There was no doubt that the . Terrace-Kitimat. area required improved winter recreation in the form of a .ski area and in the winter of 1971-72 the Kitimat-Stikine Regional District undertook a survey of 19 possible mountains for ski area development in the Kitimat- This- survey concluded that considering all the criterion that the north slopes of Kitsumkalum Mountain provided the most Suitable site for develo ment of a recreational ski development area for the Kitimat-Terrace area. In the meantime Mickey Terrace area, engaging ski Johnson and Dr. McGee and area. consultant, D. -a few others examined the Bruneski. _ hill on site this same winter Skiing..... Industry or peereation Whether we're atune to the fact or not, skiing could become an important economic base for the Pacific nor- thwest, especially those communities that lie on the interior side of the Coast Range. Let's look at what has happened to theski industry in British Columbia over the last four years. 1972 1976 = Pt. Inc. No. of Skiers in B.C. 83,158 181,000 117 No, of Skier Days . 1,400,000 2,195,000 57 Vertical Ft. serviced by lifis . 42,000 72,000 71 Lift Capacity (persons per hour) 45,000 75,000 67 Full Time Employees ; 576 = «11,190 108 This type of growth happened in eastern America and western Europe 15 years ago with the Rocky Mountain areas following close behind. With the advent of the short skis and a public awareness that the sport wasn’t that difficult after all, a whole new market area was opened up contributing to the growth of the industry world wide. The growth rate in America has been on the average about 10 percent per annum, since 1960. , When a person thinks of industry, it's normally in terms of plywood mills, mines, smelters, pulp mills, etc. Living in an area endowed with world calibre ski potential why not look at the ski industry. Outside of the oil business, I don’t think there is an industry that can boast of 2 growth record as constant as the. ski business. Skiing is unique in that outsiders using a facility take nothing away from any area wiien they leave dollars behind. There is no removal of any of our natural resources, pollution of our air or boom or bust type economic conditions that so often plague some of our communities. Kimberley, B.C. is now on the ski band wagon. The whole community has a face lift, a triple chair has recently been installed to, compliment their existing facilities and a large condominium complex at the base of their mountain is nearly completion. Formerly, a one-company town, business would come to a standstill during a strike. In the ‘past few years, with the growth in their ski industry, a recent strike hardly affected business at all. Kimberley is now taking the overflow of skiers from the Rockies and eastern Canada. It wasn't too many years ago when the winter was the low - season far the hotel and motel businesses of the Okanagan areas. That is not the case anymore with areas like “Silver Star” estimating their spin-off into the economy of Vernon at $21,000,000 per winter season. What does this all mean to the Pacific northwest? The growth trend of skiing, world-wide, is obvious. The wan- terlust and search for that new ski experience in most skiers is unquenchable. With those two facts in mind, consider what we have. An area like Smithers for instance, -has an airport that is no more than two hours flying time from at least half a dozen major population centers and only two miles from the base of a mountain that if developed could be one of the top ten areas in vertical rise in North America. In many areas, the skier now spends from three to five hours travelling to his destination. With an average mean temperature that is warmer than Banff of Jasper and at least twice as much snow, ski conditions in Smithers are near ‘Portect. The most unique feature of all which has made world famous areas like Kitzbuhel, Aspen and even smaller areas like Kimberley, so popular, is that the ski area and the community are ali combined in creating both a pic- turesque setting and easy availability to apres-ski life. While teaching skiing in Austria for several seasons, I found that what the average ski tour‘si was looking for, -along with good e‘iing, was convenience and atmosphere. This of course, is created in the community and ski area combination. ; | Skiing, besides being a super recreational sport, should therefore be considered as one of the real, ecunomically viable industries in the future development of the Pacific northwest. A combination of community, government and private enterprise cooperation coupled with marketing research could quite conceivably lead to the development of ’ a destination ski area in northwestern B.C, This area is currently at the embryo stage in the ski industry but being in one of the last frontiers of almost unlimited ski potential, I feel this industry could, in the not too distant future, play an important role in the economic and social development of the Pacific