The Calgary Olympics were a turning point that shot the young figure skater to superstardom, but only four years earlier, she had quit the sport to address her depression and anxiety.

A record-breaking blizzard in St. John's this January caused challenges for residents but the dramatic snowfall also sparked interest in winter activities the city offers - and interest in tourism to the province.

More than any other activity I've tried in this series, snowkiting is absolutely at the mercy of Mother Nature.

"I wouldn't say that I'm afraid of heights, per se; it's more that I have a fear of falling from a great distance," Mike Arsenault says of his ice-climbing experience.

I fell within the first three seconds of getting my skis on with the laughter of my instructor, Andrew, ringing in my ears.

When it comes to making the most of winter, fat biking is a whole different ball game, Mike Arsenault says.

"It is a magical place."

The second phase of the Optimist Hill campaign kicked off with a $1 million contribution from Conexus Credit Union, which will go directly towards a chalet.

Boler Mountain will be welcoming skiers and snowboarders starting Saturday.

No stranger to curling, London hosted the 2011 Tim Hortons Brier and the 2006 Scotties Tournament of Hearts before last year's Continental Cup.