We’re Kicking Off the 2020.21 Season Thursday, December 10th
Golden, B.C – After the abrupt end to last winter, all of us here at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort are incredibly excited to welcome you to the resort on Thursday, December 10, 2020! While our operations will look different this winter, we are really stoked to have the opportunity to welcome skiers and riders to the mountain.
Our team worked hard this summer to deliver a safe environment for our staff, our guests and our community. From that experience and guided by the expertise and direction of various organizations, including WorkSafeBC, the Canada West Ski Areas Association, and provincial and local health authorities, we have developed a comprehensive COVID-19 winter operation plan that addresses the complex and unprecedented situation we are currently facing.
Despite all of the planning we have done, the privilege of having a long, safe and healthy season will depend on all of us and our ability to follow public health orders and the measures all businesses in our town, including ours, have put in place. There are many in this community, and likely among you who are feeling anxious about where things are at currently, and uncertain about what the right thing to do is. But if we all work at this together, be respectful, kind and do our part to keep us and those around us safe, then we believe that we can play among the mountain tops this winter.
Here are some of the changes you can expect at the resort this season:
1. Face coverings are to be worn at all times including when you leave your vehicle, in the base area, in lift lines and while riding lifts, all indoor outlets, washrooms.
2. As a result of our safety protocols surrounding the COVID Virus and looking to create a safe environment for our guests, this season we will be closely monitoring lift capacity and ticket sales to help ensure that we can manage daily the number of people at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort. Day lift tickets will be available at our resort ticket windows daily. However, on high demand days only a certain number of day lift tickets will be sold – so one should use the opportunity to pre-purchase your lift tickets online to guarantee you get the ski day’s you want on those days. We do anticipate some periods of higher demand, so to avoid disappointment, it is recommended that you pre-purchase your lift tickets online and in advance as some dates may sell out.
3. Resort capacity is being managed through the sale of lift tickets. On high demand days the availability of tickets will be reduced, so pre-purchasing online is strongly recommended in order to ensure you get the dates you want.
4. Lift lines will be adjusted and stretched out to accommodate physical distancing of 2m between cohort groups.
5. The Golden Eagle Express gondola has undergone an anti-microbial treatment, and will see increased cleaning daily. Cabins will be loaded with family or cohort groups, up to 8 if that is the size of your family or cohort group. Singles will be required to ride with one other single, and loaded after every 5 or 6 cabins. The windows in the cabins will be kept open to improve air flow.
6. As we follow restaurant guidelines, the seating capacity in Eagle’s Eye Restaurant and The Whitetooth Grill have been reduced, and there is a maximum of 6ppl allowed per table. As such reservations will be required in order to dine in both of these outlets, and this can be done in advance through Opentable.ca or www.kickinghorseresort.com. Heaven’s Door Yurt will be open daily, and plexiglass dividers have been placed to maximize the use of the seating.
7. There will be capacity restrictions in place for other outlets so make sure to read signs as you enter and follow the directions. This includes the Performance Rental Centre, so it is strongly recommended that you pre-purchase online to speed up the process for yourself.
8. There will be no bag storage in the daylodge due to physical distancing and sanitization measures. Therefore it is required that you gear up, and leave your belongings at your vehicle.
To review these and other measures being implemented this season, and to keep updated on any new developments make sure to visit our COVID19 information page. Now more so than ever before it is important to Know Before You Go.
We have all been through so much change this year, and change is hard for all of us. But these changes we are making at the resort at least come with the special reward and privilege of chasing our powder filled dreams with our friends and families.
We appreciate your patience, understanding and cooperation – “Be Kind, Be Calm, Be Safe”
Think Snow!
KHMR Team
Photo by Jeff Bartlett
- Published in Press Release, Winter
Summer Season 2020 – A Note from Area Manager Mike Rubenstein
Welcome Back Guests!
We are very excited to announce our Summer Season opening on June 26, 2020. After an abrupt end to our winter season and your riding pleasure, we at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort look forward to welcoming you back to the mountain. But first I would like to explain where we are as a resort and a company and how we got here.
First of all, everyone at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort wishes to thank our medical community and all other essential workers. Many of us have spouses, partners, parents or kids who are working long, stressful hours to help make sure we are safe and cared for if needed. Golden shines for many reasons, but in particular it really shines when there is a need for compassion and support.
