WESTLOCK – Just in time for the Christmas holidays, the Tawatinaw Valley Ski Hill is expecting to open its doors Dec. 17 for the 2021/2022 season.
The hill will open with unlimited capacity, a change from last year when a maximum of 550 patrons could be accepted under the restrictions at the time. This year Tawatinaw Valley will participate in the Alberta restrictions exemption program (REP) which removes the need to reduce capacity.
The program requires patrons to show proof of vaccination with a QR code provided by Alberta Health Services or a negative COVID-19 test.
After a “surprisingly successful” 2020/2021, business manager Bill Roddick says he is looking forward to opening again at a higher capacity and has hired additional staff to help handle verifying vaccine status.
“We feel we can accommodate everybody,” said Roddick.
Staff will place wristbands on patrons who show vaccinated status or tests to allow them to enter and exit the chalet without needing to be checked every time. Masks will be required until patrons sit down to eat.
Masks are also mandatory on the lift lines but can be removed while skiing or snowboarding.
The Tawatinaw Valley Freeriders freestyle ski club will also return to competition on the hills this winter, with their first competition slated for February 2022. While they were able to hit the slopes in 2021, competitions were put on hold. Other competitions will be scheduled throughout the season; however no dates have been pinned down as staff are waiting to see if restrictions change for the season.
Skiing and snowboarding lessons will also make a return after being put on hold to comply with limitations last year.
Last year the chalet was only able to operate at one-third capacity, or 75 people, which Roddick says had an impact financially, however the drop in revenue was offset by the increase in patrons taking to the hills. Roddick says they reached the capacity limit almost every day through the season.
“We had more new people coming here,” said Roddick “There were people who were just looking for something to do."
Tawatinaw faced some losses last year after schools were unable to book trips to the hill for students, something Roddick says should not be an issue this year.
Although expecting pushback for the use of the REP and mask mandate, Roddick hopes the patrons understand the need to keep the doors open at full capacity.