northwest. - Jos Konst, General Manager Kitsumkalum Mountain, Terrace, B.C. _ ahead. ‘The Birth of Kitsum for a private development. During the summer of 1972 there were several exploratory meetings trying to ascertain how a project to properly develop this ski area could be financed. In the fall of 1972 the N.D.P. was elected and our local MLA, Hartley Dent, organized two public meetings of those people interested in ski area development .in Terrace during the 1972-73 winter and brought R.H. Ahrens at that time, Director of the Parks Branch, Victoria, to attend to provide assistance and direction in moving © ahead. At the second meeting held on April 8, 1973 it was conclude that ‘‘Kit- sumkalum Ski Development Society’? ‘be formed to promote the interest of skiers in this region and in particular to undertake the development and operation of a ski area with adequate uphill and other facilities on Kitsumkalum Mountain near Terrace. a, . The Society was in- corporated under the Societies Act on June 8, 1973. The initial d‘rectors were Guy Rushton, Bill Reynolds, Andy Gfellar, Einar Blix, Dave Mortimer, Fred Weber, Fred Waldie, Ken Berg and Mickey Johnson and the Society immediately moved ahead. ; An Order-In-Council in October 1973 established Kitsumkalum ‘Mountain Recreational Area under the Parks Act to accommodate the proposed ski develop- ment area and Resource. Use Permit 1, the first in the rovince, was issued to the ociety to cover the development and operation within this recreation area. Discussions were un- dertaken with the various government agencies . to provide access and power to the site and discussions were initiated with chair lift suppliers as a chair would be required to properly develop this mountain and an appiication was made for financial assistance from the Community Recreational Fund. As there was no access to the area there was no skiing. in the 1973-74 season. - In May 1974 a survey required for the design of the chair lift was completed and paid for by the Society © so the chair lift manufac- turers could complete firm estimates for development of the hill Although progress durin; the first 12 months ha appeared quite satisfactory and we had received ap- proval of our request to the Community Recreational Fund Grant for $165,000 the problem of raising the lance of the necessary money and of obtaining satisfactory and firm committments for road access and power seemed overwhelming and par- ticularly at that period when inflation was really moving. Requests for assistance in these problems were made to all levels of government including the Kitimat- Stikine Regional District and in the meantime the Society continued to move SKI SUPPLEMENT, Wednesday, February 9, 1977, PAGE-3 The runs on the main hill had been laid out by a small] group of volunteers working under the direction of Mickey Johnson in April 1974 and Twinriver Timber started to cut and remove the timber from these runs in the fall of 1974. As nothing firm had been obtained from the Department of High- ways and nothing could happen on the hill without better road access Twinriver Timber con- structed a road to the site during the fall of 1974. The Society decided that the rope tow would be purchased from Northern Heights and set up so there would be some skiing during the winter of 1974-75 to: promote interest in skiing and this site in particular. Skiing was on every weekend operated by a few volunteers from the small membership in the Society. This did develop the interest. that was looked for. In the summer months of 1975 the- Initial clearing of the runs . on the main and con- struction of the 4500 foot double chair began, as well as parking lots and a two storey day lodge building of 5600 square feet. The day. kalum Ski Hill lodge houses a pro shop - rental area - boot change - indoor bathrooms and a large cafeteria complex. As well an electrical service building and vehicle service building were constructed roviding electrical power or the lift, heating and ’ jighting of the lodge, etc. The ski hill was officially opened December 6, 1975 by Mr, Dent. MLA, and other dignitaries. The Society romoted and assisted in the ormation of 4*Ski Patrol— organization. The skiing was . very successful for the first year of ‘operation. The Society ran the night skiing on the beginners slope for the season on a voluntary basis to help the ski hill get established. As the hill development is more or less completed and out of the Ski Society’s hands, the Society Con- stitution has been ¢ ed in 1976 to make it a ski club with its main objectives to promote skiing in general and ski racing programs. SUNDANCE | SKI & SPORTS 4736 Lakelse Ave. In the Terrace Centre, next to Tillicum Theatre : Downhill and KNEISSEL has all the accessories for - Cross-Country Skiing TYROLIA BINDINGS ALSO IN STOCE A We also have Fisher. Kazama. White Stag, Laurnite and Sportscaster Accessories gS - MONDAY AND THURSDAY 9'4.M, - 6 P.M, oF FRIDAY 9 A.M. - 9 P.M.