8 - Friday, April 24, 1987 ~ North Shore News

WHISTLER, BLACKCOMB ‘LUCK OUT’; N. SHORE SLOPES MELT

ski resart business

BUSINESS on the North
Shore ski slopes went
downhill this year as opera-
tors fought an uphill battle
with mild weather condi-

went up to $22 from $20, at
Cypress it rose to $19 from $17
and at Seymour, the lowest priced
mountain in the area, a lift ticket
cost $18 this season, up from $16

last year,

Blackcomb and Whistler raised
prices by $4 to $27 and $29,
respectively,

The increases were due to higher

operational costs, said the opera-
tors, These’ costs included sky-
rocketing insurance premiums.
According to Booth, the Cypress
premium rose to $200,000 this year

from $12,000, 1% years ago.

“Sure it's hard,’’ Booth said,
referring to the insurance costs,
‘‘but we're still open for
business.”’

tions.

By ALISTAIR WATERS
Contributing Writer

Operators at Cypress, Grouse
and Seymour all reported no better
than ‘‘average’’ business on the
slopes this year, despite last
weekends’ snowfall on the moun-
tains.

But the picture was brighter at
Blackcomb and Whistler, where
operators reported record-breaking
business. ;

Cypress and Seymour mountains
remained open through the Easter
weekend, but Grouse closed for
the season at the end of March.

Wayne Booth, general manager
at Cypress Bowl, said that
although there is still a good two

. to three weeks of spring skiing left,
the mountain closed Easter Mon-
day due to dwindling crowds.

“Overall it wasn’t a bad year by
any means, but it sure wasn’t good
or even average,”’ he said.

It was the same story on Grouse
and Seymour, where business was
reported as ‘‘fair."”

All the local slopes blamed the
mild winter weather for the slack
turnout and particularly the
weather during the Christmas
holidays. Loa ~ a
’-“The local mountains ‘didn’t
have a good Christmas or spring
break, and you need a good
Christmas and spring to carry you
through,’”’ said Valerie Lang,
director of marketing on Grouse.

She said the reason Grouse clos-
ed early was mainly b.cause of
public opinion. ‘

“People look up and see the Cut
(ski run) brown and think we’re
closed. The public thinks we don’t
have any snow,”’ she said.

Because of this, Lang-said, the
ski operation shut down despite
having snow on the alpine runs.

Up at Whistler and Blackcomb,
the picture was a lot brighter this
season. , . S

Both. mountains have done very
well so far, and expect to stay open
for another monih. : ;

“We lucked out,”? said Dennis
Hansen, marketing. manager at
‘Blackcomb. :: Cs

“We were on the fine edge of
the line of cold weather ail winter.

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We had good quality snow,” he holiday destinations. Call even faster and you'll save even more! What

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Terming the season as ‘‘the best ! ;
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FIRST 50 SEATS

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:
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Hansen said it will draw more
’ people into skiing and that is good
for the industry as a whole.

This view is shared by the North
Shore operators, who feel the ex-.
panded facilities will benefit their
mountains also.

Lift ticket prices on all five
mountains rose this year.

Locally, a ticket for Grouse

SEE YOUR TRAVEL AGENT
OR CALL WARDAIR IN VANCOUVER AT

669-3355

VICTORIA AND AREA CODE (604) CALL 1-800-661-5678 TOLL FREE.

WARDAIR CANADA

SS

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YMCAcan
improve your
lifestyle call:
681-0221

THE SMALL PRINT: All Wardair Flights via B-747, DC-10 or A304. Fares and departure dates shown are thase in effect on date of publication and
are subject 10 change without notice. Fares do not include departure tax, Consult your travel agent or Wardair for flight availability and complete terms

and conditions, :

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