Snow-making machines working overtime at Brookvale, P.E.I. for Canada Winter Games
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CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Officers on the Mark Arendz Provincial Ski Park at Brookvale are working arduous to verify the slopes and trails are prepared when the Canada Winter Video games opens on Feb. 18.
The park’s snow-making machine has been relied on closely to take care of milder-than-normal climate within the province.
Whereas loads of snow has fallen on the Island the previous few days, there are nonetheless challenges on the park.
“Effectively, it’s nice to see, and we’re proud of snow anytime, but it surely definitely doesn’t clear up all the issues,” Erin Curley, appearing superintendent of ski operations at Brookvale, advised SaltWire Community on Jan. 24.
“We’ll proceed having to make snow to make sure we now have sufficient for the Video games, however we’re assured … that every part shall be on schedule.”
The park will host a lot of occasions, corresponding to cross-country snowboarding, snowboarding, freestyle aerials, slope-style snowboard and alpine ski cross.
Curley stated with the assistance of the snow-making machine all 4 alpine hills are open.
Consideration has now turned to the cross-country trails and discovering out how a lot pure snow they need to work with there, particularly from what fell on Jan. 23-24.
“It’s arduous to guage with the climate that got here. We had snow and ice pellets after which rain and again to snow,” Curley stated. “There was such a change in situations, so we’re nonetheless packing issues down and seeing what it’s going to come back out trying like.”
Curley stated they’ll use the snow-making machine within the woods to verify the cross-country trails are prepared. Piles of snow generated by the machine shall be made and pushed into the harder-to-reach areas as a way to groom the course.
“We are able to make snow and keep it as lengthy we have been strategic about how we make it, the place we make it and the way we keep off it, extra importantly. We have now to verify we protect what we do have,” Curley stated in an interview on Jan. 20 upfront of the latest winter storm.
Contingency plans
Adam Clark, director of capital initiatives and venues with the 2023 Video games, advised SaltWire Community in an interview on Jan. 23 that contingency plans are in place to take care of climate challenges.
“On the finish of the day, we’re going to discover a strategy to give all of our medals out,” Clark stated.
He additionally stated the gentle climate has meant that P.E.I.’s cross-country and biathlon groups haven’t been in a position to prepare at Brookvale.
“From what I perceive, it has been an actual problem to get coaching in. Earlier than this weekend (Jan. 21-22) the venue was in a grass situation. I hope they have been performing some travelling as a result of we weren’t in a position to present them with any homecourt benefit but, simply because of the lack of snow.”
Clark stated long-range temperatures look good for retaining the snow, however contingency plans are in place if gentle climate strikes in.
“We don’t assume we’re going to need to do something completely different apart from doubtlessly alter some sports activities schedules through the Video games, so we needs to be OK,” Clark stated, including that a part of the plan is to make as a lot snow as attainable on the alpine and nordic Brookvale venues in case it’s wanted.
Clark added that native Video games officers and nationwide sports activities organizations have signed off on potential modifications to schedules ought to climate show a difficulty.
“If we have to alter our schedules for the Video games as a consequence of rain or doubtlessly an excessive amount of snow, then we will do this.”
Clark additionally supplied an replace on the brand new Eliyahu Wellness Centre at Canada Video games Place in North Rustico, which can host a few of the occasions with the Video games.
“They’re within the final day or two of placing ice in,” he stated. “There shall be skating on the ice floor this week.”
Dave Stewart is a reporter with the SaltWire Community in Prince Edward Island. He may be reached by e-mail at [email protected] and adopted on Twitter @DveStewart.