After deciding as a company to cease operations on March 16th, our community, our team and frankly the entire mountain tourism industry have worked tirelessly to get to the exciting announcement that we will be opening for summer operations on June 26th.
All of us at KHMR want you to be able to enjoy the mountains and trails that define our home. Tireless efforts have been put forward by staff and industry partners to figure out a way forward and now feel we have a summer program we can be proud of while ensuring the safety of our guests and our staff.
Some things will be very familiar at the Resort while other aspects of our summer operation will feel different, even strange. But rest assured, with an abundance of caution and a goal for a safe, sustainable program, we will offer Mountain Biking, Hiking, visits to see Boo and the Grizzly Bear Refuge team and Sightseeing seven days a week with the Via Ferrata four days a week from June 26th to September 7th. For the month of September our resort offerings will be scaled to four days a week. The Eagle’s Eye restaurant will be open for dining, and Bike Rentals and Retail Goods will be offered.
Opening a mountain resort during these times is a complicated, challenging exercise, one in which every aspect of human interaction needs to be thought through.
Some of the changes you will encounter this summer are:
- When you arrive at the base area, you will see signs and team members asking you the basics: Are you experiencing symptoms of COVID-19? Have you been out of the country in the last 14 days? Do you live or work with anyone who has any symptoms?
- The purchasing of lift tickets, passes and bike rentals will be handled from behind plexiglass barriers at Guest Services Desks, the Rental Shop or in the Retail Cabin.
- You will be riding the Golden Eagle Express gondola or Catamount chair by yourself, or with your family or travelling group.
- Your tickets will be scanned through a barrier from a distance.
- Line ups will be spread apart to meet provincial health guidelines.
- We do expect there to be longer wait times during busier periods and hope that you understand the necessity of this process. Our commitment to providing a top-notch experience will remain the same.
- Dining and drinking will be offered both indoors and outdoors, and tables will be spread apart to ensure our guests and staff safety.
We do anticipate that changes will continue to happen and we will adapt as necessary, so thank you in advance for your patience. We look forward to sharing more adventures and building great memories together, and having a great, safe summer.
Kind Regards,
Mike Rubenstein
- Published in Press Release, Summer
COVID-19 Precaution: Kicking Horse Mountain Resort Closed for the Season
Dear Guests,
Further to our March 15th decision to suspend Ski Area Operations, after careful consideration of the quickly changing circumstances around Coronavirus (COVID-19), Resorts of the Canadian Rockies has made a decision to suspend ski resort operations for the remainder of the 2019/20 ski season at our Western Canadian Resorts, including Nakiska Ski Area, Fernie Alpine Resort, Kimberley Alpine Resort and Kicking Horse Mountain Resort. Here at RCR our number one priority is the safety, health and well-being of our Guests, Team Members, and the Communities which we live, work and play in. As tough a decision as this has been, we feel it is the right thing to do under the current circumstance.
In an effort to limit social interaction we will not be opening our guest service and ticket offices for the time being, both at resorts and our Calgary office. For questions regarding purchased products please email the address below (In response to this situation we are receiving an overwhelming volume of calls and emails, your patience is appreciated as work respond to these requests).
We sincerely apologize to you our guests for this inconvenience.As always, we truly appreciate the support which we receive from you and thank you for that. We will look forward to welcoming you back to our resorts and Mountain Communities in the future.
Sincerely,
John Shea
President/Chief Resorts Officer
Resorts of the Canadian Rockies
- Published in Press Release, Winter
Mountain Bike Preview Weekends – Two Opportunities to get on the Trails Early
June 5, 2019 – Can’t wait to get on the mountain and do some biking?
We’ll be open for TWO special preview weekends before our full time opening – June 8th & 9th as well as June 15th & 16th.
Riders can enjoy 11 runs accessed off the Catamount Chair, open from 10am – 4pm. Mountain Bike rentals will be available from the Performance Rental Centre.
Full opening is on June 22nd – get more information on our website.
