According to Curtis Pawliuk, general manager of VARDA, Crystal Ridge is a one of a kind facility that features snowmobile assisted skiing and snowboarding, located on the south side of the Canoe River next to Mt. Diefenbaker and only a few minutes from Valemount.
In 2004, a group from Valemount, known as the Powerboarders, made a request to categorize Crystal Ridge as a “powerboarding destination” in the Valemount to Blue River Sustainable Resource Management Plan. The final product is a public use sled assisted ski and board area with four cleared runs of 2,000 vertical feet each.
“The uniqueness of Crystal Ridge can be closely related to grass roots downhill mountain biking where riders would take turns shuttling each other up to the tops of the trails via a pickup truck,” explained Pawliuk. “Although now we are doing this with snowmobiles and using them to access some amazing snow covered terrain.”
Pawliuk is certain that no matter how people choose to use the facility, whether on a snowboard or a set of skis, users will be thrilled with the 2,000 vertical drop and two kilometre long runs. Just minutes from Valemount, users can use the Westridge staging area where riders will use the 14 kilometre long snowmobile trail to get to the hill. The area sits within a caribou sensitive area, which means snowmobiles are strictly restricted to the trail only as designated under a stewardship management agreement with the Ministry of Environment.
Pawliuk praised the extensive efforts of volunteers who put in their time, as well donations that were used to create the facility.
“Without the initial vision of the Powerboarders and the dedicated group of VARDA volunteers, along with assistance from Recreation Sites and Trails, and financial assistance from the Columbia Basin Trust, this facility would still be but a unique dream,” said Pawliuk.
This being the first year of operation, Pawliuk expects to learn a great deal and intends to keep improving the access and enjoyment of the area in the years to come.
“On behalf of the Valemount Area Recreation Development Association I would like to offer my sincere thank you to these great people and groups who contributed to this project along the way,” said Pawliuk. “If I have missed anyone, it was surely not on purpose and everyone’s help was greatly appreciated.”
Pawliuk listed the following business and local residents:
Valemount PowerBoarders, Laurier O’dwyer, Archie McLean, Columbia Basin Trust, Vegreville Sno-Chasers, Yellowhead Helicopters, The Source Tree Service, Mac Cochrane, Twin Peaks Resort, R Smith Logging, Patricia and Rudi Thoni, Darryl Polyk, Spaz Logging, Rick Plamondon, Brian Mckirdy, Lakes District Maintenance, VARDA BOD, Rec Sites and Trails BC, Dawn Watson, TDC Manufacturing, and Terracana Ranch Resort.
Pawliuk announced VARDA is starting a contest to name two of the runs at the new facility and is asking the users of Crystal Ridge and the community of Valemount to help them out with two names. Suggestions can be posted on the VARDA Facebook Page under the event titled “Name a Run on Crystal Ridge.” VARDA will choose a handful of favourites and put them back to the community for a vote through all their Facebook followers.
“This is your chance to have a little contribution of your own to this one of a kind place that exists only here in Valemount,” declared Pawliuk.
For more information on Crystal Ridge or Valemount in general, contact VARDA at 250-566-4817 or email [email protected]. You can also check VARDA’s website at and “like” the Valemount Area Recreation Development Association on Facebook.
