La

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with $25.

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December 29, 1989 News 985-2131 Classified 986-6222 Distribution 986-1337 48 pages 25¢

NEWS photo Mike Waketlaid

| CYPRESS BOWL ski school director Kent Rideout would welcome a few snowflakes to cover the barren slopes with fresh snow and to get the ski
4 season on its feet. Skiers, too, are itching to get in some skiing as none of the North Shore mountains are open yet Que io a mild winter.

ountains

hold out for snowfall

UNSEASONABLY warm temperatures and a lack of snow
have kept North Shore mountains closed to skiing during
the traditionally [lucrative Christmas holidays.

But local ski mountain operators
say the ski season is not forsaken,
despite the lack of snow.

“We're not in any dire straits.
There’s no cash customers yet, but
we're looking ahead to this season
with a good amount of optimism.”*
said Rob Wallace, Grouse Moun-
tain’s ski school director,

Grouse Mountain, Mount
Seymour and Cypress Bowl have
sill not opened for skiing this

By ELIZABETH COLLINGS

News Reporter

season with respective bases of 10
em, 4em and, at Cypress, virtually
no snow,

Although this sets a new record
ter Seymour, une mountain has
opened as late as Boxing Day in
the past and survived the season,
according to Seymour Shi Country

director of skiing Alex Douglas.

Seymour needs 30 to 50 em to
open for limited skiing, Douglas
said.

“The one thing with the North
Shore is if the right storm comes in
you can get a good dump of snow.
1 wouldn’t say it’s been a disaster
yet, especially if we can pick up
this fast week of Christmas.”*

This year’s snow drought aiso
breaks Cypress Bowls late opening
record of Dec. 10 made two
Seasons ago.

Cypress Bowl is hoping the
season will get on its feet with a

good snowfall.

“It is snowing right now. We
can hope it ll hold. That's all we
need is two to three days to open,””
Cypress marketing manager Leslie
Kanerva suid Wednesday.

“It could happen so quickly. We
could be open if we had 70-80
em.”

Grouse Mountain is also holding
out for at least 50 cm of snow be-
fore opening to the public. al-
though the mountain has been
open for some ski lessons,

“A half metre of snaw is some-
thing that can happen very casthy

within 24 to 48 hours,’ Wallace
said.

In the meantime, ‘it’s like
summer time -— — extended,”’
Wallace said, referring to Grouse’s
restaurants.

Wallace said that while some
have cancelled ski lessons, most
have rescheduled in the hope of
fresh snow.

“We're sill selling programs, so
there’s a good deal of faith out
there,’’ Wallace said.

Meanwhile, Whistler and

See Blackcomb
Page 4