Mountain Spirit Resort & Spa

If there’s a job to be done the spirit does like to do it well. That includes keeping you posted on the conditions for skiing and boarding at Kimberley Alpine Resort. The official opening day for 2010/2011 was held two days ago, on Friday 17th December. I made sure to be there to snap some shots of the conditions. Knowing some folks who work in ski patrol and others in outdoor ops at Kimberley Alpine Resort, I had already heard that the Tamarack Chair was going to be opened on Friday. On preview weekend the Main quad chair and the Easter chair were both open, and not all the runs off the Easter were open. With all the lifts open… this would mean runs would be open that haven’t been skied on yet by the paying visitor (only by the patrol on their safety checks). As I realised this, I thought I should really have made it up the hill earlier. The pace I was on, I’d be getting to the lift line up at about 8:43am.

The clock at Kimberley Alpine Resort was not wrong.

We arrive at the ski hill and there are only two rows of cars in the main parking area…. interesting! I head up the steps past the new conference centre and towards the North Star Quad lift. There’s nobody there yet. Can this be true? Opening day for Kimberley Alpine Resort and I’m getting the first chair again? This should make for a good morning.  My ski-fanatic husband was working today and unfortunately a blog is not part of his work so I stood alone waiting.

Some people start arriving. First is Dan “the Tan Man”, well known in local ski circles. Dan is the reason why Cominco Gardens look so good all summer. Ryan Peterson is next, a local skier who is regularly at the head of the line up any day the conditions are good. Ryan had booked off opening day months ago to ensure he didn’t miss out! As more people trickle in, I see Liana, the latest addition to our team at Mountain Spirit Resort. We’re both working in the office from 12pm and clearly had the same intentions – to enjoy the best part of opening day first!

The "Main" looking pretty nice.

9am rolls around and there’s maybe 40 people waiting in line. Pretty different to opening day at Fernie, when apparently some chap actually slept overnight in a tent in order to bag “first chair” rights!

W’re off. The conditions look amazing. We’ve had 20-30cm of fresh snow in the past 5 days since preview weekend. Usually I feel in a rush to get first tracks on the first runs but today is a little different. It feels like the ski hill has been hired out for my friends and my exclusive pleasure. There is no question about which direction to head in after getting off the quad. We all head over to the Tamarack. “Wahoo!” it’s first tracks for everyone all the way down the “tammy”.

The Tamarack run from the Tamarack Chair.

Second run – let’s do the same one, it was so good. By this stage I’m in a group of half a dozen local skiers and boarders including my mate Dave who works at Kelsey’s. That’s him enjoying the view from the bench at the top of the Tamarack.

Third run, let’s take Upshot. It’s the run skiers left of the tammy and has been totally brush cut over the summer. Last year I rode it there were plenty of alders but this year it’s a different story. The bottom half was total dreamy floaty movie style skiing and boarding for all. Thankfully only Ruth, the British liftie at the Tamarack chair, saw me fall when I transitioned from the deep floaty stuff onto the groomed flat track to the lift (don’t tell anyone)!

At the top of the Tamarack chair, our path crosses with Dan and Ryan. “How’s the back side?” I ask them. “Awesome and there’s nobody there” they reply. Sounds familiar. I should point out at this stage that RCR had originally planned the official opening day for 18th December and then changed it, bringing the opening forward by one day to Friday 17th. This happened about a week or two ago so for people visiting from outside Kimberley, it might have been hard to change schedules and work plans in order to arrive on a Friday. For locals living in Kimberley who knew about the change and could get out and ski on Friday, it was much appreciated – thanks!

Anton's run, formerly called the Easter, from the Easter Chair.

After meeting Ryan and Dan I suggest we head over to the Easter chair and hit up the untouched runs past Vortex. I nip over onto Runt and take it down to the Easter. Our “posse” meets up and we ride together across the Ridgeway towards Geneva. We’ve been told the only run not open is Notre Dame so that means 5 untouched runs between it and Vortex.

The Ridgeway can sometimes be slow for snowboarders. I had made sure to have my board waxed with the correct was for the temperatures, down at ski repair in the Rental Shop. I made it the whole way along the Ridgeway without having to unstrap my board, which is nice. There’s still about 6 of us at the top of our chosen run – the Tramway. I drop over the edge and this snow is even better than the snow on the tammy! And it looks like only 6 people have been here before us. Fresh tracks for everyone AGAIN! Yeehaw!

