Original Ski Hill Site - 1960

The name PASKAPOO originated from an Indian word meaning: (Pas-Ka-Poo) 1. Blind Man. "River of the Blind" (Blindman River) - Cree Indians named the spot - River at which they became Snowblind. 2. "Rotten Rock" - (Sandstone) Rock out cropping. 3. Hard Fall. "Paskapoo" was chosen name after the "Paskapoo Sandstone" outcropping that courses across the middle of the ski hill.

The Idea

The idea to develop Paskapoo came into being in the mid 1950's when Fred Cummer, and Clarence Haakenstad (members of the University of Alberta Ski Team), felt a need for a small local ski hill for Calgarians. Investigations began into land suitable for use as a ski hill and the present site became available when the Trans Canada Highway cut the old Bowness Gold Course in half. Bob Elias, a land-man with Texaco joined the company and negotiated the land leases.

The Problem

Although Calgary has a typical Canadian winter temperatures, the annual snowfall in Southern Alberta is insufficient generally for more than a couple of skiing weeks during the whole season.

The Solution

First Cut On Paskapoo Ski Hill - 1960

The solution came in a December 1957 issue of "Ski Magazine" which expounded the virtues of snowmaking in several New England States.

Snow Making (THE KEY)

Ski Magazine December 1957 "feasible", "tremendous possibilities", "many more people expected to try skiing". Larchmont Engineering promises startling development - snowmaking without compressed air". New Trend seen in 1957 in ski area development - two fold: 1. small high capacity hills with snowmaking in or near metropolitan areas and 2. large development with luxury lifts on large mountains. Prophetic!!

Testing Snow Gun December 1959

Snowmaking actually began to be developed and used in the North-Eastern States by about 1950. Evolving from Agricultural Irrigation Systems first by the "Tey Manufacturing Company" of Milford, Connecticut. William A. Walsh took over all Tey snowmaking operations and over the years improvements continually were made, evolving from external air/water mix to internal and finally to airless systems.

West Run Cut - 1960

Correspondence began in January 1958 between Clarence Haakenstad and the William Walsh Company of Manchester, New Hampshire.

By December 17,1959, a snowmaking nozzle was ordered from W.A. Walsh Company and testing was undertaken that winter with the help of the Calgary Fire Department at the Zoo and finally, successfully at Evergreen Irrigation on 9 Ave. SE.

By May 4, 1960 Paskapoo Development Ltd. is incorporated, 64 acres leased from Joe Rattai, and negotiating for another 15. Starting immediately on clearing 14 acres for the winter of 1960 - 1961. Paskapoo Development Ltd. has expanded from two (Fred Cummer and Clarence Haakenstad) to four men (Bob Elias, and Dr Gordon Minty).

East Run Cut - 1960

By September 22, 1960 Paskapoo Development Ltd. has negotiated for another 25 acres of land at the bottom of the hill and is interested in a Doppelmayr T-Bar.

Friday November 18, 1960 - Herald - Dave Cobb Column (AS I SKI IT) "Bowness Skiing for the birds", "you might as well go skin - diving in the Sahara". Calgary Ski Club abandons ski hill and sells equipment due to lack of snow.

PASKAPOO SKI AREA plans to open December 1, 1960. $20,000 operating budget. With 8 snowmaking nozzles, snow is made, bugs worked out, well dug at 26 gallons per minute and "Ski Lodge" is acquired at a cost $47 (an old Army Barrack).

November 24, 1960 - Bowness Beacon - "Severe cuts down the hill". Clearing trees begins, 1400 ft runs, 950 ft Rope Tow, 300 vertical ft - artificial snow. Calgary population is 240,000 in 1960 with approximately 4000 active and 4000 inactive skiers.

Opening Day - Dec 26,1960

PASKAPOO SKI AREA opens to public for the first time on December 26, 1960 with 1 home - made rope tow, two runs - (now the east run), and the far east run.

