Night skiing will be back this winter after a successful run last year, Curtain said. Night skiing will start on Dec. 16. The Resort changed the hours last year to ensure a smoother transition between day and night skiing, and they will keep the same hours this year.
The Whiskey Jack Trail and Stomping Grounds Terrain Park as well as the Coaster will be available. The Whiskey Jack Face will also be open depending on lighting conditions.
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There will be a few changes to the calendar of events this year, Curtain said. “We’re looking at mixing it up a little bit,” but he assures the old favourites will still be there.
New this year is the Klondike Skiercross and Bordercross event, Saturday, Feb. 19, building on the excitement those events garnered at last year’s Winter Olympics in Whistler and Cypress Mountain.
Mount Washington hosted ski cross events a number of years ago in the Terrain Park, and now there has been resurgence in the Event’s popularity.
The calendar of events is jampacked for the winter. Just a few events planned for the winter include an O’Neill Rail Jam (Jan. 22), Aussie Day (Jan. 26), Yeti Snowshoe Adventure Race and Kokanee Old School GS Race (Jan. 29), live music at Fat Teddy’s Bar and Grill throughout the season, the Herb Bradley Coca-Cola Classic (Feb. 13), Women’s Week (Feb. 13 – March 4), and a Kokanee Day for Dudes (April 8).
A few new faces…
A few new faces are gracing Mount Washington Alpine Resort this year – and a few veterans are taking on new and different responsibilities.
George Trousdell has worked at the Resort for 30 years now, starting as a lift operator and working his way up to Director of Maintenance. Now, he has a new title: Director of Maintenance and Operations.
Trousdell takes over the operations part of the Resort following the departure of Erik Meertens, who is now working with Emcon Highway Services.
In addition to the duties he already had, lift maintenance, electrical, plant maintenance and utilities, he’s now also responsible for lift operations, ski patrol, grooming, snow removal, staff transportation and risk management.
‘I’ve had a good run,” says Trousdell, whose second in command is Dan Caley, a lift maintenance supervisor.“I was lucky enough to find employment on the mountain my first summer, too.”
Tim Defert has also taken on some new responsibilities in addition to Director of Hospitality Operations. He is responsible for the Ozone Tubing Park as well as parking operations.
Leah Knutson is heading into her first winter season as Resort Events Co-ordinator. She came from Nelson, B.C. at the beginning of the summer season, right before the Resort hosted the Big Day Up.
Knutson worked with the Nelson and District Community Complex, taking care of recreation programming, marketing and sponsorships. She will revitalize many of the kids’ events at Mount Washington. She’s an avid skier, too.
Jeanette Kangas has joined the marketing team as the Resort’s new in-house graphic artist. In addition to her computer generated work, Kangas also paints and sketches.
“She has a lot of talent and we’re excited to have her as part of the marketing team,” Resort Director of Public Relations and Promotions Brent Curtain said.