And night skiing was a definite hit. “We had a good, solid winter,” Resort Marketing Director Karen Bonell said. “We opened on time, closed on time. We had over 12 metres of snow for the second year in a row,” she said. The annual average is 10 metres. “The weather co-operated. We didn’t have huge weather events.”
While weekends during the winter were agreeable for skiing, temperatures remained cold during the spring, limiting the spring ski season.
Skier visits were up a respectable 10 per cent over the previous year, “predominantly because our weekend weather was so much better,” Bonell said.
The Resort expanded its night skiing this winter, adding the Whiskey Jack Chair, terrain park and Coaster run to its night skiing lineup. “That went very well,” Bonell said. “There were a lot more people around and things looked a lot more lively in the evening. It really added a whole new buzz to the nighttime instead of it being quiet.”
Later skiing was also offered on the Nordic side, once the time changed back to Standard Time. Bonell said the same night skiing program will stand for next season as well.
The Resort spent a million dollars installing new lighting last summer, and may consider further night skiing expansion a few years into the future.
The Resort capped off its season with the B.C. Freestyle Championships, which they’ve never hosted before. “It shows we can have the moguls course and aerials here,” she said.