How Canmore Is Bringing Last Winter’s Snow Back to Life

Cross-country skiers can get an early start on winter at the Canmore Nordic Centre, where Frozen Thunder has opened its high-performance loop for the 2026 season.

The annual program brings stored snow back onto the trails each fall, allowing skiers to train before natural snowfall and winter conditions arrive. The high-performance loop opened Oct. 17, with a recreational loop also planned for the season.

Frozen Thunder began in 2009 as a collaboration involving WinSport, Nordiq Canada and Biathlon Canada. The program has since expanded its group of funding partners and, as the Nordic Centre’s snowmaking capacity has increased, grown to accommodate recreational skiing alongside high-performance training.

The program’s approach is straightforward: snow made during the winter is stockpiled and covered in the spring to help preserve it through the summer. In the fall, the covering is removed and the snow is transported onto the course and spread across the trail.

Frozen Thunder has separate access arrangements for high-performance and recreational skiers. The high-performance loop is designed primarily for athletes training at speed and is not recommended for recreational use. The recreational loop is intended for intermediate and advanced skiers; Alberta Parks advises that it is not suitable for beginners.

To access Frozen Thunder, skiers must purchase a Canmore Nordic Centre early-season pass or day pass, as well as a Frozen Thunder bib. Morning access, from 8 a.m. to noon, is primarily reserved for high-performance skiers with morning bibs. Afternoon and day bibs are required for other skiers accessing the trails after noon.

Rising Costs Prompt a New Funding Model

While Frozen Thunder continues to provide early-season skiing, the program is also adjusting how it pays for the annual rollout.

The Canmore Nordic Centre covers snowmaking and grooming costs. A group of partner organizations has historically paid to cover the snow in spring and transport it onto the course in fall.

But trucking costs have risen significantly in recent years, leading to a reported funding deficit of $30,000. Frozen Thunder costs about $150,000 annually.

A new organization, the Canmore Nordic Centre Volunteer Society, was established in 2026 to help manage the program, improve efficiency and find additional funding. The original funding partners continue to provide financial support.

To help cover expenses, ski clubs that use the trail after noon are being asked to contribute based on the number of members using the trail. Clubs with fewer than 20 afternoon users are asked to purchase the required number of afternoon bibs; clubs with 20 to 39 users are asked to contribute $1,500, while clubs with 40 or more users are asked to contribute $2,500.

Events taking place before Jan. 31 are also required to pay a Snow Enhancement Fee to help cover rollout and maintenance costs.

The society says it will continue exploring additional funding sources over the winter, with the goal of making Frozen Thunder financially sustainable in the long term.

For now, the program offers Bow Valley skiers an opportunity to get back on snow before the regular winter season begins.