Thunder Bay's Loch Lomond Ski Area fires up the big guns for season opening Nov. 26
Emphasis this winter on family fun, as well as other activities like snowshoeing, sliding, tubing
Loch Lomond Ski Area in Thunder Bay, Ont., will open for the season on Nov 26, thanks to a recent winter storm, and good snow-making conditions, says general manager Jason Gerry.
"Normally, we'd be looking to open the first weekend of December, which we're on target for," he said.
In 2015, the start of skiing was delayed until December 21, Gerry said, while in 2014 the hill opened in mid-November. However, the season lasted until mid-April both years.
Only one slope will be open from noon until 4 p.m. this Saturday, but the ski area's operators have big plans for the rest of the winter.
Loch Lomond will host the Under-16 Canadian Alpine Championships in February, 2017. The event is expected to draw nearly 200 athletes, including 20 or more para-skiers, to the city.
As well, more than six new features, including more jumps and rails, have been added to the terrain park, a special area set aside for freestyle skiers and snowboarders.
But the emphasis this year is on family fun, said Gerry.
Friday and Saturday evenings will see "bonfires, sliding for the kids in front of the chalet, hot chocolate. We're putting more of a focus on all of the activities that we have available to us at the hill, not just skiing and snowboarding, but we also have snowshoeing, hiking, sliding, tubing."
A steady increase in membership numbers at Loch Lomond, and the purchase of the city's other ski area, Mount Baldy, by another local family, point to a resurgence in the Thunder Bay ski industry, said Gerry.
"We're actually quite excited and we wish them a bunch of luck as well because I think together, this community can really grow."
