WinSport’s Tube Park Opens Amid Frigid Temperatures

The Servus Tube Park at WinSport opened for the season on December 2, 2023, despite temperatures plummeting below -30 degrees Celsius with wind chill. Dale Oviatt, WinSport’s Director of Marketing and Communications, confirmed that the first session of the day was canceled due to the extreme cold, but the decision was made to proceed with two afternoon sessions. “Everything looks good out there. The sun’s shining, a little chilly, but it’s a nice day to kick off the tube park,” Oviatt remarked.

The tube park features eight tubing lanes and is operational on weekends until the end of March. It will also be open daily during the Christmas holidays, except on Christmas Day. Oviatt highlighted the park’s appeal, stating, “It’s become really a staple of activities for families all winter long. The great part about it is you don’t need to know anything about it. You can just go jump on a tube and go down.” Unlike skiing and snowboarding, tubing requires no special skills, making it accessible to a wide audience.

Weather conditions leading up to the park’s opening raised concerns regarding whether it would launch as scheduled. Oviatt explained, “We were concerned if it stayed too warm, we wouldn’t get enough snow to build it.” Fortunately, conditions improved, allowing for sufficient snow production to prepare the park for visitors.

While the skiing and snowboarding hill remains open throughout winter, it may close if temperatures drop to extremely low levels. Oviatt noted that the tube park is more susceptible to cold weather impacts. “If it gets a little bit too cold, in the mid-minus-20s, then that’s when we look at closing it down,” he added. This consideration arises from the fact that tubing is less physically demanding than skiing or snowboarding.

The popular Zoolights event will continue unless temperatures fall to between -35 degrees Celsius and -40 degrees Celsius. In the event of extreme cold, guests have the option to reschedule their tickets for an alternate date, although tickets are non-refundable otherwise. Visitors are encouraged to plan ahead and dress warmly.

Despite the cold weather, the last weekend of the Christmas in Kensington event is set to proceed. Activities include a photo opportunity with Santa, live music, hot chocolate on Saturday, and a petting zoo and photo station on Sunday, bringing festive cheer to the community even amid frigid conditions.