Ski club unveils state-of-art training facility in Vernon

Ski club unveils state-of-art training facility in Vernon

Published 4:39 pm Tuesday, September 15, 2026

It’s new. It’s state of the art.

And it rests comfortably on a North Okanagan mountain.

The Silver Star Freestyle (Ski) Club (SSFC) has unveiled its new dryland training facility at SilverStar Mountain Resort.

The facility will create unprecedented training opportunities for freestyle skiers and snowboarders in B.C., Western Canada, and beyond.

“This is a really exciting moment for freestyle skiing and snowboarding in our region,” said Carson Dorward, SSFC president. “We’ve been working toward this vision for a long time, and this facility creates a permanent legacy for our athletes and coaches.

“Having this level of training infrastructure here at Silver Star means our athletes no longer need to travel long distances to access this kind of training. It gives them the opportunity to progress more safely, train more consistently and pursue their goals right here at home.”

The centrepiece of the new facility is a large, state-of-the-art landing airbag designed to provide athletes with a safe and progressive environment to learn, develop and refine aerial skills.

From young athletes attempting their first jumps to competitive athletes preparing for provincial, national and Olympic-level competition, the facility will allow athletes to continue progressing their skills outside of the winter season.

Developed in partnership with SilverStar Mountain Resort, the new facility is designed to become Western Canada’s premier training centre for freestyle snowsports.

“Until now, athletes seeking comparable off-season facilities often had to travel as far as Oregon, Quebec or even Europe for specialized training,” said Dorward. “Bringing this resource to the Okanagan eliminates a significant travel barrier, while creating a destination capable of attracting athletes and teams from throughout Western Canada, the Pacific Northwest and beyond.”

The facility will support athlete progression and innovation across all levels of freestyle skiing and snowboarding.

It will also also provide valuable opportunities for coach development and help SSFC attract and retain high-quality coaches – giving coaches another incredible tool to help athletes develop safely and continue to progress through the spring, summer and fall.

The resort believes the new facility aligns closely with its commitment to help local clubs, youth athletes and long-term progression in sport.

“Silver Star is committed to supporting clubs and creating opportunities for young athletes to develop and progress in their sport,” said Herwig Demschar, SilverStar general manager.

“This facility is a great example of that commitment. It gives athletes a place to train, learn and challenge themselves in a safe and progressive environment, while strengthening the clubs and coaches who play such an important role in developing the next generation of athletes.”

The facility’s primary feature is a state-of-the-art landing airbag with a 60-metre dry-slope in-run, allowing intermediate and expert athletes to safely practice increasingly complex aerial maneuvers and experience landing scenarios that closely simulate on-snow conditions.

The landing airbag will be used from May through October, extending the training season and giving athletes a controlled environment where they can learn new skills, build confidence and progressively take on more challenging tricks before bringing those skills onto snow.

In addition, the SSFC’s existing flat airbag will be relocated to the new site and will continue to provide a safe and progressive training environment for beginner and intermediate athletes. Together, the two airbags will create a comprehensive progression pathway for athletes as they develop their skills.

The Silver Star Freestyle Club is continuing to fundraise to complete the facility requirements and expand the vision for its facilities.

Speaking of fundraising, SSFC has raised $470,000 to date to launch the landing airbag facility, bringing together government funding, regional grants, community partners, individual donors and in-kind contributions.

The new training centre will help position SilverStar Mountain Resort as a leading destination for year-round freestyle training.

“We’re not just building a facility for today’s athletes,” said Dorward. “We’re building something that will benefit generations of athletes who come through SilverStar. We want young skiers and snowboarders to see what is possible, have access to the right training environment and know that they can pursue their ambitions without having to leave the region to get there.”

Dorward added that the facility will also benefit the wider freestyle community, saying it will be a progression centre for everyone.

“Whether an athlete is learning their first jump or working toward an advanced competition trick, there is a place for them here,” he said. “It’s going to be an amazing resource for our club, for visiting teams and for the broader freestyle community.”

The Silver Star Freestyle Club invites the community to join the grand opening on Thursday, Sept. 17, 4 to 5 p.m., to recognize generous donors and celebrate the launch of this important new chapter for freestyle sport in Western Canada.