My friend suggested we stop by the Calgary Olympic Park, which was only a 20-minute ride from downtown. None of us are really athletes and on this trip, sports activities were not really part of the plan, but we decided to check it out, since it was on our way.
The WinSports Calgary Olympic Park was formerly known as Paskapoo Ski Hill, but has changed its name since it became the premiere site of the Winter Olympics in 1988. Now, it is used as a venue for high performance athletic skills training, but is also available for recreation, competition, tourism, and hospitality to the general public.
In the summer months, it offers mountain biking, zip-lining, bobsleigh riding, and mini-golf. There is also a section where kids can climb walls, navigate a spider web obstacle course, and try their hand in a kiddie version of a bungee jump. But the most popular attraction is the Skyline Luge, which allows one to slide downhill on a long-track wheeled ride.
It is busier in the winter months though. Its hill is divided into three sections based on skill levels in skiing, snowboarding, or bobsleighing – the casual section, the terrain park, and the downhill racing section.
It also houses the Sports Hall of Fame Museum and hosts various summer camps, year-round sports lessons, sports clubs, and halls that can be rented out for special events.
As it was Sunday morning on a holiday weekend, the place was almost deserted. We guessed that most of the facilities are closed on Sundays anyway and we thought that no matter how dedicated an athlete is, not a lot of them would go there on an early Sunday holiday morning to train.
Just like our little jaunt in downtown Calgary, we stayed only to look around and take some photos.
Maybe one day I’d go back with my family and take our son on the luge ride. I have always wanted to do that!
Photo Credit:
Creative Commons (Wikipedia)
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