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Prairie Snoasis still a hit with skiers and boarders
SEAN ROONEY Valley, which is close proximity to places like
srooney@medicinehatnews.com
Medicine Hat but can be a second choice for skiers
who have the cash to head further west to bigger
With all the snow this corner of the province got
mountains like Sunshine Village or Lake Louise.
over the winter you’d think Hidden Valley Ski
“I don’t want to say it’s been a positive, but we are
Resort would be awash in as much of the green stuff
the alternative,” said Fischer. “When times are good
as they were in white stuff.
we have a tougher challenge because people can get
Alas, operating a winter wonderland isn’t as simple
away.”
as that.
Even staffing has been easier to come by as more
“You know, it’s one thing industry-wide — take the
families feel the pinch and need the extra cash.
rule book and throw it out,” laughed area manager
One aspect of the hill that has kept enthusiasts
Kevin Fischer when asked about how the year was.
coming out is the snowboard park run, which
“What we expect and what’s happened, it’s just been
gained a rail last season and sports enough jumps
... unbelievable.”
and challenges to keep boarders and skiers happy.
Though there has been plenty of precipitation
The one new feature this year is snowshoeing. For
NEWS FILE PHOTO
in the Cypress Hills, the season started with “the
$8 ($15 if you want to take them off-site), you can
A couple of snowboarders take the warmest November, if I’m not mistaken, in 30 years
try out a pair of snowshoes on special trails. Fischer
ski lift up the hill at Hidden Valley
or something like that.” Then it got so cold nobody
would like to see GPS tagging and self-guided tours
Ski Area. The Cypress Hills ski
wanted to ski, though making snow was a piece of
as part of the new experience in the future.
resort has had its ups and downs
cake.
this season due to unpredictable
“Being a small hill, it’s tough to keep up with the
weather patterns.
“Right out of the gates we were two weeks behind,”
industry,” Fischer admitted.
said Fischer. “Come Christmas time when the
weather hit, we were setting records for daily
The popular Spring Splash and Big Air is set for
attendance. Then another cold snap came through.
March 22, with the last day of operation tentatively
scheduled for the following week.
“So it’s been up and down. We are down in operating
days but our average is right there with any other
That said, the weather has thrown some curveballs
year.”
already this season. Everything can change at a
moment’s notice.
The economy has also bucked the trend at Hidden
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