Sunday passed a mix of clouds, a bit of blue sky in the middle and back to clouds and light snow at the end. It was Community Day, a free ski day for Elk Valley residents, and there were smiles all around. And as the first day of Kids Camps, there was a ton of laughter cascading around the base too. This year’s Community Day was held in January when folks have more time and over twice as many skiers headed up to Fernie Alpine Resort.

With the roaring success of Community Day out of the way and Kids Camps started, Fernie Alpine Resort is concentrating on building a broader base in the community. Several new programs just started to make it easier for locals to pop up for a few hours and enjoy the great snow we’ve received this year.

First off Mommy Ride Day. Drop the munchkin off in Daycare, get a half-day lift ticket and a half-day lesson for only $69. Ride in peace with the munchkin in the capable and amusing hands of Daycare staff. Monday through Friday. Morning or afternoon. Reservations appreciated.

And to give Mommy a helping hand, we’ve started No School Ride Days. When schools close on Fridays, The FAR Winter Sports School will take school age kids off your hands for the day or even for a half-day. Lifts and a full-day lesson is only $59. Half-day $29 (but why not give them the whole day?) Remember, our bus is a chair lift and it runs every day sun or snow, school or no.

Let ‘em loose with us on the hill.

The colloquial definition of a Kingfisher is a trendsetter or a power broker. Kingfisher Days will broaden your riding horizons. Fernie Winter Sports School likely has the greatest number of top certified ski and snowboard instructors of any ski school in North America. We have former Demo Team Members and a host of Level Four National Examiners. These folks are the cream off the top.

For five Saturday’s Fernie’s Kingfishers will be taking skiers and boarders out for full day privates on the hill. No more than six skiers or riders with each Kingfisher. The group will ride from 9 to 11:30. Break for lunch and then ride from 12:30 to 3. From 3:30 to 5:30 all the groups will gather for an après ski with appie’s and drinks to discuss and digest and boast about the day’s riding. Cost is $219. That’s a deal and a half.

Kingfisher Days will hold court and ride on Jan. 16 and 30, Feb. 20 and March 5. Reserve early, as these sessions will fill fast.

And last (but not least), because one day is not enough, Fernie Alpine Resort hosts the first Local’s Week February 1st through 5th. Ride all five days—lifts, rentals and half-day lessons—for only $369. Ride any singe day for only $89– lifts, rentals and half-day lessons.