Despite bone-chilling temperatures that plunged below -30 degrees Celsius with the wind chill, the Servus Tube Park at WinSport in Calgary officially launched its winter season this past Saturday. A determined group of sledders embraced the cold, marking the start of a seasonal staple for local families.
A Chilly But Successful Opening Day
Dale Oviatt, WinSport’s director of marketing and communications, confirmed the park opened after a cautious start. "We did cancel the first session this morning, knowing how cold it was going to be with the wind chill," Oviatt said. However, the decision was made to proceed with the two afternoon sessions. "Everything looks good out there. The sun’s shining, a little chilly, but it’s a nice day to kick off the tube park," he added, noting the successful launch despite the extreme cold.
The opening followed concerns about unseasonably warm weather in the preceding weeks, which threatened snow production. "We were concerned if it stayed too warm, we wouldn’t get enough snow to build it," Oviatt explained. Fortunately, conditions improved, allowing crews to make sufficient snow to construct the park and get it operational for its scheduled debut.
Schedule and Family-Friendly Appeal
The park, featuring eight dedicated tubing lanes, will operate on weekends until the end of March. During the Christmas holidays, it will open daily, with the notable exception of Christmas Day itself.
Oviatt highlighted the activity's broad appeal, especially for families. "It’s become really a staple of activities for families all winter long," he said. The major draw is its accessibility. "The great part about it is you don’t need to know anything about it. You can just go jump on a tube and go down. Unlike skiing and snowboarding, where practice makes perfect, this takes no talent at all."
Cold Weather Policies and Other Local Events
While the ski and snowboard hills at WinSport typically remain open unless conditions become "too bitterly cold," the tube park has a lower temperature threshold. "If it gets a little bit too cold, in the mid-minus-20s, then that’s when we look at closing it down … because you’re not as active as you are skiing and snowboarding," Oviatt clarified. Conversely, warmer weather is less of a concern unless temperatures reach unusually high double-digits.
Other seasonal attractions in Calgary are also navigating the cold snap:
- Zoolights: The popular zoo lights display remains open unless temperatures plummet to an extreme range of -35C to -40C. In such cases, guests can reschedule their tickets, but tickets are otherwise non-refundable.
- Christmas in Kensington: The festival's final weekend proceeded as planned. Saturday featured a photo opportunity with Santa, live music, and hot chocolate, while Sunday offered a petting zoo and a photo station for visitors bundled up against the cold.
The opening of the Servus Tube Park signals the robust continuation of outdoor winter festivities in Calgary, proving that even severe cold can't completely deter the quest for seasonal fun.
