Anton’s before the moguls are formed for the season was a pleasure… spotted with a few head-over-heels tumbles. All’s good – it’s fresh powder!

Anton's: people were laughing aloud, shouting "wahoo" between tumbles into the powder!

Rumours were rumbling in the small crowd of locals gathered at the top of the Easter – the Black Forest area might be opened. By the next circuit of the Easter, it was! Patroller Gord Towers had the pleasure of taking down the ropes by Dean Left and opening up all the runs across to Vortex. I’m thinking they’re saving more fun on the far runs for next weekend! We hit Magma first. It was powdertastic. Taking long sweeping turns floating above the snow I managed to stay on my board for most of the run. Next run, Twist. Awesome! It was rapidly becoming an epic powder day, the like of which I’ve never experienced this early in the season. It was so good, we did another loop round and hit it again. I say “we” today as I managed not to be ditched by my husband off the first chair, and he showed his true gentlemanly soul by both waiting for me AND pulling me along the couple of slow spots on the Ridgeway (he skis and I board, you see?).

Anton's Run, Sunday 12th December 2010 (Preview Weekend at Kimberley Alpine Resort)

I check my watch as I’m feeling exhausted. It’s 10:35am. Time to head around to the front via a secret new favourite run I’m not even going to mention. You have to come and discover the  best runs for yourselves. It had me hooting an a-hollering yet again – what an amazing season preview weekend. If this is the preview, this season is indeed going to be epic at Kimberley Alpine Resort!

The Kimberley Conference & Athlete Training Centre was named number 1 state-of-the-art conference venue by Alberta Venture Magazine. Click here to read the article.

The construction of the Kimberley Conference Centre & Sports Training Centre is progressing extremely well. I know because I can see it easily from Mountain Spirit Resort, which happened to be designed and constructed by the same architect and construction team: BCMP Architects (recently merged with Omicron) and New Dawn Developments.

Kimberley Conference Centre & Athlete Training Centre

This state of the art, dual purpose facility is the first of its kind to be constructed in North America. The building will be comprised of 24,000 square feet of space over two levels. One level offers multiple meeting and conference set up options. The second will be a ski-in sports training centre, designed with Paralympic athletes at the forefront, and of course, fully accessible.

Some questioned the location in Kimberley Alpine Resort rather than downtown, but doesn’t it make total sense? For meetings, conferences, weddings and other events the conference facility, which can hold up to 500 people seated theatre style, is located at the base of one of BC’s largest ski resorts, with superb accommodation and amenities at Mountain Spirit Resort located just a few hundred metres away, in addition to a variety of other accommodation options. The future spa will offer an ideal outlet for attendees and athletes alike to soothe aching muscles, or simply relax and rejuvenate. The resort offers dining and entertainment options however the downtown core is only a few minutes by car or public transit. Venturing to the platzl visitors can walk and enjoy the many independent coffee shops and restaurants and browse the variety of stores.

Kimberley is clearly entering a new era with the Conference Centre and Athlete Training Centre opening in October.

Congratulations to Stan Salikin and his team; the City of Kimberley and the Kimberley & District Chamber of Commerce. The float representing Kimberley featured our favourite Kimberley icon, Happy Hans!

We look forward to the floats at the July Fest Parade on 18th – 19th July! Click here for more information on July Fest 2009.