It looks like it is nearly time to say good-bye to the snow and with that marks the end of the Table Mountain Regional Park skiing and snowboarding season.
Sunday was the final day the hill was open and to celebrate the season the slush pit made another appearance at Table Mountain. Near the chalet was a pool filled with water and boarders and skiers tried to make across the obstacle while staying dry. Not all were successful, but all did have a great time enjoy the beautiful weather.
The final fun day at Table Mountain was just one of the many events hosted throughout the season.
Some of the major events include a SaskCup race in March, as well as the first freestyle competition in Saskatchewan in nearly 20 years. A numbers of riders and skiers, who call Table Mountain their home ski hill, competed at the national level putting another feature in cap of Blouin and all who are associated with Table Mountain.
With all the accomplishments the biggest perhaps is the opening of a new run and new chairlift.
"The response the first month was great," said Table Mountain general manager Lawrence Blouin. "It was the talk of the town that we were getting a new run and chairlift."
Blouin said the numbers have not yet been totalled, but he expects the 2010-11 ski season to be in near the top of the 10-year average.
The hill was busy in early December, but from Christmas until the end of February it was off and on with cold weather spurts for a week straight explained Blouin. March was nice again and the hill stayed open three days into April making for another well attended year at Table Mountain.
As for the work at the hill, the rental shop will be checking all the bindings and waxing the skies and boards for next season and should be working for another week or two. Blouin says his kitchen staff and outside maintenance staff should be done at the end of the week and as far as this off-season goes it should be status quo after taking on a $2-million project with the chairlift and run this season.
Blouin also had a once in a lifetime opportunity to travel to Switzerland with one other Canadian, eight Americans and an Austraillian to tour and compare notes with ski resort operators in Switzerland.
"It worked great for both sides," said Blouin explaining they were as interested in how things operate in North America as he was to learn some new ideas from them.
Blouin was selected through ski resort suppliers and the Switzerland government helped pay for the 10-day trip, which he said was a great expeience.
