Table Mountain's opening will provide area residents another activity for winter fun to kick off 2021. (Facebook/Table Mountain)

By Martin Martinson

Skiing the Slopes

Table Mountain to open Friday

Jan 7, 2021 | 2:35 PM

Skiers and snowboarders in the region will have an opportunity to hit the slopes this weekend, as Table Mountain will open for the season Friday.

General manager, Lawrence Blouin, said he and his staff are looking forward to opening following much uncertainty earlier this winter, as recently as just a few weeks ago.

“We were sitting in limbo a bit there from about the middle of November to [late] December where we weren’t sure if we were even going to have a season,” he said. “So when that was finally sorted out that was kind of a relief. The staff is pretty enthused and the public has given lots of positive response, so it’s good to know people are really looking forward to coming out.”

The slopes are ready to go ahead of tomorrow’s opening at Table Mountain. (Facebook/Table Mountain)

To start the season, Table Mountain will be open just three days a week, from Friday through Sunday. However, Blouin said there remains the possibility to increase days of operation as time progresses, if the demand requires it.

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“We’ll see what the Fridays look like, and if we get full crowds Friday then we’ll look at expanding,” he said. “We’re committed to open those three days for the year, but if the demand is there we could certainly open it more, we’ll just have to see how it goes.”

Daylight skiing hours will be from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., followed by a brief closure of the lift. The site will reopen for night skiing from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Blouin said while there is certainly a positive buzz around the grounds, it is also a busy time, with still plenty to do in preparation for opening day.

“We’ve been at it long enough [that] we know what a typical opening day is on a normal year, which is fairly hectic,” he said. “But with all the additional protocols and things we have to do because of COVID, it’s multiplied this season by about a thousand times.”

All who enter the property this year will need to provide their name and contact information for contact tracing purposes.

Social distancing measures will also be in effect, along with a reduced capacity in the rental shop; something the general manager said may require a bit of additional patience from patrons accustomed to the establishment’s usual quick rollout time.

The chalet will be open for washroom use only, and the cafeteria will be limited to take-out options only as well. All patrons will be required to dress for the day, eat, or warm up in their personal vehicle; and masks will be required on all parts of the grounds once people leave their car.

Despite the many alterations and added precautions this year, Blouin said the community support throughout the winter months has made the extra effort more than worth it, to allow them to open the grounds to the public this year.

“It’s nice to see people letting us know they do enjoy the product and it’s greatly appreciated to know that people are anticipating this and looking forward to it,” he said. “It’s pretty rewarding to know we are supplying a good and safe service the public can come and enjoy.”

To learn more about this year’s COVID-19 protocols in place at Table Mountain, click here, visit their website, or find them on Facebook.

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Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1