January 25, 2003
Lifts/Runs
Lifts Open: 9/10
Runs open: 107/107
Snowfall
24 Hour: 8cm (3in)
48 Hour: 18cm (7in)
7 Day: 28cm (11in)
Year to date: 339cm (135in)
Snow Pack: 183cm (73in)
Text and photos by Gerry George
World Cup Weekend
Friday Night
They had the opening ceremonies on Friday night in downtown Fernie. A pretty good crowd showed up to welcome the athletes to town and wish them good luck this weekend.
Saturday
Dual moguls was held on the lower part of the Bear. Conditions were good with the snow bordering on the edge of spring like. It was rather interesting weather with freezing temperatures at the bottom of the mountain, a very abrupt temperature inversion about one quarter of the way up and then some more wintery conditions up top with heavy powder and crud it the bowls. Skiing was actually pretty good unless you were up on White Out Pass where you couldn’t tell if you were skiing on snow or cloud.
That didn’t seem to bother the competitors who blasted down the course below the cloud line, hucking huge aerials of the massive jumps. It was fun to watch but I didn’t make it to the finals as there was some skiing to be had. They were forecasting huge crowds for this weekend but I think they all stayed in the parking lots as the lifts didn’t seem congested at all.
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