Where to Try Winter Olympic Sports in Alberta

With excitement building around the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Cortina and Milan, the sports that define the Games are capturing attention around the world. In Alberta, those Olympic moments don’t have to stay on the screen. You can leap into the action and try Winter Olympic sports firsthand, even at the same venues that helped shape the province’s own Olympics story.

Alberta’s connection to winter sport runs deep: Calgary proudly hosted the 1988 Olympic Winter Games. Now, nearly four decades later, many of those competition sites remain active, welcoming everyone from first-timers to elite athletes. From speed skating on Olympic ice in Calgary to learning to ski on storied slopes in the nearby Rocky Mountains, Alberta offers hands-on ways to experience the Olympic sports seen on the world stage. 

Whether you’re inspired by Milano Cortina 2026 or simply curious to try Canadian winter sports, here’s where and how to experience Winter Olympic sports in Alberta.

Alberta’s Olympic legacy

When Calgary hosted the 1988 Games, the city welcomed 1,423 athletes from 57 nations to compete in 46 events. It marked the first time Canada hosted the Winter Games, and it left a legacy that still shapes winter sports in the province. 

Many of the venues built for 1988 remain active and accessible, not just in Calgary, but in the surrounding mountain communities of Canmore and Kananaskis Country. Visitors can skate and ski at the same sites that once hosted Olympic medal events, often alongside athletes training for their own Olympic dreams.

That includes Nakiska Ski Area, a resort built specifically for the 1988 alpine events. “It was a great Olympic venue,” says Jan Sekerak, general manager of Nakiska Ski Area. ”Now people have a fantastic playground one hour from Calgary, where you are already in the mountains.”

​​​​​Located in the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies, Nakiska is a mountain-filled 99-km (61 mi) drive from Calgary. Its Olympic roots are easy to spot, from chairlifts named Bronze, Silver, Gold and Olympic to memorabilia inside the lodge. Like several former Olympic venues in Alberta, it also continues to serve as a national training centre for Canadian athletes.

Try speed skating at the Olympic Oval in Calgary

Lace up for recreational public skating on one of the fastest ice surfaces ever built—the Olympic Oval at the University of Calgary. Multiple Olympic records were set here during the 1988 Games, and elite speed skaters still train on the ice today. More than 300 world records have been broken at the Oval, earning it the nickname “The Fastest Ice in the World.”​​​​​​ In fact, the Oval’s director Mark Messer has travelled to seven Winter Games—including Milano Cortina—to help make and maintain top-quality ice. 

Check the Oval’s schedule for recreational skating times. Rent hockey skates or speed skates from the on-site Skate Shop in both adult and children’s sizes. Helmets are mandatory for public skating and can be rented if needed. Plus, during the Milano Cortina Games, the Oval opens Canada House, inviting visitors to watch, cheer and celebrate Team Canada together.

Free speed-skating lessons in Calgary

For those curious about speed skating, the Calgary Speed Skating Association hosts “Try Speed Skating” sessions at the Oval. These free one-hour on-ice sessions introduce families, kids and adults to the basics of this exhilarating Olympic sport. 

Outdoor speed skating in Edmonton

Prior to the 1988 Games, speed skating was always held outside. Harken back to those halcyon (albeit chilly) days in Edmonton, where local speed skating teams train outdoors at the Victoria Park Oval. Public skating times are available when teams aren’t training, and there’s also the popular Victoria Park IceWay, which offers a scenic skating trail through the river valley.

Be a hockey player for a day in Canmore

Ice hockey (or, as Canadians call it, “hockey”) is a beloved winter sport in Canada, played from coast to coast, from backyard rinks to packed arenas. 

Ever wanted to give hockey a try for yourself? The Canadian Hockey Player Experience, by Canmore-based Pinnacle Hockey, gives participants a behind-the-scenes look at elite hockey life. Guided by professional coaches from the Canmore Eagles, participants suit up in full gear, hit the ice and learn what it takes to train like a pro. This unforgettable hockey experience is designed for all ages and skill levels (yep, including first timers).

Where to watch professional hockey in Alberta

To see hockey at its highest level, catch an NHL game. Watch the Calgary Flames play at the Scotiabank Saddledome, a 1988 Olympic venue, or be part of the electric atmosphere as the Edmonton Oilers play at ​​​​Rogers Place.

The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) makes special appearances in Alberta from time to time. In 2026, you can catch this elite talent at Rogers Place on April 7.

World-class cross-country skiing at the Canmore Nordic Centre

The Canmore Nordic Centre is one of the crown jewels of Alberta’s Olympic legacy. Built for the cross-country ski and biathlon events at the 1988 Games, it remains a world-class venue used for both national teams and recreational skiers. 

