Area ski hills are getting pummeled with snow as local skiers and snow boarders pray to Ullr the snow God, that it won’t stop.
Over 100 centimetres of the white stuff has fallen this month with a lot more on the way, making for incredible early conditions.
“It’s mid-November and La Nina is in full effect,” said Red spokesman Mika Hakkola in a release. “We’ve been hit with at least four great storms so far, dropping a ton of new snow here at Red.”
The opening day is set for Dec. 17 but with heavy snowfall continuing, Red may crank up its lifts even earlier than that.
“It’s been fantastic and this warm weather is doing wonders for our base,” said Erik Kalacis, Red’s General Manager in a release.
As of Tuesday, Paradise’s base measured 70 centimetres with more on top.
“This is an all time snowy start to the season and all Rossland locals are pumped, the days are getting shorter and so is our patience. We want to hit the hills and do some ripping.”
Red also announced a partnership with North Face as sponsor for the Canadian Open Freeskiing Championships for the next three years. This year’s event will include even more junior skiers and an additional day of trials in the competition
“We’ve found that this junior event has such great enthusiasm around it and often times we find it difficult to open it to all competitors. It simply fills up very quickly,” said Kalacis. The junior competition will go Jan. 11-14 while the seniors hit the slopes Jan. 18-21.
The brushing program eradicated much of the alder from Jumbo all the way across to Mother Lode including alder gulley.
Red has also made a few changes to its day lodge moving the Keen Coffee Bar up into the conference room. High Performance Rentals will take over the former coffee space beside the ticket windows.
Snowsports School has all new programs for beginner and novice skiers and boarders, while four-week programs for Men’s Vertical Club and Chicks on Snow cater to the more advanced adult crowd, and include a relaxing drink in Rafters Pub afterwards.
Introduced by the Canadian Ski Council, the Grade 4 and 5 Snow Pass is available at schools where kids can enjoy free passes to area ski hills for a great price.
“It’s a phenomenal deal,” said Kalacis. “Skiing and snow boarding is a great sport and kids should get out an enjoy the snow.”
He also encourages local pass holder to avoid the rush and pick up ski passes at the hill Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Meanwhile Whitewater Ski Hill outside of Nelson has a 100 cm base at its summit and has received over 125 cm of snow in the last three weeks. Whitewater opens its slopes on Dec. 9 with a sneak-peak Dec. 3 and 4.
For those who can’t wait, Fernie Alpine Resort is celebrating its 50th year with early-bird skiing going this Saturday and Sunday, and full operation Dec. 2. Revelstoke Mountain Resort is also getting a jump on the season, will be open this weekend and be fully operational on Dec. 3.
For more info and lessons check out www.redresort.com or contact Luke Belanger at 362-7384 ext 236.