Just as every snowflake is unique, each new snow season at Mount Washington Alpine Resort brings improvements and upgrades designed to optimize each visitor's experience.
There's plenty new at Mount Washington for 2013-14, beginning with the relocation and expansion of the Tube Park.
"We have literally packed up the old Tube Park and moved it across the mountain," said resort media and brand director Brent Curtain.
"The project brings major enhancements to the mountain's tubing experience and the benefits of the $750,000 expansion are two-fold," adds Don Sharpe, director of business operations and marketing.
"First, the new Tube Park elevates the entire tubing experience at the mountain. Tubers will enjoy easier access with the new location right beside the Alpine Lodge," Sharpe said.
"In addition, a new Magic Carpet lift will bring tubers to the top of the hill, increasing uphill capacity to a whopping 2,000 riders per hour. To top it off, two more lanes will be added to bring more thrills to a day, or night, of tubing," Curtain said.
As well, the mountain's popular beginner zone, Easy Acres, gets a terrain expansion by turning the previous Tube Park site into a new green run. "This final phase completes the Easy Acres development which provides learners with a total of six wide, perfectly-groomed runs and five Magic Carpet lifts," Curtain said.
Get Guided
This winter, Mount Washington is partnering with Island Alpine Guides (IAG) to bring skiers and boarders an exciting new backcountry opportunity. "IAG will offer backcountry tours, twice daily, to the legendary powder stashes found on Mount Washington’s north-facing backside," said Curtain.
Tours include avalanche gear and guiding with an Association of Canadian Mountain Guides (ACMG) professional. "Island Alpine Guides are Vancouver Island’s most experienced mountain pros who bring decades of experience as certified guides, instructors and avalanche technicians," Curtain noted.
Rookie Year
The Rookie Year is a new, ground breaking all-inclusive season pass designed specifically for kids who are first-time skiers and boarders. Unique to Mount Washington, Curtain says the new Rookie Year season pass will surely become an industry standard for getting kids on snow.
"The simplicity of the Rookie Year pass speaks for itself – rookie (never-ever) skiers and boarders receive an unlimited season pass, get unlimited ski or snowboard rentals, plus receive unlimited afternoon group lessons in Mountain Kids – all season long.
"Kids must be 12 years of age or younger and never skied or boarded before to qualify for the Rookie Year season pass. There's no better way to discover the world of snow!" Curtain said.
Slide and Glide
Also new is a Slide and Glide program for kids, who can take advantage of a new flu-day snow school option at the mountain.
"What's better than a full-day of sliding and gliding? Nothing of course!" Curtain said. "The new Slide and Glide program provides a ski or board lesson to glide you through the morning, then an afternoon of supervised sliding in the Tube Park in the afternoon. Lunch is included so c'mon kids, get sliding and gliding this winter," Curtain said.
For more information on what's new for the 2013-14 winter season at Mount Washington Alpine Resort, contact Media Relations at 250-792-0002.
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Look for the Mount Washington Experience Guide Winter 13.14 to be distributed in Black Press newspapers up and down Vancouver Island on Oct. 10 and 11. You'll find updates on grooming improvements, Mountain Kids Daycare and much more.
sports@comoxvalleyrecord.com