Mountain Bike Trails Open on Preview Weekends;
#1 – It’s a Ten
#4 – Superberm
#2 – Lower Pioneer
#17 – LYM
#8 – Trapper Trail
#10 – Claim Jumper
#11 – Easy Rider
#5 – Buffalo Jump
#7 – Devil’s Disco
#20 – Swamp Donkey
#32 – Jump Zone
Upcoming Summer Events;
Canada Day Trail Race – July 1st – Ring in Canada’s birthday with us at the top of Kicking Horse Mountain Resort! This family-friendly alpine race course will start and finish at the top of the Gondola. There will be a 10K and a 5K race. The course will be a mix of single-track and double track. More details on the specific course routing will be release in mid-June. More information.
Western Open Canada Cup – July 19th – 21st – Kicking Horse Mountain Resort is proud to be the host site for the Dunbar Series Kicking Horse Western Open Canada Cup Downhill Race on July 21, 2019. Kicking Horse Mountain Resort has a long history of hosting great downhill events including BC Cup races from 2012-2017 and is looking forward to finally hosting Canada Cup competitors! Registration information.
For more event information see our online events calendar.
Kicking Horse Mountain Resort • Facebook • Twitter • Instagram
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For more information, please contact:
Matt Mosteller
Senior VP Marketing & Resort Experience, Resorts of the Canadian Rockies
media@skircr.com
Twitter, Facebook & Instagram – @PowderMatt
Powder Matt’s Blog
- Published in Press Release
The Largest Terrain Expansion in Canada is Open to the Public
Golden, B.C – Hot off the heels of a successful Freeride World Tour event, the revered Ozone face has now opened to the public. This marks the completion of the new terrain expansion for the 2018-19 season, adding over 600 acres of incredible big mountain lines.
To access, hike up to Whitewall, ride down the ridge and then hike to the top of Ozone reaching the new high point of the resort at 2,505 m (8,218 ft), then drop into some of the rowdiest in-bounds terrain you can imagine. Ride it like the pros in the Freeride World Tour!
‘This is a one-of-a-kind skiing and riding experience’, says Matt Mosteller, ‘combine the best of Mother Nature’s wildest terrain with the incredible Champagne Powder of Kicking Horse Mountain Resort and you have a real treat’, he added.
This is big! In fact so big, it’s the biggest terrain expansion in Canada this winter, so give yourself some time to learn the lines, scope out entry points, take it easy on the first go, and make sure you check in with Ski Patrol and/or Winter Sports School for the best tips on how to ski it and or for your own skill enhancement to take it on!
*Ozone is double black extremely advanced terrain, we advise anyone to ride with caution and only enter with appropriate ability level.
Kicking Horse Mountain Resort • Facebook • Twitter • Instagram
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For more information, please contact:
Matt Mosteller
Senior VP Marketing & Resort Experience, Resorts of the Canadian Rockies
media@skircr.com
Twitter & Instagram – @PowderMatt
Powder Matt’s Blog
- Published in Press Release
Kicking Horse to open for winter season on December 7th
Golden, BC – We’re kicking it up at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, with our opening date this Friday, December 7th. As always we will be running our popular First Gondola Raffle with all proceeds going to the Golden Food Bank. Visit Guest Services to purchase your first Gondola raffle ticket to support a great organization and for the chance to be the first on the slopes for the season!
‘Plan ahead for your riding tradition this winter so you don’t miss out – you’ll want to check out later this winter the new terrain- in fact the largest terrain expansion in Canada this winter. More terrain to go around here’, says Powder Matt Mosteller, Senior VP of Marketing & Resort Experience at Resorts of the Canadian Rockies.
Please note, we will be opening with early season conditions and limited terrain, to see all the details please visit our Snow Report on our website.
What makes this season the season to visit Kicking Horse? Check it out on our featured blog post by Matt Cote.
NEW this season at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort – the Horse is back with more kick than ever! With our recent expansion in Rudi’s Bowl. ‘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 5th biggest vertical in North America’, said Powder Matt.
Book your vacation to Kicking Horse Mountain Resort this winter, with great places to stay on mountain including everything from cabins and private homes to ski in/ski out condo lodges. Don’t forget the whole array of awesome options in the community of Golden. For more information and to book your ski vacation visit www.skircr.com/vacations.
