$4M ski hill expansion opens at Canada Olympic Park

A $4-million expansion of the ski hill at Canada Olympic Park opens on Thursday.

The addition includes a new quad chairlift and 30 per cent more vertical terrain on the main hill, according to WinSport Winter Sport Institute, which owns the park.

"With the addition of eight additional acres of skiable terrain, the project significantly transforms Canada Olympic Park and allows the opportunity for recreational skiers and snowboarders to experience challenging runs, while increasing the parks up-hill capacity," WinSport said in a release.

The upgrades will provide a world-class slalom training facility for Alpine Canadas national and developmental teams, the organization said.

"It gives the technical skiers, the slalom racers, the opportunity to train and compete right here in their own city," said Winsport spokesman Dale Oviatt.

The changes will also allow WinSport to meet International Ski Federation specifications to host a World Cup womens slalom race, officials said.