If you like snow and skiing, don’t miss the First Chair Festival at Mount Baldy Resort this weekend. Opening ceremonies begin at 2 pm Friday. (Richard McGuire photo)
Get back to Mount Baldy with the First Chair Festival on December 1-4
Bring everyone — your kids, your parents, your grandma — to sip hot chocolate around the fire pits, listen to some great bands, enjoy Firehall Brewery beer, and even watch a film premiere.
Managing director Joey O’Brien said there will be tons of prizes to give away, including special goodies set aside for those who dress up like it’s 1968. “We’re taking it back to old school. Back to Baldy,” he said.
For more details visit https://skibaldy.com/first-chair-ski-festival/
An official opening ceremony of the resort will be held this Friday, Dec. 2 from 2-3 pm at The Hub (formerly the Kiosk).
Join Baldy Mountain Resort staff, hotel and industry leaders as well as MLA Linda Larson for a toast to kick off the season, Baldy style.
“Yes, we did it, folks. We got the ‘must do’s’ done ahead of time and under budget. If we had to open tomorrow, we could on the Eagle and Sugar Lump chairs and the Magic Carpet.
O’Brien said the day lodge is renovated with permits and can function as it did since the Festival of Colours.
The grooming machinery is renovated and prepared for the season, he pointed out.
O’Brien noted they completed 500 acres of silviculture and are ready to go.
“We continue to spend resources on additional machinery, signage, training, staffing, lifts, office and public space.”
O’Brien said they spent a lot of money on new Head ski equipment and Burton snowboards, as the group business with schools has been overwhelming.
He also pointed out they are renovating the McKinney T-Bar for operations this year.
O’Brien said the $19 seniors season pass (yes, you read this right) has been a hit.
“Many people have asked me why? There is no history of many seniors skiing at Baldy. We want to cause 1,000 seniors to come skiing. So far 460 have signed up.”
An example of the guest coaches is Bill Webster, CSIA 4, CSCF 4, past president of Alpine Canada Alpin, etc., and 40-plus year veterans of the Canadian Ski Instructors Alliance on Tuesdays and Thursdays (https://skibaldy.com/baldyschool/)
O’Brien said the Baldy Race Team will be back on the snow and getting ready for race season.
He noted that staff are now focusing on the elements that will make Baldy even more fun. These are programs, special events, train features, snow grooming, fundraising events, music bands, bussing programs, and festivals.
After the First Chair Festival this weekend, staff will spend some time before the crazy Christmas period refining operations and systems so that they are ready to react when the kids get out of school around December 20.
“Then it will be full throttle, which is something we’ve been awaiting for a long time,” O’Brien said.
“We ask two questions: what if you had a party and no one came? And, what if you had a party and too many people came? We are beginning the preparations for the latter. Nice problem, eh?”
Don’t forget your snow boots this weekend because there’s lots of snow up there.
