Cranbrook, BC (August 24, 2011) – Integra Air has revised its fall schedule from the Canadian Rockies International Airport to Edmonton International starting on September 19, 2011.  The schedule is as follows:

The revision will increase service between the two communities to 4 days per week — Monday to Thursday.  The increased service will also see the addition of a direct flight from Lethbridge to Cranbrook only on Monday mornings at this time.   Service from Cranbrook to Lethbridge would still require routing through Edmonton.

“This is a very exciting and very positive announcement from Integra Air, and I wish to thank them for their support of this community and region,” says City of Cranbrook Mayor Scott Manjak.  “Continued growth in service and passenger numbers at the airport, reaffirms to our residents and visitors and certainly to me that our airport remains a very viable option in their travel plans.”

Dave Macfarlane of Integra says, “The support of the folks of the entire Kootenay Region has been overwhelming.  The number of passengers we are serving has been growing steadily, and we enjoy the two way communication that we have been able to build with a number of individuals and organizations.  No doubt the ‘work together’ attitude that seems to be everywhere in the Columbia Valley will be the key to continued growth in frequency and capacity.

Integra Air indicated in their original service plan to the Canadian Rockies International Airport in the spring that should passenger loads continue to grow, as they have been, the company would look at additional service expansion to 5 days per week for the winter season.   Integra would also look at capacity increases by introducing a larger aircraft to service the route if demand supports the additional capacity.

Tristen Chernove, Managing Director at the Canadian Rockies International Airport adds “I’ve been very happy to see the loads pick up over the past six weeks. Adding additional frequency and modifying the flight times due to feedback received shows great commitment and responsiveness from Integra Air.”

At the Canadian Rockies International Airport on June 15th, Integra Air’s first flight on the new scheduled service from Edmonton arrived. The flight from Edmonton takes just one hour and five minutes. Passengers on the inaugural flight included a guest bound for Mountain Spirit Resort. This is no surprise and the first of many, as Mountain Spirit Resort is located just 20 minutes from the airport.

Brent Gateman (left), President of Integra Air, and Dave Macfarlane, Director, are pictured in the cockpit of Integra’s Jetstream 31, at the Canadian Rockies International Airport Tuesday. Integra’s regular air service launched out of Cranbrook on June 15.

Integra comes across as a fun airline offering Wine Wednesdays and Beer and Pizza Fridays on board. The guys at Integra also know how to provide excellent service, distinguishing themselves from other larger airlines. Free parking is available to Integra’s passengers at the Canadian Rockies International Airport, as well as at Edmonton International. Unsecured boarding (meaning passengers won’t have to go through security), is also offered – for the convenience of passengers who are flying into Northern Alberta for work.

Flights are scheduled to run Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays leaving Edmonton in the late morning and arriving in Cranbrook in the early afternoon. The second flight of the day will leave Cranbrook at about 3 p.m. arriving in Edmonton at about 4:20 p.m.

Integra Air will provide commuter services to northern Alberta tourists and workers to the East Kootenay region via Edmonton and on to Fort McMurray and Grande Prairie in Phase II of the project planned for the fall of 2011. This schedule has been designed to provide optimal connections to key connecting flights to locations such as Fort McMurray and Grand Prairie. Prospective purchasers of real estate at Mountain Spirit Resort are scheduling visits from both Edmonton and Fort McMurray following the launch of this new service.

Click here to visit IntegraAir.com and click here to read more on the DailyTownsman.com

Brian Hurrican Smith from Q107 recently stayed with us at Mountain Spirit Resort.

Click here to see his 30 sec video!

An exciting new Black Knight design by Gary Player has opened to golfers. Wildstone claims to deliver one of the finest golf experiences in the Kootenay Rockies. The course is laid out over gently rolling terrain and measures over 7,000 yards from the tips.  It is also home to an excellent practice facility and stunning views of the Rocky Mountains.  Gary Player’s quote says it all, “This is the most beautiful site I’ve ever had the privilege to design a golf course on.”

This ads another fantastic course to the existing range of great courses in and around Kimberley. Golfers visiting the area can enjoy Trickle Creek, Bootleg Gap, Shadow Mountain, Kimberley, St. Eugene, Way Lyn, Mission Hills, and now Wildstone.

