Since we thought we would be skiing the whole weekend, we did not plan too many activities for our visit to Banff. After talking to the Banff Visitor Center staff, we decided to check out the Audi FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup at Lake Louise. Even though Lindsey Vonn would be competing later in the week, we decided to take on the crowds. With the 2014 Sochi Olympics around the corner, this was one of the last qualifying events for these athletes.
We arrived at a fully parked Lake Louise Ski Resort, so we parked on the snow-plowed road and changed to our warm clothing to survive the outdoor temperatures. With camera gear in tow, we made our way to the resort to join the audience.
As we walked to the resort, we were slightly disappointed we decided not to ski. Hiking to the last turn of the course before the straight stretch at the bottom was our mission to get more pictures without the bystanders. After watching several skiers finish the course, we decided to head back down and hike Johnston Canyon.
The competition was fierce with high downhill speeds of 85+ mph (~140 km/hr). I can’t imagine going more than 30 or 40 mph! It could be easy to fly out of control and off the course. Staff skiers would ride down the course to smooth out past participants tracks.
While heading down, it was fun to see a bunch of kids glissading down the mountain in their skis boots (sans skis). The plastic boots made for an easy fun foot slide down. We had more effort and had to walk down.
Here are the images I took while at the event:
After heading out, we were able to see flags of the different countries being represented, along with a real treat of Native Americans dancing. For a more complete collection of my photos, head to my Flickr photo set.
Results of the Audi FIS Downhill Men Competition – November 30, 2013.
Share what your favorite athletic events are to watch in the comment section.
More in this series:
- Banff Instagram Photo Essay
- Must See Banff Winter Attractions
- Johnston Canyon – Banff National Park
- A Canadian Experience in Banff
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