I don’t even need to turn. It is effortless. I look behind part way down and I only see Liana. Our buddies took the right hand option one third of the way down and are now enjoying their fresh tracks on Tramway. Liana and I meet at the bottom of the Easter Chair where we see our buddies again and a couple of other people. We don’t even need to ask how everyone is as the answer is the same, “FANTASTIC!”.

Let’s head back to the front, it’s time to go to work!

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!

It’s official. The grand opening of the Kimberley Conference Centre & Athlete Training Centre took place on November 25th, 2010.

The spirit was off in Regina, SK, on a spirited mission and so didn’t attend the grand event. Instead I managed to get a private tour the week before. The centre is definitely impressive. The conference facilities are the best I have seen anywhere on my travels. The whole main building is accessible and the use of gently inclining ramps in the design makes for a great spot for couples to tie the knot (in what’s called the pre-function area) as well as a great opportunity to people watch as you enjoy cocktails prior to entering the grand hall. The main function room can be split into two, each with the opportunity for professional AV with large screens mounted on the walls. There are many break-out rooms with more AV equipment. The catering area looks very sophisticated and well equipped to handle the large events (there is up to 500 person capacity in this conference facility).

Upstairs is home to the Athlete Training Centre. Due to copyright on the word paralympic, that word isn’t used in the name but I’m going to chance typing it on my blog quite happily. This is definitely an word class training facility for paralympic athletes. Having seen the paralympic athletes training here every year I’ve lived here, I can understand how much this facility is going to improve their training experience. Gone are the days when artificial limbs have to be left in the Slopeside Cafe! The ski-in main floor area features a totally accessible sharpening and waxing area, including very large locker spaces which can fit wheel chairs or artificial limbs. There are large changing and showering areas and the icing on the cake is a very generous training room with state of the art accessible fitness and weights machines.

Here’s what the City of Kimberley has to say about the opening:

“The City of Kimberley is pleased to announce that the Conference and Athlete Training Centre is now open for business. This project is a great example of what can be accomplished through the development of meaningful partnerships with a common goal and vision. Our partners include: the Federal Government, the Provincial Government, Resorts of the Canadian Rockies, Columbia Basin Trust, New Dawn Developments and their many sub-trades and BCMP Architects. We also recognize and commend the volunteer advisory committee members, who have championed this project from conception. The Conference Centre itself is the largest of its kind in the Kootenay Region. It accommodates 350 person banquet style or 500 person theatre style events, provides a large pre-function area and 4 breakout rooms. This facility enables organizations and businesses to host major conferences and seminars, where individuals can come together to learn, exchange ideas and share knowledge.

For more information or to book the facility, please contact Tim Greiner, General Manager at 250-427-6272 or via email manager@meetkimberley.ca or click on the Conference Centre’s website link: Kimberley Conference and Athlete Training Centre.  If you would like to add your business to the Conference Planner’s Database of local accomodations, products and services available, please complete and submit the Product Inventory Data Sheet form to City Hall by mail, email, fax or in person.

Here’s another great place to hike and to cross country ski (for free) if you’re in Kimberley. It’s just a short drive to Bootleg Gap Golf. You can explore this area from Bootleg Gap itself or from a little further outside Marysville. If you keep going past Bootleg Gap’s entrance you’ll see a pull-in on your right. These trails are accessible from this pull in. You’ll cross the rails to trails paved path. Keep going and walk through the meadow to reach the top of the hoodoos, with views of the St Mary’s River, Bootleg Gap, and of course, the hoodoos themselves.

If you have vertigo don’t get too close!

This article appears on the RealEstateChannel.com

http://www.realestatechannel.com/featured-columnists/real-estate-news-grupo-del-sol-isla-saboga-gva-associates-mountain-spirit-resort-spa-kimberley-alpine-resort-1657.php

New Kimberley Conference Centre Buoys Owners’
Mountain Spirit Resort Condo Investments

(KIMBERLEY, BRITISH
COLUMBIA) — The recent ground-breaking ceremony for the new $6-million
Conference Centre and Paralympic Training Centre being built here at Kimberley
Alpine Resort is proof that thorough market research is critical prior to
investing in resort properties.

At least that’s how owners at Mountain
Spirit Resort and Spa, a resort development located  next to the Conference
Centre site, are feeling right now. Now that the Conference Centre officially
opened Oct. 30, Mountain Spirit condo owners are optimistic that the influx of
sports and corporate travel to the Conference Centre will increase the
popularity of the resort’s optional rental pool.