Click here to read the story from the Cranbrook Daily Townsman

A sleeping giant will come to life this summer as Wildstone Golf Course officially opens for players. On June 1st, the Gary Player-designed course will welcome its first golfers – and general manager Chris Andrews said they are in for a treat.

“When it opens, the golf course is going to be exceptionally fun for everybody of all levels to play,” said Andrews.

The 18-hole course is the first course in Canada designed by South African golf champion Gary Player and his company, Black Knight Design. Player has designed more than 300 courses worldwide, but according to Andrews, Player has said that Wildstone is the nicest place he’s built a course.

Fisher Peak is the star of the show. The prominent mountain is framed at the end of the 18th hole, with the clubhouse in the foreground. The practice range – which includes a driving range, practice and chipping greens – faces Fisher Peak as well.

“When you come around the corner and look down the fairway at number 18, Fisher Peak is rising in the distance. That to us was the epitome of the experience here,” said Andrews.

Overall, the fairways are wide and the tree line is sparse, but players will find some challenges – especially on the 6th and 12th holes over water.

If you’ve ever golfed at Bootleg Gap, you’ll be familiar with the natural beauty of Bootleg Gap’s golf course. Once a year in February, the golfers are replaced by dog sledders… and the crowds gather to watch as they race their way around the beautiful championship course at Bootleg Gap. February 5th and 6th 2011 saw the Third Annual Bootleg Sled Dog Races just down the road from Mountain Spirit Resort.

It’s quite a day out for the family. In addition to watching the races and meeting the dogs, there is a silent auction and food available, including a Dinner in Bootleg Gap’s club house on Saturday night. Races are started every hour, with the racers being set off one minute apart. Categories include: 6-Dog Purebred & Open Classes, 4-Dog Purebred & Open Classes, Skijoring and Junior Classes.

I joined the crowds at the finish line to cheer the sledders and their dogs over the finish line.

What’s different about the Bootleg Gap Sled Dog Races is the objective of raising funds and awareness for East Kootenay Friends of Children. Click here to visit the website for Bootleg Sled Dog Races.

Coming across the finish line…

A big part of the fun was seeing lots of beautiful dogs enjoying a rest in the sun.

The snow was GREAT yet again today after about 20cm of fresh snow over the past 48 hours… followed by sun!

Here’s a few photos I took around lunch time today (I was too busy having fun all morning to remember to take photos).

It may only look like 3cms overnight but it definitely felt like more when enjoying some turns on the runs in Kimberley Alpine Resort this morning. Fresh snow combined with warmer temperatures meant for a fun morning today. I tested out these runs for you today:

• Rung – felt a little windswept but not bumpy as it had been groomed recently
• Caper – floaty fast fun
• Dean Left – yummy; floatier faster fun
• Flapper – also groomed recently, no bumps and I found myself able to go extremely fast in one direction
• Dean Right – great as usual
• Flapper – had to do it again as it was so good the first time
• Magma – similar to Flapper, fast fun with one or two bumps forming
• Tramway – the base still hasn’t been skied out and with the warmer weather and new snow the bumps were all soft and move for you when you need them to
• Windfall – like Tramway!
• Twilight – there seemed to be more snow had fallen on Twilight, which made for lots of fun and some air time off those rollers (by choice!) – yeeha!
• Midnight – like Twilight (airtime wasn’t as big!)
• Lower Main – softening up nicely with the fresh snow and warmer temperatures.

What a super morning!

I also discovered last week (when it was about -16 degrees) that the outhouses at the top of the Easter Chair are now heated and extremely comfortable. They even smell great!

Get out and enjoy that fresh snow!

We thought it would be fun to invite Craig Ainsworth of Adrenaline Dog Tours to Mountain Spirit Resort on New Year’s Day. Not just because Craig’s a nice guy but he also happens to have teams of adorable pure bred huskies!

One of Craigs team of 16 huskies at Mountain Spirit Resort today.

At 4:30pm Craig started to unload the dogs to meet our visitors. It was fun for all the family – with groups of people lining up to see the 16 huskies – yes 16!

Click here to see the fun events you can be part of, commencing Dec 27th…