Kicking Horse Mountain Resort • Facebook • Twitter • Instagram
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For more information, please contact:
Matt Mosteller
Senior VP Marketing & Resort Experience, Resorts of the Canadian Rockies
media@skircr.com
Twitter & Instagram – @PowderMatt
Powder Matt’s Blog
- Published in Press Release
Winter is most certainly on its way with the announcement of The Freeride World Tour (FWT) 2019 calendar.
Lutry, Switzerland– October, 2019 – As autumn begins to quickly spread through the high mountains, the moment to announce the FWT19 calendar has finally arrived. In 2019, FWT athletes will return to five of the most challenging and pristine freeride venues the globe has to offer.
50 of the world’s best freeriders in four categories – ski men, ski women, snowboard men, and snowboard women – will face-off in big mountain arenas spanning across three continents for their chance to be Freeride World Champion. Following the fourth stop in Vallnord-Arcalís, Andorra only riders holding enough points will have the opportunity to compete in the final stop in Verbier, Switzerland in March.
With an incredible lineup of riders already confirmed – from hungry rookies, hard charging veterans and legendary wild cards such as Tanner Hall (USA) and Victor De Le Rue (FRA) – the FWT19 is shaping up to be an epic show.
And without further ado, the FWT19 calendar:
1) HAKUBA, JAPAN – THE WINTER BEGINS
JANUARY 19-26, 2019
2) KICKING HORSE GOLDEN BC, CANADA – TIME TO GET ROWDY
FEBRUARY 02-08, 2019
3) FIEBERBRUNN, AUSTRIA – HOLD THE LINE
FEBRUARY 22-28, 2019
4) VALLNORD-ARCALÍS, ANDORRA – CRUNCH TIME
MARCH 02-08, 2019
5) VERBIER, SWITZERLAND – THE GRANDE FINALE
MARCH 23 – 31, 2019
Don’t miss any rider news and competition information. Follow FWT social media channels and stay tuned to www.freerideworldtour.com as the competition season approaches!
Kicking Horse Mountain Resort • Facebook • Twitter • Instagram
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For more information, please contact:
Matt Mosteller
Senior VP Marketing & Resort Experience, Resorts of the Canadian Rockies
media@skircr.com
Twitter & Instagram – @PowderMatt
Powder Matt’s Blog
Photo: Andrew Chad
- Published in Press Release
What’s New? Mountain Improvements & Upgrades for the Upcoming Ski Season
Golden, B.C – Kicking Horse is well known as being the Champagne Powder Capital of Canada and each ski season we make various improvements, upgrades and program changes in order to keep providing out guests with the world class experience they are accustomed to at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort. Some highlights for this season are;
The Epic Pass
Resorts of the Canadian Rockies’ Fernie Alpine Resort, Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, Kimberley Alpine Resort, Nakiska Ski Area, Mont-Sainte-Anne, and Stoneham will join the industry-leading Epic Pass in a long-term alliance beginning with 2018-19 winter season, bringing the total to 61 mountain resorts around the world for skiers and snowboarders.
Major Terrain Expansion
‘Yee-Haw’ winter with the addition of new terrain being added! In fact, over-time this will be the biggest new terrain expansion in Canada. This year, potentially, a stomping 660 acres could open up, starting with the famous Ozone (featured on the Freeride World Tour last year) and Middle Ridge offering skiing into both Fuez Bowl & parts of Rudi’s Bowl. Increases the epic vertical to 4,460 feet and the area to 3,500+ acres of total terrain. This would not be possible without the tremendous support of Purcell Heli Skiing.
Freeride Events
Kicking Horse is excited to be the only North American stop on the Freeride World Tour yet again this coming winter. Some of the most exciting big mountain action can be witnessed in person during the week of Feb 2 to 8, 2019. This is the ultimate compliment to other freeride events we host annually – Jeep Junior Freeski series – Feb 7-10, 2019 and Wrangle the Chute 2* and 4* Freeride World Qualifier – March 6-10, 2019.
New Equipment
We’re adding 1 new grooming cat to our fleet! Plus our new cats are ‘Tier 4’, innovative technology from Pinroth, meaning they meet the new emission standards.
Best Family Ski Resort
We’re proud to have been named the in the Top 5 Family Ski Resorts in Canada by the publication ‘Ski & Snowboard with Kids’. Ski & Snowboard with Kids is Australia’s only ski magazine for families.