Mountain Spirit <http://www.realestatechannel.com/news-assets/Mountain-Spirit.jpg>

“The owners who participate in the rental pool are very excited about the
progress being made on the centre,” said Allyson Blake, Mountain Spirit’s
director of real estate marketing. “They did their research before deciding to
buy in a four-season destination that had plans for a centre of this
caliber.”

The year-round, $6-million dollar facility is designed with
both disabled and able-bodied athletes in mind. It will include meeting rooms,
an audio-visual department and a conference space to hold 500
people.

Funding for the centre is coming from the City of Kimberley,
federal and provincial infrastructure grants, a $300,000 grant from the Columbia
Basin Trust and $150,000 from the Southern Interior Development Trust. The
center is being built by New Dawn Developments (same builders of Mountain Spirit
Resort and Spa) and is expected to be completed by October 2010.

The
conference and training center is expected to become a key economic driver for
Kimberley. Leisure travelers and tourists have long contributed to the local
economy, but business travelers have not. Conference delegates often fill hotel
rooms during the shoulder season and mid-week travel when leisure travel is
traditionally low. Conferences are also booked in advance, providing a secure
source of income regardless of economic fluctuations.

Research compiled
by Vann Struth Consulting for the City of Kimberly pegs the daily spending of
conference delegates at approximately $125 per day on top of the accommodation
costs. The same research expects the conference center to boost spending in
Kimberley by more than $5 million per year – more than double the current
level.

“The development of the Paralympic Training and Conference Centre
opens up new options to increase our shoulder season business by targeting a
growing meetings market that that would not otherwise be attracted to
Kimberley,” said Cathy Robinson, operations manager for Bellstar Hotels and
Resorts , the rental manager for Mountain Spirit Resort & Spa. “The
combination of Mountain Spirit’s ski-in, ski-out location, along with the
upcoming 6,000 square foot spa and slope-side restaurant – all right across the
street from the new centre – should ensure we are a top choice for conference
delegates.”

Mountain Spirit Resort and Spa features a true ski-in,
ski-out location in the serene Purcell Mountains at the base of Kimberley Alpine
Resort. In addition to the planned spa, the resort features fine dining,
year-round outdoor heated pool and hot tub and fully furnished suites.
Membership in the exclusive Resort to Resort vacation exchange program is
included with every purchase.

Activity is ramping up at Kimberley Alpine
Resort in preparation for another outstanding ski season. Last season KAR
received the Visitor’s Choice Award being voted the Overall Favorite Resort in
the Pacific North West from onthesnow.com and the 2009 Best of Business Award
for Ski Area in the East Kootenay Region. The mountain is set to open on
December 19 with a preview weekend set for December 12.

Special prices
are available on selected suites until December 19, according to the developer’s
representative. For example, one studio, two 1-bedroom and eight 2-bedroom
suites are included in this offering with pre-season savings of up to $94,000
for whole ownership and up to $16,000 on quarter ownership purchases. Until Dec.
19, 1-bedroom suites start at $398,900, 2-bedroom units at $458,900 and quarter
ownerships on a 1-bedroom suite go for $98,900.

“These incentives are a
great opportunity for those who know what a fantastic ski destination Kimberley
is,” Blake says.  “With our ski-in, ski-out location, ski season is our peak
sales season. But if buyers wait until the lifts start up, they’ll be too late
for these special prices.”

The Smoothest of Highways… The summer long $11m project to resurface the highway 93/95A through Kimberley and replace and beautify sidewalks is completing, much to the pleasure of visitors and locals alike. The project also included replacement of underground drainage pipe networks and should complete this month.

Other local initiatives are progressing nicely including the Peak to Platzl trail project, providing a paved biking and walking trail from just outside Mountain Spirit Resort right down to the city centre.

The Rails to Trails project is also approaching completion, which will mean walkers, bikers and even roller bladers will soon be able to enjoy a paved trail along the previous railway line, all the way from Kimberley to Cranbrook.

Kimberley is on the hot springs circle route and a favourite outing from Mountain Spirit Resort is Lussier Hot Springs, found on the way to Whiteswan Lake Provincial Park. These are a big favourite as not only are they totally natural and free, but there are lovely rock pools of different temperatures located right next to the creek. This means you can sit in the hottest pool and then gradually cool down in each neighbouring pool, finishing off with a refreshing dip in the creek… and then return back to the hottest pool to warm up and tingle!