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29th Bonspiel on the Lake
Old Man Winter is an outdoor curling fan, apparently.
Thanks to unbelievably warm and snowless weather in December and pushing into January, outdoor event organizers have been left scrambling to change dates of events in the region this winter.
Organizers of the 29th annual Bonspiel on the Lake, at Invermere’s Kinsmen Beach, were among those watching the skies and weather reports with nervous eyes leading up to last week, when Mother Nature unleashed her usual winter fury on the East Kootenay, blanketing it in snow and plunging temperatures far enough down to bring a measure of relief to those who must play on ice.
By the time the bonspiel got underway Friday afternoon (Jan. 20), conditions were perfect for the world’s longest running and largest outdoor ‘spiel.
Once again there were 64 rinks competing in the bonspiel, which ran to Sunday afternoon (Jan. 22).
A mix of lovely and sometimes biting winter conditions greeted curlers and onlookers, while Invermere’s White Way wriggled with activity in the background.
On Saturday the Snowflake Festival provided a carnival atmosphere at Kinsmen Beach, as several hundred people took part in the music and culinary treats provided, as well as family fun. Family fun events also took place at Panorama Mountain Village.
Rounding out the weekend trifecta of fun was the Fire & Ice Festival at Fairmont Hot Springs.
Photos of the Bonspiel on the Lake by Ian Cobb/e-KNOW and Carrie Schafer/Through My Eyes Photography
