Poor road conditions and chilly weather may have kept some away from outside of the community, but Creekers, their Redwood Meadows neighbours and others rallied around Bragg Creek's Winter in the Woods on Jan. 28.

The sophomore edition of the winter festival had all of the components of last year and a few more family fun activities, just smaller crowds.

Despite, that, Chair Brian Robinson, says it was a great success, thanks to the hard work of a great team of volunteers and many generous sponsors.

"I don't think the weather was that bad," says chair Brian Robertson. "I think it was more the snow overnight that kind of killed us, but the evening programming went well, and human curling went really well, and both the hockey games were great."

Held later than originally scheduled, 19 teams participated in human curling, which continues to be the darling of the day.

"It was a big hit again, continues to be a staple of Winter in the Woods, and it'll definitely be happening again next year."

Even an Olympic medallist curler participated. He didn't win, in fact, it was a young team with a collective age of about 30 who walked away with the title, says Robertson.

He says the evening rivalry hockey game between the Powderhorn Pistols and Redwood Bucks lived up to all the hype.

"Redwood mounted a major comeback in the final couple of minutes. It almost looked like the Leafs were playing in the game," he jokes. "Redwood came back from 5-2, tied it up with like a second left in play, and unfortunately lost it in the shoot-out, but it was a brilliant game."

All 340 pucks were claimed for the Chuck-A-Puck that wrapped up the day.

The business on the back of the winning puck earned the naming rights for the outdoor rink until next year's festival. It will now be known as Mabel and Marie's outdoor rink. The lucky person who walked away with the $1,000 prize was Steve Archer.

ooftaThe three-generation team Oofta is the world champion in Freeze-Bee a national new addition to Winter in the Woods.

Freeze-Bee may have only attracted three relay teams. but they've got something special here.

The three-generation Team Oofta is the first world champion of this sport/game, which is disc golf on skates.

Asked how it felt to be world champs, there was plenty of laughter and light-hearted comments.

"We just have to work out some way to say this is the only time the event is ever held so we'll be world champs forever."

They didn't train in advance and had no secrets to share.

"We play frisbee and hockey, so it all came together," says Erica Couillard, still chuckling.

Robertson says he got some positive feedback from its sponsor, Walsh Equipment, and he hopes it will become another staple of the festival.

For a second year, the title sponsor was Gateway Developments, the brainchild of Dick Koetsier, a devoted Creeker.

"It's such an important part of our community to be able to celebrate winter," says Koetsier. "We have Bragg Creek Days in the summer, and now we have an excuse to get together and support our rink, which is such an important part of our community."

Proceeds from the festival will go towards resurfacing the rink's pad, estimated to cost $40,000 to $50,000.

"It's always been a big part of the community, but there have been a lot of local individuals that have been pouring their hearts and souls into improving it and making it an even bigger and better quality part of our community.

"The hockey, the shiny, the public skating that goes on, it's getting better all the time. I have not seen the rink in this good of shape, as long as I've been here, and that's been since 2005."

He says it takes dedicated people to make both the community's business centre and the rink a success.

"It's really important to get the community together because it helps to put a little more fuel in your jets, makes you realize how important community is, and how exciting it is to get together to celebrate the great place we live."

Stephanie and MacMany volunteers stepped forward to make it a great community event, including Stephanie Ireland and Mac Hodson, here displaying two of the few remaining pucks for the Chuck-A-Puck event. All 340 of them were sold.

Stephanie Ireland and Mac Hodson were two of the volunteers manning the tent at the entrance of the rink area and, like others, were excited to help with a community event.

"They're just really great, especially in the winter, when you can be struck in your house hibernating. It's great to see people out and about, even if it is cold."