Foothills Nordic Ski Club aims to raise $65K for new home at Confederation Park

Foothills Nordic Ski Club says it must raise $65,000 by mid-October in order to deliver programming this winter in a new location, after Canada Olympic Park opted to remove cross-country ski trails to make way for a new tube park.

"Those funds will be used to purchase equipment so that we can make snow and conserve some of the natural snow that falls in Calgary so that we can provide ski trails for the public at Confederation Park Golf Course this upcoming winter," said club president Kevin McLean.

"We have people registering for our programs now, so we need to have a plan in place for this upcoming season."

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The club said in June it was in danger of folding because of a plan to get rid of cross-country ski trails at COP in favour of a tube park, where guests can slide down snow on inflatable tubes.

Winsport, which runs COP, said the tube park is aimed at boosting revenues in the wake of milder winters and higher snow-making costs, combined with a reduction in customers in Calgary's weakened economy.

"We have to continue to look at different revenue streams and how can we make sure that Winsport is around 25, 30 years from now," spokesman Dale Oviatt said at the time.

McLean said the cross-country club, which provides instruction to hundreds of kids, would be "severely impacted" by the change and needs to secure a new venue.

The club has set up a GoFundMe page, saying the money raised would go toward "snow-making, snow farming, grooming and onsite lighting, warming and washroom facilities at Confederation Park Golf Course enabling all Calgarians and local nordic club members to lead healthy, active lifestyles and attain their athletic goals."

In the first six hours of the online campaign, the club had raised $6,500 of its $65,000 goal.