Several high-level athletes will hit the slopes of the Horseshoe Resort this weekend for a high-level local tournament.
Each competitor hopes to win, potentially earning a place in the Olympics.
Mother Nature has raised some doubts, but with a little extra time for snowmaking and grooming, the resort is ready to host the Canada Cup freestyle ski series finale.
“This year has been a tough year for the weather. Horseshoe Resort and its operations team are here blowing snow. They are very committed to amateur sports and snow sports,” said Eli Budd, CEO of Freestyle Ontario.
Horseshoe Resort’s $1.5 million investment in its snowmaking infrastructure this year made the event possible.
“It’s really allowed us to host this event and have the majority of our trails open, where just south of us is green grass, and we have lots of snow at Horseshoe,” said Jonathan Reid. , General Manager of Horseshoe Resort, told me.
Top-flight slopestyle and big air athletes are hoping events like this will propel them to the next level.
“We can create a platform for future Canadian Olympians,” Reid said.
Oro-Medonte Mayor Randy Greenlaw said the resort is central to tourism while putting the town on the national stage.
“Events like this are great for our community. It brings people in from outside the municipality and helps support our local businesses and the economy,” he said.
With a summer training center being developed at Horseshoe Resort, the hope is to make it a major high performance center for snow sports.
Resort officials say they look forward to hosting other big events, like NorAm snowboarding later this year, to possibly host a World Cup.
“Coffeeaholic. Lifelong alcohol fanatic. Typical travel expert. Prone to fits of apathy. Internet trailblazer.”