An eager crowd of 120 skiers and snowboarders took to the slopes for Tawatinaw Valley Ski Hill's opening day, Dec. 15.
“It has a huge impact on the number of people who buy season passes,” said Friends of Tawatinaw’s Toni Siegle, noting last year the hill didn’t open until January. “If you’re not open before Christmas, the number really drops off. If we have a good run through the holidays, that always puts us into a good position for the year.”
The cross-country trails are also open and the chalet is offering a full range of food. New skis and snowboards, as well as helmets, are available for rental.
Friends of Tawatinaw’s Heather Toporowski noted the Canadian Ski Instructor Association is currently training instructors, so new skiers can pick up the sport if interested.
“We’re going to be doing snowboard instruction as well,” she said.
The hill will be open every Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and will have staff on hand for school trips and other events throughout the week. Toporowski said the hill will also be open to public during school visits and those would be posted on the hill’s website.
“We’re open through the Christmas holidays as well,” said Friends of Tawatinaw’s Colin Felstad, noting the only days they’re expecting to be closed are Christmas and New Year’s.
Admission is $30 per day for an adult and $25 for youths. Accessing the cross-country trails is $6 for an adult and $3 for youths — Toporowski noted they’ve reduced prices to make the hill more accessible for lower-income families.
Also in the works is a Dec. 29 holiday party and dance with a roast beef dinner for $30. Tickets can be bought at the chalet, or on Eventbrite.
Toporowski said the party is part of their long-term strategy to make the hill a year-round facility, noting that the chalet has already been booked for a number of functions in 2019.
“We want it to be a community centre,” she said. “Tonight a local family is hosting their own Christmas party here and we’ve already booked two weddings in the late summer and early fall. One bride and groom to be toured the chalet and loved it, so we’re really excited about that too.”
