The town’s main outdoor recreational facilities are open just in time for the Christmas break.
On Dec. 14 the Innisfail Ski Club, a non-profit volunteer organization, opened its hill to begin another season, its 48th consecutive year since the club began operating at its current location at the west end of town just off Highway 54. From 1952 to 1962 the club operated at its first site along the Little Red Deer Road.
Brent Jackson, the club’s president, said the hill and its two runs are in good shape.
“It faces north and it retains snow pretty good,” he said. “The tobogganers have packed it down pretty good.”
Jackson said the hill will be open throughout the winter on Wednesday nights from 6:30 p.m. to about 10 p.m., Saturdays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and from 6:30 p.m. to about 10 p.m. and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Night skiing has been offered at the ski hill since 1969 when lights were installed.
However, he added he is hoping to have the hill open during the Christmas break on Dec. 27, 28 and 29.
“If it is nice ski-able weather we will open it up and as long as we get the volunteers the hill should be operational,” said Jackson, who is hoping for a good year at the hill. “It’s used fairly well as long as we have a good winter and lots of snow.”
He said the ski hill is also available on Fridays and Thursdays on special request, usually by local 4-H clubs or hockey teams.
Jackson said the club is offering family seasonal membership passes for $150. Individual day passes go for $8.
He said the ski hill is usually open until mid-March, longer if the right conditions hold out.
“Last year was the latest we were ever open,” he said. “It was on April 19 and we were still able to ski. It wasn’t officially open but we made a few runs anyways just to say we did.”
For further information on the hill’s days and hours of operation call 403-227-5155.
Meanwhile, the town’s three outdoor skating rinks are also now open.
Shelley Gagnon, the town’s director of community services, said the largest rink of the three, a regulation sized boarded facility, is now open at 37 Street and 54 Avenue.
She said two smaller rinks without boards are open at Canon Park at 40 Avenue and 39 Street and at the north side of the Innisfail Arena. Citizens can use the facilities free of charge and the town will maintain them throughout the winter, said Gagnon.
“They are already being skated on. We’ve been busy preparing them for the past couple of weeks,” said Gagnon last week, adding town crews have been regularly flooding the three rinks. “We’d like a little bit more depth to the ice.”
