Special moments with bobsleigh: Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park | Snow Lands | Spokane | The Pacific Northwest Inlander

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Mt. Spokane photo

Mt. Spokane’s fun park offers 50 features.

I have great memories of my early freestyle skiing days at MT. SPOKANE 1978 and ’79. Every Wednesday night a group of around 15 aspiring freestyle skiers like Scotty Williams, Hilary Bates, Nancy Jenkins, Mike Kondo and my crew from Coeur d’Alene went night skiing on Mt. Spokane while we trained for freestyle.

The gentle slope in front of Lodge 2 was perfect for ballet skiing training, and the mogul slope on Two Face under the bright lights made for exciting push actions, especially since it was under the Illuminator chairlift. We called it the Hollywood Line, you drove directly under the chair to the hoots and roars of the skiers who took the chairlift back up. The more “airs” you threw into the bumps, the louder the chair got, especially if there was a good crash. And there were some spectacular ones!

Back then we were young and flexible. I’m not sure my body could take such a blow any longer.

Those were special times in my life and I often think back to those times when I night skiing when I ride the Beginner’s Luck chair.

These days when I’m in Kan I spend most of my time riding the trees and looking for powder in front of the Vista Cruiser, which is where longtime Mt. Spokane liftie Patrick Walsh, or as the locals know him, always is entertain “The guy.” Patrick is an icon in Kan and has been working on the Vista Chair for more than a decade. If you’ve been to the Kan, you’ve most likely crossed The Dude.

“STEWARDS OF THE MOUNTAIN”

There are winter sports resorts and then the Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park.

“We’re so lucky to have so many great regional resorts, but we’re different because we’re a 501 (c) (3) community in a state park. Our entire focus is community, ”says Jodi. Kayler, deputy managing director. “That is why we see ourselves as administrators of the mountain and it is our mission to create adventurers and mountain enthusiasts for life.”

This lifelong enthusiasm and thirst for adventure begins with something like the Never-Ever Lesson Package, a two-hour group lesson for absolute newbies from the age of 7. It costs just $ 109 and also includes all of your ski or snowboard gear and a lift pass for the Beginner’s Luck Chair. The EZ Ski 1-2-3 Lesson Package offers an even higher discount and offers you three two-hour group lessons on different days as well as all other rental and lift discounts for 249 USD throughout the season. Most group lessons can be booked online through the park’s redesigned website.

“We love bringing novice skiers here,” says Kayler, “and we have some really affordable programs to get them out on the snow. And not only do we have really good programs for these beginners, we also have 52 runs. Skiers will find something great here. We don’t go by one type, there is something for everyone. ”

Accordingly, advanced skiers and snowboarders of all ages get their money’s worth. New this season are the multi-week programs of the Park Club and Mountain Adventure Club. These give teenagers and preteens the opportunity to develop their landing skills and technique with experienced instructors in the Terrain Park or on the tree-lined paths. There is even a special program for parents of young children. On Friday evenings, Club Shred keeps the 4 to 10 year old skiers busy with lessons, activities and dinner while their parents enjoy a night out on the slopes.

OPEN EVERY DAY

For the 2021-22 season, Mt. Spokane also maintains the expanded seven-day schedule that was piloted towards the end of last season.

“We started that during COVID. Since we are open on Mondays and Tuesdays, more people can enjoy the slopes. It has allowed us to spread out and have more access to the mountain.”

Kayler also points out that the park will be sharing this year’s COVID logs as they take shape, though guests can rest assured that they will abide by state regulations in place during the season.

And with a little more than 1,700 hectares of skiable slopes, 16 night ski slopes, more than 50 terrain park features and a good division between easy (25 percent), medium (62 percent) and professional (15 percent) runs, Mt. Spokane offers plenty of space move safely and grow as a skier or snowboarder.

“We really believe that Mt. Spokane can be your local mountain, but you will develop skills with us that you can ride anywhere in the world after learning,” says Kayler.

– EJ IANNELLI