As Jasper’s Alberta Winter Games office prepares to welcome provincial officials for a walkthrough of venues and facilities next week, they admit that they’ll be counting on the weather to ensure the success of a key event.

The speed skating competition, trumpeted as a “showcase event” for the games by chairman Fred Munn, is scheduled for the outdoor circuit on Mildred Lake near the Jasper Park Lodge.

While everyone involved believes the competition will be a unique experience for participants and spectators alike, there are no contingency plans in place in the case of severe weather or questionable ice conditions.

“Currently there isn’t one (a plan),” said Jasper games assistant Max Voykin. “If the lake is not going to be ready then the whole event will be scrapped.”

There were some preliminary discussions about the possibility of moving the speed skating on to Pyramid Lake in case of necessity, Voykin said, but he added that any such plans “haven’t really been developed.”

Moving the speed skaters indoors is not an option. With the games running from February 23 to 26, Jasper’s ice surface is fully booked with the figure skating events and arenas in Hinton and Edson are busy with the hockey competitions, according to Voykin.

The Jasper Park Lodge provides ice skating on Mildred Lake for guests in the winter months. Last year, the ice surface was safe to use from early December until the third week of March, according to Lori Grant, public relations manager for the JPL.

If the Farmer’s Almanac is to be believed, it will be clear skating ahead for games organizers. The annual weather reference predicts seasonal, pleasant conditions for the last weekend of February in Western Canada- minus ten degrees with light flurries.

Local organisers are also looking for a volunteer to take on the role of speed skating chair. 

“The person will liase with the provincial speed skating association and work on timelines for getting things booked and confirmed,” Voykin said. The responsibilities of the position aren’t overly onerous, he added, but the current compliment of games staff each have their own specific areas of concern and therefore are not able to focus on preparing the speed skating.

“It’s not that big of a job, really,” he said. “It’s more a matter of having someone in place to refer calls to and so on.”

A major recruiting push will begin in December for other volunteers. People are needed for tasks ranging from event security to bus driving. Voykin is sure that Jasperites will be out in numbers to support the games.

“Jasper’s so used to throwing events of this size,” he said. “It’s almost second nature.”

This month will also see souveniers for sale at the games office on Connaught Drive and perhaps in other locations around town.

“We’re arranging for a pre-sales venue for souvenirs right now,” said Voykin. “There will be samples at the office though.”

A range of items will be available, emblazoned with the Winter Games logo and “Intergamez”, the marketing word that refers to the shared location of the games between Jasper, Hinton, Edson and Yellowhead County. Among the souveniers available will be plastic wrist bands, lanyards, water bottles and a wide range of clothing including hooded sweatshirts, ball caps and toques. 

Anyone interested in volunteer opportunities, including the position of speed skating chair, can contact the Jasper Winter Games office at 820-2135.