PLENTY OF snow and co- ‘operative have combined to make this past ski season the best in years, , mountain operators.. By STEPHEN BARRINGTON News Reporter: . ‘And an ‘already average ski season — usually en- ding early: April —.couid be.cven . further extended -for some’ moun- tains if traditionally’ wet ‘spring ~’ weather holds off longer.: Spring . weather — say delighted - local longer-than- — “Is been a very. successful: year,’” said Cypress Bowl marketi- ng director: Paul DaDalt. ‘It’s “probably the best snow year in the’ last five years.’ Aithough he would not release figures, DaDalt said this «year's skier tally is up. from. last’ year, ” continuing the mountain’ s annual ‘growth trend... ! ‘With the season’s slow ° start, many : mountains were not fully’: operational until _ mid-December, -about.two weeks later than usual; and that had some people worried. . ““E think there were’a lot of peo-. “ple”. panicking | (atthe. season's: start),"? noted; |Bob - “Potnam, sk! ‘Country. 3 “(But in March it was snowing ‘like it was January — it’s been an‘ excellent season,” he said, noting *~ ; an’ (overall: 20-per-cent’ attendance ; _increase for Seymour.*. | ca * Both” Seymour. ‘and Cypress operations are remaining open as. ,, weather. - and: conditions permit, : whilé-Grouse Mountain -had- its closing day for May 1.,; tye Oe al Extending. its season’ twice this “ year, : Grouse. ‘closed: with’ twice as ‘much’ snow’ and 20 per cen more °" _ skier visits than last year.; _A’ spate of bad weather forced ' ” Ii 7 : AS Skt sezson comes to an end, mountain operators are reporting an excellent. year. This skier takes in the view from the top of Blackcomb Moun- tain, which for the first time this summer will open up the piacier to skiers. : . - . “Bverything was done perfect- _ ly,’? Grouse’s Christine Grube said : the cancellation of the:mountain "si “March {World Cup Giant. Slalom “vace;: but still attracted throngs of: " * spectators and“ failed: to have a. negative :effect on an otherwise - top-notch season. ‘ - cent...:more .. skiers visited ; tain’s Jan Laxton: of the cancelled World Cup race. “The comments from the coaches, skiers and sponsors were good,”" - ‘At Blackcomb Mountain, 68 per this season, likely attracted by the re-- cent: $25 million of: improvements that included high-speed lifts and facility: upgrading, said the moun-. ».Blackcomb's winter. season Vm. for next oer played together i in Markham, Ont.; in March. . : Juniors’) —_ this year, “wader: 19 years old prior to July 1, 1987 — have. no further major.- THE. ‘BRITISH Columbia rink of :. Miike Wood, Mike’ Bradley, Todd Troyer. and” Greg: Hawkes are busy: ” preparing : for ‘next year’s - junior curling’ world championships after ; Winning “the national: junior. men’s title I in. North Vancouver recently... In the’. ‘Canadian ‘Pepsi Junior curlers competitions before the world championships next spring. , (They wait a year.in’ order :to ; participate in the worlds, which. Men's’ ‘snd. Junior. Women’s: Curl--- ‘gives them another. “year of. experi--~ “: Ing:. Championship © held’ at* the, _, Nerth ‘Shore. Winter. :Club,- the ~ :. B. C...tink topped Northern: On- . ““{ario‘in second and Saskatchewan © in third to'take the national cham-, “pionship.. , : For the women, the Alberta rink ‘of. LaDawn _ Funk, Symyrozum;; . Cindy: Larsen“toppéd Manitoba in~ second and: ‘Yukon/NW ‘Territories ° in third; aon ‘3. For the first time next. year: the” > junior men’s and junior..women’s world” championships: will: ‘be / Sandy:,. ‘Lanrette © Funk. and. try. and - pace themselves ‘through. ence,’’ if explained tournament - public. "relations director Linda Moore, former Winter Club junior vcurler. and, 1988" Olympic . gold: -Medalist.: aa Leading: up to the world event, the tinks ‘try. to go through the: best preparations they can '~- they the season.!” : An army of volunteers worked a to make the seven-day event a suc- : cess, and a host of spectators from. NEW BRUNSWICK’S Kelly McEwer waits to see where her rock will is all across the country took in the Junior Men’ s and Junior Women’s, Curling Championship. os championships. ‘Blackcomb will’: skiing. “uy ae with’ continuing - ‘good conditions : and a 178-centimetre base — is | slated to close-June 1, almost a full -. month later than last year. For the. first “time this: ‘year, open Horstman Glacier ‘to hikers, sightseers and a limited number: of skiers starting June 2. : . “It’s “quite. positive,” Laxton said of the response to year-round y : facilities, shut down May 8. the | “"We-have been: receiving “i - quite a few enquiries aboutite’. : Whistler Mountain this season is, 18. Wednesdays, : i Play the. financial game PAGE 30 “expecting ‘to top $00,000 © skier visits-—.a record -—: when the ski “It started slow and it's not en- , ding with a bang, but everything in between has been great,"’ Whistler Mountain ‘vice-president if Dufour said of the past season. \csAs'a_whole, the resort -has had”: one million visitors this season,’ up 30 per cent from. last season’ and “tas far as ski resorts go puts. us in - the big leagues."’ : Bob May 4, 1988 - Nocth Shore News 7 NEWS p , _ Crews are now working. cutting . the -line. for Whistler’s -$18.5- . million high-speed enclosed _gon- dola that is the cornerstone of the mountain’s overhaul plans, which include alpine lift -upgrading/ expansion and renovation work to: the hill’s west side, closing, and the facility is slated to: be operational, for. next: season’ ’s. 4 ‘skiing. ; ‘ * EWS photo wala Witatield : nd in recent play in the Canadian. Pepsi Bg Dio Terry Pater,” .Work’on the gondola is to begin |: “in earnest’ following the’ May .8 # is Retenieae