February 4, 1961 - Anne Heggtveit writes ski tips column in the Herald - PASKAPOO Announces "Official Opening" Sunday February 5 at 2:00pm. Featuring:

• Ski School - under the direction of C.S.I.A. members
• Ski Shop - managed by Bill Siebens, Fred Gregory and Ethan Compton, owner of Premier Sporting Goods.
• Ski Patrol - director H. Carey
• Concession - Joy Cummer
• Snowmaking!
• Night Skiing! 7 - 10 p.m.
• Tow Tickets - Day $2.50 Nights $2.00
• Season Adult: $20.00 Children $10.00

The History of Paskapoo Ski Area 1957 - 1984

1962/63/64 (approx.) - Ski School - Eduard Von Bun (of St. Anton, Austria)

• Toboggan and Bobsled Run - "Enjoy the thrills of this new run with its banked corners - then use our new tobogganing lift and toboggan back to the top of the hill". This six-seat aluminum toboggan wound its way down to the bottom of the future ski jump bowl, hooked on to the lift and back up.
• Private lessons $3.00
• Season Tickets $25.00 includes lessons, lifts, and insurance
• Day Ticket $2.00 Adult or $1.00 night or child

Elmer Bergh joins Paskapoo Development Ltd. in December 1961. 115 acres of land are leased from Calgary Brewing and Malting Company.

1962 - Herald Ski School 350 - 400 kids - Calgary Ski Club Coaches. Ethan Compton - (Local Ski Enthusiast) Some instructors:

Ed Hunter, Rigo Amann, Leo Grillmair, Harry Morstead, Wally Humphries, Betty Kent (Chris Kent's mother), Brad Geisler, Howard and Patty Schwartz.

1965 - 1966 - Ski School Director - Fritz Bortenlanger

• Ski Weeks - 10 hour lessons $15.00
• Season Tickets - Family $60.00, Adults $30.00, Students $25.00, Children $20.00
• Day Tickets - Family $6.50, Adults $4.00, Students $3.00, Children $2.50

1967 - 1968 - New T-Bar

• Ski Jumps - Foothills Nordic Ski Club - Built by volunteers and donated materials.
• Ski Weeks - 10 hours lesson $25.00
• Season Tickets - Family $100.00, Adults $55.00, Students $30.00, Children $25.00
• Day Tickets - Family $10.00, Adults $4.00, Students $3.00, Children $2.50

1960 - 1966 - Paskapoo grew slowly until 1966/67 with Bob Elias, Fred Cummer, Elmer Bergh, Dr. Gordon Minty, Joy Cummer. Adding new partner's Wayne MacDougall, Dr. Olaf Melvie, Jack Black (1963 - 1969), Don Weicker (1963 - 1969), and losing original partner Clarence Haakenstad. Changes included: two additions to the "BARRACKS" lodge. First a ski shop/rental shop - some 2" aluminum irrigation line was added to the east (only) run as well as a 50,000 gallon water tank for snowmaking and 2 - 50 H.P. Air Compressors were purchased.

1967 - Saw Paskapoo Development Ltd. go to the membership of the Paskapoo Ski Club selling $200.00 debentures for a major expansion that included: 1. Leasing with the option to purchase a new ski run to the west - (now the main run) 2. Clearing the run 3. Addition of a new 4" aluminum snow making line running parallel to a NEW DOPPELMAYR T-BAR carrying 1200 skiers per hour. 4. A new line of telephone poles that were used for lighting for night skiing and pole mounted snowguns for snowmaking. 5. A new 20' x 20' cee-der-log garage kit at the bottom of the hill to be used as a ski/rental shop. 6. Parking for 150 cars at the bottom of the hill. 7. Day lodge expanded for more seating. 8. 1500-foot water line installed hooking Paskapoo onto City Water - solving the problems with well-water and trucking water to the hill.

