Spring may have finally settled in Jasper, but some die-hard ski freaks are still looking to cram in a few more days on the hill. May 3 and May 4 will be the last opportunity, as Marmot Basin holds its final ski weekend of the season.
鈥淧eople are just making that transition from winter skiing and snowboarding to summer,鈥� explained Brian Rode, Marmot鈥檚 vice president of marketing and sales. He said the final weekend party, which Marmot has dubbed 鈥淲inter Meets Summer,鈥� is a chance to both welcome the arrival of the sunny months, and celebrate a season on the slopes.
Skiers at Marmot typically come out in force for a final weekend party at Marmot, but this year Rode said organizers have 鈥渂eefed it up a little bit in celebration of [the hill鈥檚] 50th anniversary season.鈥�
To get as many people out to the party as possible, Marmot will offer lift tickets for just $50, and mid-week and mini mid-week pass holders will get their passes extended to cover the weekend.
And while Rode said there鈥檚 still some pretty decent spring skiing on the upper mountain, most of the action will be at mid-mountain, where drinks and barbecue will abound and a DJ will provide some tunes.
And while many have come to expect such revelries of Marmot鈥檚 final weekend, this year Marmot has some bonuses in store, like a chance to rub shoulders (and maybe skis) with one of Canada鈥檚 best skiers, Olympic Gold medal winner, and five-time world champion Jenn Heil.
Another bonus event this year will be the relay race, which will give teams a chance to test their skills on both skis and fat bikes.
鈥淭here will be a dual slalom ski race, at the bottom of which you will tag your rider who will get on a fat bike, and we have a mini little course on the snow set up at the bottom of the run called Cowley鈥檚 Way,鈥� Rode said, explaining that the course is named for the late Bill Cowley.
On May 4, the best dressed on the mountain will also have a chance to win a 2014鈥�15 mid-week pass, at the retro fashion show.
鈥淲e always kind of do a retro day on our last weekend, but it鈥檚 been unofficial. People just like to dress up like that. This year we鈥檒l make it a little more official,鈥� Rode explained. From 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, neon jumpsuits and headbands will be on full display and at the end 鈥渨e鈥檒l drag 鈥榚m in and somebody鈥檚 going to win a mid-week season pass.鈥�
Along with the bigger events, Rode said there will also be demos from some of the local shops set up at mid-mountain, as well as some 鈥済oofy games鈥� for kids. And with all that, Rode thinks the weekend should be a hit.
鈥淧eople just want a fun atmosphere, so when you鈥檙e up there having your burgers and beers and listening to music and there鈥檚 a whole bunch of other stuff going on around you, it just adds to the whole festive atmosphere,鈥� he said.
聽Trevor Nichols
[email protected]
