Fun-filled Kootenay Coldsmoke Festival

The second Kootenay Coldsmoke Festival is set to take place from 22 to 25 February 2008 at one of Western Canada’s top backcountry skiing destinations, the Whitewater Winter Resort in Nelson, BC. This area is known for its dependable dry snowfalls often totaling more than ten meters during a snow skiing season, making it a destination of choice for many snow sport enthusiasts.

The second Kootenay Coldsmoke Festival is set to take place from 22 to 25 February 2008 at one of Western Canada‘s top backcountry skiing destinations, the Whitewater Winter Resort in Nelson, BC. This area is known for its dependable dry snowfalls often totaling more than ten meters during a snow skiing season, making it a destination of choice for many snow sport enthusiasts.

The Kootenay Coldsmoke Festival in Canada provides a venue for experienced and novice backcountry skiers to gather together and enjoy the thrill of backcountry skiing in the excellent powder snow conditions that this scenic part of the Kootenays offers. The festival presents four days packed with action, adventure and education, including clinics, films and competitions as well as a photography competition. With opportunities for all levels to learn, ski and compete, aspiring backcountry skiers are encouraged to join in the activities of the festival.

The program starts off on Friday, 22 February 2008, with registration of participants and a full day clinic focusing on free heel (telemark) skiing for intermediate skiers. All racers who will be participating in Saturday’s ROAM Randonnee Rally are required to attend the pre-race meeting at 5:00 pm on the Friday. The screening of snow skiing films on Friday evening will no doubt inspire skiers to challenge themselves in the days ahead.

Saturday is packed with clinics, demos and competitions. The ROAM Randonnee Rally is scheduled for Saturday, starting off with sign-on at 8:00 am. This event was enormously successful in 2007 and is back by popular demand at the 2008 Kootenay Coldsmoke Festival. This ski mountaineering race follows a scenic and challenging course through the heart of the Kootenays. There are a number of divisions which participants can enter under and the race is used as a National Team Selection race for the Canadian National Ski Mountaineering team, as well as being part of the COSMIC Race series. Other features of the Saturday program include the Valhalla Pure Boondocks Booter Slopestyle Competition and the Backcountry Access Beacon Olympics.

The Sunday program for the Kootenay Coldsmoke Festival continues with clinics, demos and competitions. One of the popular events that will take place on the Sunday is the Gerick Cycle and Sports Telemark Cup Slalom Race – a two up format, timed event that has been running for more than twenty years. Monday features a number of tours and clinics, with two full day tours that place emphasis on learning and avalanche knowledge – one tour caters for beginner and intermediate skiers, with the second tour focusing on advanced skiers.

With clinics tailored to suit the needs of each group, competitions to challenge even the most seasoned backcountry skiers, events to assist beginner and intermediate skiers advance their skills, displays and demos of the very latest equipment, as well as social events to enhance the element of fun, the Kootenay Coldsmoke Festival from 22 to 25 February 2008 promises to have something for everyone.