Happy 2018 opening day, Kicking Horse!
The horse is out of the chute and ready to rodeo
By JOANNE ELVES
Golden, BC – It was a chilly start to the 2018 opening day at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, but the flow of hot chocolate and the adrenaline had the crowd, who were gathering in the pre-dawn light, stoked. Ribbons of raffle tickets were sold to the eager group to raise money for the local food bank. The winners would get the first gondola and to roll to the front of the line for the rest of the day.
There were a lot of winners this weekend, with new terrain opening at Marmot, Norquay, Nakiska, Lake Louise, Nitehawk in Grande Prairie and at Sunshine with opening at Red Mountain, Kinosoo Ski Resort and at Panorama, along with Castle Mountain and its preview weekend. For the full list of whose open and whose still waiting to welcome more winners, its all updated in this SnowSeekers 2018 opening dates page.
Announcing the winners of the first gondola ride of the season!!! @KickingHorseMtn #thishorserules pic.twitter.com/DQHTBJgKZ5
— SnowSeekers (@IAmASnowSeeker) December 7, 2018
Back on the slopes of Kicking Horse wins keep coming with over 200 cm of snow fall to date and the flakes that keep falling through opening day kept up the stoke.
Photo:
Joanne Elves
Winners of the first gondola ride of the season.
The cloud bank peeled off by mid-mountain and what Kicking Horse is known for, shone through. Big…beautiful…terrain flooded with sunshine. Yes, its still early season and there are some sketchy spots, but we just kept doing laps on the Stairway to Heaven Chair until our tuckered early-season legs begged for mercy.
Catch a glimse of Kicking Horse Mountain Resort.
Today, the black diamond riders were happy to drop in on the lower runs off Redemption Ridge or play it safe staying in Crystal Bowl. New terrain beyond Fuez Bowl, called Rudi’s Bowl opens this season and everyone is chomping at the bit to check it out after the snow gods dump a little more fluff and the resort gods (AKA Patrollers) deem the area safe.
“Bigger is sometimes better. This massive terrain expansion also made the vertical change. Don’t hold back on the reigns, Kicking Horse Mountain Resort is now the fifth biggest vertical in North America,” said Powder Matt Mosteller, senior VP of Marketing & Resort Experience at Resorts of the Canadian Rockies.
Photo:
Joanne Elves
Enjoying the sunshine on opening day at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort.
So, this is what the addition of Rudi’s Bowl does to the mountain stats:
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4,314 feet (1,314 meters) of vertical
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3,486 acres of skiable terrain
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8,218 feet (2,504 meters) at top elevation
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5 alpine bowls
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Endless Champagne Powder
What does it take to put together a ski resort? Check out the “Thank Your Groomer” story here.
Checking in at the Eagle’s Eye Restaurant at the summit quenched thirsts and appetites. The menu is always stellar, but the view is the show stopper.
Photo:
Abby Cooper
Breathtaking views from the Eagle Eye Restaurant.
If you go
Plan your trip to Kicking Horse. Book a trip today.
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Marmot Basin just north of Kicking Horse along the famous Icefields Parkway, makes for another destination that will keep you stoked for snow. SnowSeekers is excited to launch a new #SkiNorthAB expedition this season with them and others, click here to find out more.
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