It was Facebook frenzy, a virtual snowstorm, a competition that united the West Kootenay communities of Nelson and Rossland. And after nearly two months of voting, the Ski Town Throwdown is in the bag.
Sunday night the Powder Magazine contest throwing 32 ski towns across North America into the ring, crowned the local team winners over Bozeman. The final round vote was 11,426 to 10,572.
Powder Magazine congratulated the winners of their Facebook contest.
“There’s something going on in the Kootenays. It could be the yam fries in the poutine at Whitewater. Or the oversized nachos at Rafters, Red’s legendary bar. The cute hippy chicks and Oso Negro coffee probably help. Then again, maybe it’s just the rowdy terrain, pillow lines, and smoky B.C. pow,” wrote John Clary Davies at www.powdermag.com
A celebration began with the announcement garnering over 1,000 Facebook likes overnight. By Christmas eve morning, Nelson was abuzz with civic pride. Hoots and hollers made their way online followed by a barrage of exclamation points.
RDCK director Ramona Faust posted, “Woo hoo Whitewater – Red Mountain … well done Community near and far.”
The competition began in October and along the way Rossland/Nelson beat Sugarloaf, Maine; Whitefish, Montana; Crested Butte, Colorado; and Sandpoint, Idaho. According to Whitewater general manager of indoor operations and marketing Anne Pigeon, as soon as Nelson won its first matchup, the town really rallied. Mayor John Dooley even took the campaign door-to-door reminding people to vote.
With congratulations coming from far and wide it’s evident Nelson/Rossland is being put on the map.
“Congrats Canada! Buy yourself a beer,” posted Peter McBride from Beverly Hills, California.
“I'm a Schweitzer, Mt. Spokane, Silver Mountain, Lookout Pass skier as a matter of geography, but I have to admit, when it's time for the road, it's generally Nelson/Rossland. Congrats. Very worthy,” said Richard Kuck of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.
There has been talk of what this competition will do for tourism in the area taking the local ski scene from “best kept secret” to hot-tip gone viral. The title of best ski town in North America comes with the prize of bragging rights along with a feature article in Powder.
Marcos Lujan of Santa Fe, New Mexico posted on Facebook, “That does it, I'm going and I'm bringing my posse!”
Powder magazine is also sending one lucky voter to Rossland and Nelson to ski – all expenses paid.
“To whomever it is, enjoy the poutine. And the pow,” said Davies.