Machine for snowboarders idle until next fall
Dave Sullivan
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Mar 23/01) - Snowboarders are frustrated after learning a new snow-making machine city hall bought for their use can't be used anytime in the near future.
In December the Yellowknife Board Sport Association received a $4,250 grant which paid for a portable snow-making machine.
Because Bristol Pit, the spot snowboarders frequent, is often far too icy the association hoped the new machine would be able to provide them with the snow cover they need. "We've got the machine but we can't use it. We can't blow snow out here until we have a water source," said Shawn McCann, who led the efforts to acquire the machine.
The thirsty machine uses 15 gallons of water every minute.
McCann said the city promised to drill a well at the pit. Community services director Graham White disagrees and said the city only promised to look into it.
White added that after the investigation, officials concluded "the whole thing was cost prohibitive."
"We can't just go spending money willy nilly."
Another city official remains more optimistic. Facilities manager Tony Burge, who bought the machine, says the city still hopes to some day drill a well at the bottom of the pit.
In the meantime, possibly as soon as this autumn, Burge thinks the machine could be connected to a pump used to water flowers at an adjacent cemetery. Only catch is, the association will have to pay for the hookup.
"If you do something for one group you're going to be doing a lot of things for a lot of groups," Burge said.
McCann said snowboarders, who tend to be in their teens, feel let down by city hall and are frustrated at the political process.
"It's been a real experience, learning how to lobby. Maybe we just don't understand how it works," she said.
Burge, who remains optimistic the boarders will get the machine working by next autumn, said it only has to be -3 C for the machine to work.
"It only has to be minus three Celsius ... we can make a pile of snow in October and November and they're ready to go. We just don't get enough snow up here, other than the last few days."
Burge also hopes because of the machine's portability it can be used by other groups including Caribou Carnival or the Snow Castle.
"Many organizations will benefit from this."