1970 - Joseph D. Couillard and Allan Brooker came over to Paskapoo Ski Area from Happy Valley Ski Area to manage the ski area. Joe Couillard became a partner in 1971 and Allan Brooker in 1978. The ski area ran occasionally with as few as three people - one person in the cafeteria, one lift operator and one in the ski shop. Business grew year by year making minor improvements in maintenance, a third compressor (60 H.P.), new snowmaking hydrants, an expansion of the ski shop and a third rope tow for beginners at the bottom of the west run. Approximately 100 sets of rental ski equipment.

1973 - Was the year that the Paskapoo Ski Area transformed and really became a major force in the Alberta ski market - 1. Hall Double Chairlift on the west side of the west run (1200 skiers per hour). 2. 6" steel (air and water) snowmaking lines under the double chair - across the top and bottom of the hill (quadrupling capacity) 3. New 75 H.P. Bowness water boosting pump for snowmaking. 4. A new compressor building with a 200 H.P. compressor and a 125 H.P. compressor. 5. New pump building with a 75 H.P. Booster Pump at the bottom of the hill. 6. 2 - 110 ft. light towers acquired from McMahon Stadium. 7. A new concrete block Day Lodge, 6400sq. Ft., two floors with sundeck. 8. Triple the size of the parking lot. 9. Rental fleet expands to 1000 pair of skis. Bob Elias left Paskapoo Development Ltd.

1975 - Due to continued growth an expansion of the Day Lodge was necessary adding a further 2560 sq. ft.. Ski rentals were increased to 1500 pair. A 1200 skier per hour Hall T-Bar replaced the west rope tow and a (first of three) 300 H.P. Hydro-screw compressor was added increasing snowmaking capacity. A Thiokol 2100 tracked vehicle with "powder-makers" was purchased to improve skiing conditions through more advanced grooming.

1978 - Due to continuing pressure on the Lodge Facilities a 3 floor addition more than doubled the size of the lodge to 23,000 sq. ft., improvements made to night lighting, a third 300 H.P. Hydro-screw compressor and the larger pumps boosted the snowmaking capacity. WORLD PRO SKIING came to Paskapoo Ski Area for 4 years attracting approximately 20,000 spectators over 3 days to watch head to head ski racing slalom and giant slalom, a major event for a small ski area! The ALPINE SLIDE was installed at Paskapoo Ski Area bringing year - round operations to the ski area. The ALPINE SLIDE was a dual track, concrete luge-type ride that one person or an adult with a small child rode down the hill on a cart with wheels, runners and brakes controlling his/her own speed. Quite an exciting ride.

1978 - A new Hall Triple Chairlift of sophisticated design was constructed due to continuing growing demand. SCR Drive - Caterpillar Planetary GearBox and variable speed with mid-station unloading for beginners - 1800 skiers per hour capacity.

1979 - A Go-Kart Track was installed in 1979 adding to the summer operations and a new Thiokol Tracked Vehicle was purchased with a "Snow - Tiller" - a hydraulically powered snow groomer that radically improved snow conditions overnight! A Golf Driving Range was built on the highway frontage. Acreage consolidated at 210 acres.

1980 - The Hill at the north end of the property was leveled adjacent to the highway to double the parking area. Paskapoo Ski Area continued to thrive - adult lesson packages taught an average of 5000 beginner skiers per year to ski as well as another 5000 children every year. School programs taught weekdays to school children as part of life-time activities or Physical Education classes sometime involved 1500 student - lessons per day or over 50,000 hours of lessons in a season.

1981 - Paskapoo was the site of a WORLD CUP FREESTYLE EVENT drawing 12,000 spectators to the aerial events and the ballet. A huge pile of snow was made over a period of 2 weeks to a total height of over 30 feet.

1984 - PASKAPOO SKI AREA - A legacy of the vision and dedication of a few enthusiastic Calgary skiers yielded to the vision and dedication of many Olympic dreamers in the sale of "PASKAPOO" and a $60,000.00 investment in the future of Winter Sports for Canada.

History Compiled By Allan Brooker