What is Frozen Thunder

Frozen Thunder is an early season 2km long ski track allowing training on snow for High Performance Athletes as well as public skiing for Early Season Pass holders. The track is made of stored machine-made snow, to allow biathlon and cross-country high-performance athletes and skiers to start training in October. Snow made the previous winter is stored for the summer in protected locations covered in sawdust. In the fall, the snow is spread onto the trail to create Frozen Thunder Loop.

Timeline

• October 19 - November 14 (Date varies each year)
• Reserved Track times are Monday to Sunday 7:00 AM to 12:00 PM.
• Anyone using Frozen Thunder during the Reserved rack Times needs to purchase (and wear) a bib and trail pass.
• Bibs can be purchased on Zone 4 starting October 8. $115/all access, $35/day.
• No bib is required to ski Frozen Thunder after 12 PM each day. A trail pass is still required.

Zone 4 - Bib Purchase   Trail Passes

* Users are required to schedule a training time for the morning Reserved Track Time. This is done during the bib purchase. No registration is required for public skiing from Noon – 5pm.

Details

Frozen Thunder is financed and operated through a partnership agreement between: Nordiq Canada, Biathlon Canada, Alberta World Cup Academy, Biathlon Alberta, Nordiq Alberta, a grant from Alberta Tourism and Sport and the Alberta Government, with support from the Canmore Nordic Centre.

Frozen Thunder Reserved Track Time

• Monday-Sunday 07:00 AM to 12:00 PM
• Skiers must purchase and wear a Bib to use Frozen Thunder during reserved track time (available for purchase online through Zone 4), as well as a Canmore Nordic Centre trail pass, which can be purchased at the Day Lodge or online. Anyone not wearing a bib or without a trail pass during reserved scheduled times will be asked to leave the Track even if they are a member of a funding partner.

Reserved time periods

• Have high performance athletes training at high speed and intensity.
• Slower skiers MUST yield to faster skiers so as not to interfere with or impede this training.
• This period is NOT recommended for recreational skiing. Plus, child ski carriers or any other skier towed device not directly used for training, coaching, or health and safety response are NOT allowed on Frozen Thunder during this time.
• Some days in November are scheduled for National Ski Team high performance events during the reserved Frozen Thunder track time. Only users invited or registered to participate in the events will have access to Frozen Thunder on those dates. 

Non-reserved Frozen Thunder

• Monday – Sunday from 12:00 PM – 11:00 PM.
• Users do not require a bib to ski during this time period. A Canmore Nordic Centre trail pass is required to ski between 12:00 – 5:00 PM.
• Use of Frozen Thunder after 5:00 PM is free. Please note that Frozen Thunder is not lit at night. If you wish to access the track after 5pm, don’t forget your headlamp.

News in 2024-25 Season

Frozen Thunder in 2024 is longer than ever! 

Due to increased snow storage capacity, the Canmore Nordic Centre is able to double the length of the Frozen Thunder project compared to previous years.

The “Red High Performance loop” will open October 19^th on trails similar to previous years, about 2.1km in length, and include the biathlon shooting range. Most of the expanded trail distance is in recreational trails, looping around from the biathlon stadium to the original storage area and back (on Banff Trail and Banff Loop). Preparations for the “Green Recreational loop” will start as soon as the High-Performance loop is complete and is anticipated to open on Saturday October 26^th. The new trail network will meet the needs of the national teams, the training centres in biathlon and cross country and provide opportunities for recovery and recreational level skiing.

Bibs and Scheduling Track Time

Cost for Bibs during the reserved Track times are:

• $115 for All Access (4+ days of skiing)
• $35 for Single Day access
• All bibs are purchased online through Zone 4 starting October 8, 2024. No bibs will be sold in person.
• There is a $20 bib deposit fee. The deposit will be refunded upon return of the bib. Bib refunds will not be accommodated after Dec 20, 2024.
• During the bib purchase process, users will select a training time on Frozen Thunder.
• Scheduled daily time slots are:
• 07:00 – 8:30 AM
• 08:30 – 10:30 AM
• 10:30 -12:00 PM
• Once a time slot has reached capacity it will not be available for selection.
• Only one time slot can be booked per day.
• Bibs must be ordered by Noon the day prior to the pick up date so they can be properly packaged and prepared. Bibs to be picked up Saturday or Sunday must be purchased by Noon on the Friday. Bibs can be picked up/returned at the Nordiq Canada Office during business hours Monday to Friday 8:30 am till 4:30 pm.
• Bibs are picked up from and returned outside the Nordiq Canada office located at the Canmore Nordic Centre (100, 1995 Olympic Way).
• A schedule will be posted at the entrance of the Track listing the bib numbers of users schedule to use the Track at that time. Anyone on the Track with a bib number not on the schedule for that time period will be required to leave.

Frozen Thunder Trail Information Map Trail Report

More Information / Assistance

Cindy Chetley
Manager, PN High Performance and Athlete Services
Nordiq Canada
cchetley@nordiqcanada.ca