The volunteers and staff of Misty Ridge Ski Hill are ready to go. The only thing that is missing is snow.
That is what Tracy Mueller, Misty Ridge Ski Hill Society director, told the Leader on Monday, Nov. 23, when asked about when the popular local ski hill will be open this season. The ski hill tentatively plans to open this year on Dec. 19. It should be noted that it was snowing during the interview.
Misty Ridge Ski Hill is a not- for-profit ski hill located 30 km north of Barrhead, in the County of Barrhead, adjacent to the Athabasca River.
“During the offseason our volunteers have been busy preparing, making sure everything is ready for our opening,” she said, adding currently staff are reinstalling the T-bars on the hill’s tow-line lift. “Every year we take down the T’s, inspect them, do any maintenance they may require and reinstall them.”
Barrhead County’s public work maintenance staff is doing the work, Mueller said. “They do the large bulk of the maintenance that needs to be done on the hill. They do such an amazing job. I am not sure what we would do without their help.”
Besides the annual T-Bar maintenance volunteers have been busy making improvements to the property.
Mueller said every year, in addition to performing necessary and routine maintenance on the ski hill’s equipment and grounds, the society tries to make improvements to the operation as a whole.
This year Misty Ridge concentrated their efforts on upgrading the hill’s lodge. “We are just in the final stages of finishing renovations to our kitchen,” she said, adding they should be completed by the time the hill opens. “And the whole exterior of the building has been redone and it just looks so wonderful.”
In addition to the lodge, Misty Ridge is always looking for ways to improve skiers experiences when they are on the slopes.
In the last few years, he said, the Misty Ridge board has been busy adding new features to the hill, such as the snowboard terrain park.
The terrain park has a number of different obstacles, such as boxes, rails and tires that allow skiers and snowboarders to perform a number of tricks and jumps.
Mueller said last year, for the first time, the ski hill opened up a number of cross-country skiing and snowshoeing trails.
“It really has been a popular addition to the hill,” she said, adding besides the trails, the hill offers cross-country skiing lessons and excursions thanks to Misty Ridge promotion’s director, Howard Gelderman.
Once again this year Misty Ridge is hoping to continue to provide snowboarding and skiing lessons and are currently looking for people who already have their Canadian Ski Instructor Alliance (CSIA) certification. In order to be an instructor at Misty Ridge or any other ski facility a person must have this certification. To get their level one CSIA a person must be at least 15 years-old and be a proficient skier.
For those who don’t have their certification, Mueller said the ski hill is willing to reimburse them for their training, as long as they make a commitment to work at the hill.
“It’s wouldn’t necessarily be a big commitment. Perhaps every other weekend and possibly the occasional school day, if they can arrange it from their school,” Mueller said, adding besides getting their training paid for it is a way for them to make a little extra money. “My son did it and it was a great experience for him. Plus once you get your certification you always have it.”
For those people who are interested in buying a season pass to Misty Ridge the board has changed its membership structure.
Single season passes both youth (17 years-old and under) and adult are still available priced at $175 and $225 respectively, however the way the family pass is administered has changed. In past years the hill’s family pass allowed a family of up to four people to ski.
This year, it has been changed to anyone who is listed on a family’s Alberta Health Card, is included in the family pass.
“A family pass is really just meant to include the children living at home and not the 35 year-old who is living on his or her own and we needed a way to prove that,” she said.
Day passes are also available and cost $20 for youth and $25 for an adult. To use the hill’s cross-country ski or snowshoe trails the cost is $5.
To purchase a season pass contact Erna Denbroeder at 780-674-4050. For those interested or would like more information on becoming a hill worker, including instructors contact Tracey Mueller at 780-674-5580 or the Misty Ridge Ski Hill at 780-674-4242.
