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Nakiska Ski Resort 2009 improvements

Wed 14 October 09

New Detachable Quad Chairlift, 31 new snow cannons and some trail enhancements complete the line-up, and the resort should be opening on 7th November

Nakiska Ski Resort, close to Calgary, has undergone major enhancements to welcome an epic 2009-10 season. Enhancements including the new, high speed Gold Chair Express. Due to enhancements, Nakiska plans to have the best snow conditions and the most terrain open than ever before in early season, starting Nov 7th (tentative). The details on these exciting new features at Nakiska Ski Resort are as follows:

Gold Chair Express
Not only can you get to skiing faster with Nakiska being Calgary's Closest Mountain but you can now ride to the top in less than 5 minutes on the NEW Gold Chair Express - a new, high speed, quad chairlift at Nakiska Ski Resort. After much planning and implementation, the resort will be loading skiers and riders onto the Gold Chair Express this 2009-10 season. Nakiska is proud to be one of the few resorts to have a new lift this season and have high speed quads for all main lifts.

Some technical stats of interest for the Gold Chair Express include:

• New Leitner Poma Detachable Quad Chairlift

• Replaced the original fixed grip, triple chair of same name built in 1986 and opened in 1987

• New ride time of 4.7 minutes - reduced from 9.7 minutes with previous lift

• Easier loading making the upper mountain accessible to all ability levels. Fewer stops due to easier loading.

• Slope Length: 1460m (1.4 km) or 4790 ft (0.9 miles)

• Vertical Rise: 468m or 1535 ft

• Capacity: 1910 people per hour, up 210 from the previous lift

 

Upgraded Snowmaking System
The addition of 15 automatic and 16 manual snow guns, Nakiska aims to provide more snow coverage during early season than ever before.
Nakiska Snowmaking Facts:
• Largest Snowmaking System in Alberta

• Over 160 total snow making guns of which include:

-19 Fan guns including M18 models with high efficiency fan blades that use less energy to make the same amount of snow

-88 Fixed tower guns throughout main runs: more efficient, allow for larger snow volume at a given temperature, and capable of covering an acre of ground with 1 ½
feet of snow in an hour (optimal temperature)

-23 automated Techno Alpin guns allowing instantaneous start-up and shut-down which saves electricity and
facilitates an earlier opening date

Snow Guns Hard at Work - more photos available at: www.skinakiska.com
Open for Early Season Weekends Starting Nov 7, 2009 (tentative)

With the planned early season opening, lots of snow, and such a short drive from Calgary, Nakiska will be THE place to ski and ride on Nov 7th! Winter enthusiasts will get to warm up their ski-legs on the lengthy Homesteader run off the Silver Chair Express while little tykes who are raring to go can venture onto Alberta's largest magic carpet to the learning area. Nakiska Snow Reports will have up-to-date information regarding trail & lift status as well as snow conditions closer to the first weekend opening (Nov 7-8th) - www.skinakiska.com

Monster Glades & Trail Enhancements

The new Monster Glades amp up the adventure aspect and appeal to both novice and advanced skiers and riders with more access points, wider trails, and increased runs in the trees. In addition, enhancements on existing runs compliment the skiing experience for guests and create vital conditions for race training. These include the widening of three runs to 60 metres and the extension of the core training run "Mapmaker" by 650 metres.
 

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