17 Jan 2014
As the Sochi Winter Olympics approach in February 2014, visitors to Alberta Canada can draw on the Province's Olympic history and presence as the training ground for many winter Olympians and enjoy a plethora of Olympic inspired activities and adventures.
During the winter season at Winsport at Canada Olympic Park- Calgary (home to the Winter Olympics in 1988) visits can enjoy an Olympic Winter Bobsleigh Experience. It is a real bucket list item where a professional pilot takes adventure lovers down the legendary Olympic sliding track around 14 turns while experiencing 5 G forces and up to 120 km/h speeds. This is the same track that Team Jamaica competed on and where the Cool Running's movie was filmed.
Alternatively, during the summer they have the Summer Bobsleigh Ride, which takes thrill seekers down the same track but on wheels with 3G forces and up to 100 km/h speeds. Or why not enjoy the Zipline at the Park, which is North America's fastest zipline and takes off from the 90m ski jump tower (where Eddie the Eagle competed in 1988) and feel the exact same speeds as competitive ski jumpers (up to 120 km/h). Visitors can even practice their medal winning pose at on one of the Olympic podiums.
Canada's Sports Hall of Fame at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary, Alberta is a 40,000 square foot international award-winning facility. Here there are 12 galleries and over 50 hands on interactive exhibits including a ski jump simulator, a 3D hockey goalie experience, touch screen skating lessons and a sport simulator where visitors can play hockey, kick a field goal and try to strike out a batter. Canada's Sports Hall of Fame is also home to the Olympic and Paralympic gallery, which showcases several Olympic artifacts including the #1 Calgary torch used to light the cauldron at the '88 Olympic Games.
In Banff and Lake Louise, the Lake Louise Alpine Ski World Cup is where Alpine athletes can earn valuable points to qualify for the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics and it is the only World Cup ski race in the world run entirely by volunteers. At Lake Louise, skiers and boarders can also experience the same course as the likes of Lindsey Vonn, Bode Miller and other top racers post-World Cup.
Additionally, the Ice Magic Festival- Lake Louise which is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2014 will have an Olympic theme, "Freeze Olympic Fever". This international ice carving competition which takes place at The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise welcomes visitors to take in the event over two weekends from January 17 - 26 and enjoy interactive ice carving opportunities as well as watching the global masters at work.
Canmore Kananaskis is home to more Olympians per capita than any other place in the world. Retired athletes and Canada's cross country and biathlon teams call Canmore home and here visitors can enjoy a plethora of Olympic sports where Olympians train. For the duration of the 2014 Winter Olympics, downtown Canmore will have "Canada House" complete with a giant outdoor screen to watch all the festivities from Sochi and mementos from past Olympics as well as Olympic themed food and beverage and a range of activities.
Visitors to the area can stay at The Paintbox Lodge, an intimate boutique hotel located in the heart of downtown Canmore and owned by Olympic medallist, Sara Renner and World Cup Champion Thomas Grandi. The husband and wife duo offer a ski and stay package where guests can cross- country or Alpine ski with them. www.tourismcanmore.com
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