Newcomers to the sport will find cross-country skiing more relaxed than downhill, with the freedom to set your own pace and level of effort. Whether you’re looking for a steady workout or a slower glide to savour the mountain scenery, the Nordic Centre’s immaculately groomed trails deliver. 

At the on-site Trail Sports shop, rent equipment and book private lessons, or try the popular drop-in beginner lessons. Guided cross-country skiing is also available, where an experienced instructor shows you the best trails and gives you tips along the way.

Downhill ski and snowboard at Alberta’s past Olympic hills

Alberta’s ski story is closely tied to its Olympic history. Two former Olympic venues remain open to the public and are easy to access. 

WinSport Canada Olympic Park

Right in the city of Calgary, WinSport operates Canada Olympic Park, where visitors can ski and snowboard on terrain that once hosted Olympic events. 

WinSport offers rentals and lessons, a dedicated beginner area with multiple magic carpets, two high-speed chairlifts, and a mix of terrain for different ability levels, including an advanced terrain park and halfpipe.

WinSport is ideal for anyone staying in Calgary who wants to give skiing or snowboarding a try for the first time. It’ll certainly give you newfound appreciation for just how impressive the skills of Olympians are.

In fact, some major underdog stars of the 1988 Winter Games competed here: British ski jumper Eddie the Eagle and the Jamaican bobsleigh team that inspired the movie Cool Runnings.

Nakiska Ski Resort

Enjoy a picturesque one-hour drive west of Calgary (99 km or 61 mi) to land at Nakiska Ski Resort in Kananaskis Country, which hosted alpine events during the 1988 Games.

It’s now a favourite among locals and families, known for its proximity to Calgary and reliable snowmaking. “Nakiska has fantastic beginner and intermediate terrain,” says Jan Sekerak, general manager of Nakiska Ski Area. Rent skis on site then join a group or private ski or snowboard lesson, from one-hour mini lessons for kids to six-hour sessions for adults.

Read the ultimate guide to downhill skiing in Alberta’s Canadian Rockies

Give biathlon a shot in the Canadian Rockies

Biathlon is a demanding combination of cross-country skiing and rifle shooting, and it’s a fascinating Olympic winter sport to watch. In Alberta, it’s also possible to try for yourself. 

Head to the Canmore Nordic Centre, located about an hour drive (106 km or 66 mi) from Calgary in the mountain town of Canmore. The venue hosted Nordic events during the 1988 Olympics, a legacy that’s still built into the site today—its address is 1988 Olympic Way. 

The Centre is a hub for both elite and recreational skiers. Beginners aged 10 and up can sign up for the Try Biathlon program, which includes two hours of instruction from a certified coach. Rent cross-country ski equipment on-site from Trail Sports, then step onto the biathlon range to experience marksmanship firsthand, all with sweeping mountain views as your backdrop.

​​​Learn to curl on your trip to Alberta, Canada

Curling might look leisurely on TV, but step onto the ice and you’ll quickly see why it’s often described as “chess on ice.” Clubs across Alberta make it easy for newcomers to try the sport through learn-to-curl sessions, drop-in nights and private lessons. 

Where to try curling in Calgary

In Calgary, the Garrison Curling Club offers private introductory lessons for individuals and groups, while just outside the city, the Springbank Curling Club hosts learn to curl clinics designed for adults with little to no experience. All equipment is provided, and attendees learn the game’s fundamentals, rules, etiquette and strategy over a two-hour session. 

And you don’t need to know all the minutiae of curling to have fun at an outdoor Crokicurl rink in Calgary. Head to Bowness Park, North Glenmore Park or Barb Scott Park to throw rocks in this fun, curling-inspired sport.

Learn more about crokicurl

Where to try curling in Edmonton

Edmonton’s Crestwood Curling Club sees a spike in people wanting to try curling during Olympic years. To that end, the club is hosting an open house on February 22, 2026, a free drop-in afternoon event where anyone aged seven and up can try curling. 

Where to try curling in Canmore

Another spot for beginner-friendly programs is the Canmore Golf & Curling Club, where experiences are designed for people interested in trying curling in a fun and welcoming environment.

For backcountry skiers, try ski mountaineering in Alberta

Ski mountaineering, often referred to as skimo, makes its Olympic debut at the 2026 Games. The sport combines uphill endurance, technical descents and alpine travel. While it’s not a sport for beginners, Alberta offers backcountry skiers a spectacular setting to learn it safely.

Yamnuska Mountain Adventures runs the ultimate backcountry ski adventure, a six-day intro to ski mountaineering program. You need to be a strong downhill skier and familiar with touring equipment, but no previous mountaineering experience is required. Participants travel through Alberta’s dramatic Wapta Icefields while learning essential ski mountaineering skills like glacier travel and route-finding.