More fun for Families
We have extended our Horse Play Corral, giving families a longer experience through the forest and it will also be great for our beginner Winter Sports School lessons.
New Shuttle Service
Getting to Kicking Horse is easier than ever. A shuttle service connecting Calgary International Airport to the resort will run twice a week, via the Banff Brewster Airport Express. Service runs Wednesday and Saturday from December to March.
Some information is subject to change.
Kicking Horse Mountain Resort • Facebook • Twitter • Instagram
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For more information, please contact:
Matt Mosteller
Senior VP Marketing & Resort Experience, Resorts of the Canadian Rockies
media@skircr.com
Twitter & Instagram – @PowderMatt
Powder Matt’s Blog
- Published in Press Release
Kicking Horse Mountain Resort recently named in Top 5 Best Family Ski Resorts in Canada
July 31, 2018 – We’re proud and honoured to be named in the Top 5 Best Family Ski Resorts in Canada by the Australian publication Ski & Snowboard with kids magazine!
At Kicking Horse Mountain Resort we put an emphasis on family bonding and fun and offer a variety of family oriented events, programs and activities throughout the winter. Some of the family friendly activities we feature are a slopeside skating rink, tube park and snowshoeing. Noto nly do we also have fun and informative ski school programs for kids and families, we also have events throughout the winter family focused including The Sugar Shack (Quebec’s maple syrup tradition), Easter Egg hunts, 50% off tickets for family days and family friendly concerts.
Book your family winter getaway
Book early and save big! There are winter vacation packages for next season available online to purchase, by booking early you ensure you get the date and location you want and can take advantage of early bird savings. Visit our website for all the options and to book today.
Kicking Horse Mountain Resort • Facebook • Twitter • Instagram
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For more information, please contact:
Matt Mosteller
Senior VP Marketing & Resort Experience, Resorts of the Canadian Rockies
media@skircr.com
Twitter, Facebook & Instagram – @PowderMatt
Powder Matt’s Blog
- Published in Press Release
NEW at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort – Disc Golf Course
June 15, 2018 – Try out our new 18-hole disc golf course at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort this summer, the course overlooks the Columbia River Valley and Rocky Mountains and scheduled to open on June 30th. The course will be accessed by riding the Catamount Chair to mid-station and then playing/hiking back down to the base. The course features holes ranging from 80m to 200m and provides a fun introduction to the sport as well as a challenge for experienced players.
What is disc golf?
Disc golf is played much like traditional golf. Instead of a ball and clubs, however, players use a flying disc or Frisbee®. The sport was formalized in the 1970’s and shares with “ball golf” the object of completing each hole in the fewest strokes (or, in the case of disc golf, fewest throws). A golf disc is thrown from a tee area to a target which is the “hole”. As a player progresses down the fairway, he or she must make each consecutive throw from the spot where the previous throw has landed. The trees, shrubs, and terrain changes located in and around the fairways provide challenging obstacles for the golfer. Finally, the “putt” lands in the basket and the hole is completed. Disc golf shares the same joys and frustrations of traditional golf, whether it’s sinking a long putt or hitting a tree halfway down the fairway.
– Professional Disc Golf Association
To play Disc Golf on our course, purchase a ticket and pick up a map/score card from the Outfitters Store or Guest Services (or use your summer season pass). Discs can also be purchased for use. The course will be open from 9:45am – 4pm (last chair ride) daily until September 4th after which hours will change. More information will be posted to our website.
Alpine Hiking NOW Open!
Hiking in the Alpine at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort is now open for the summer season! Our trails can be accessed by riding the Gondola, with good early season conditions, trails currently open are It’s a Ten, Terminator 1 & Terminator 2. For more detailed information on hiking trails and to download our trail map, visit our website.
Kicking Horse Mountain Resort • Facebook • Twitter • Instagram
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For more information, please contact:
Matt Mosteller
Senior VP Marketing & Resort Experience, Resorts of the Canadian Rockies
media@skircr.com
Twitter, Facebook & Instagram – @PowderMatt
Powder Matt’s Blog
Photo | The Outbound Life
- Published in Press Release
