The 13th annual Coldsmoke Powder Festival is set to be held from Friday, February 22nd, to Sunday, February 24th. The self-styled “powder mecca of the Kootenays,” the Coldsmoke Powder Festival is an event made for skiers to learn new skills at ski clinics, test their skills in the backcountry, share their knowledge with fellow skiers, compete against one another, and celebrate their achievements.

Located just outside of Nelson beneath Ymir Mountain in the Selkirk Mountain range, Whitewater Ski Resort is known for its legendary snowfalls and ideal skiing terrain. It provides fantastic opportunities for skiers of all ages and skill levels. During the Coldsmoke Powder Festival weekend, Whitewater Ski Resort hosts the Coldsmoke Demo Village, which acts as the festival hub.

Coldsmoke Demo Village is completely free to access and open to all. Stop by from dawn to dusk to check out all of the latest powder and sliding gear. Knowledgeable reps will be available to answer any of your questions about their wares, and you can take part in some fun contests as well. The Coldsmoke Village is also the place to register for the festival’s clinics.

The clinics offered at Coldsmoke every year are put on by a dedicated group of guides and instructors eager to share their expertise in the world-class Selkirk terrain. Choose from among a diverse offering of different clinics and tours based on your interests and skill levels. Both on-area and backcountry clinics are available. Note that intermediate, advanced, and expert backcountry tours do require a level of confidence and comfort with wild snow.

The Coldsmoke Powder Festival also fosters a healthy spirit of competition in all snow sport disciplines. Whether you live for competition or you just want to test your skills, you should consider taking part. This year, the competitions will include the ROAM Randonnee Rally ski mountaineering race, the Village Ski Hut Slopestyle competition, the Poker Run, and the North Face Backcountry Olympics. Epic prizes will be up for grabs at each event.

Another important part of the Coldsmoke Festival is the fun festival socials. Everyone is welcome to participate in the socials and experience the warm Coldsmoke community. Socials will be taking place at Nelson’s Civic Theatre, the Hume Hotel, the Whitewater Day Lodge, and the Coldsmoke Demo Village. Some events require tickets while others, such as the Award Ceremonies, are free to attend.

Getting from Nelson to the Whitewater Ski Resort every day is a breeze thanks to the convenient Coldsmoke shuttles. The shuttles will depart twice in the morning and make stops, in the following order, at the Nelson Safeway, Prestige Inn, Prestige Lakeside, Whitewater Office, ROAM, Adventure Hotel, Best Western, Hume Hotel, and Alpine Motel. The two afternoon shuttles that bring participants back to Nelson will stop at all of the same locations in the reverse order.

The Kootenay Coldsmoke Powder Festival is truly one of the premier powder events in all of North America. Originally conceived of as a grassroots gathering, the festival grows more successful and popular with each successive year. Whether you’re a powder newbie or you ski better than you walk, there’s something for everyone at Coldsmoke.