BLUE MOUNTAINS, ON – October 23, 2012 – Blue Mountain is preparing for the return of winter with new upgrades to its industry-leading snowmaking system. The upgrades improve the Resort’s total snowmaking capacity by approximately 10 per cent, and increase its ability to make more snow at warmer temperatures.
“We’re proud to have Canada’s largest and most sophisticated snowmaking system,” said Alvin Weatherall, VP Mountain Operations and Risk Management, Blue Mountain Resort. “Snowmaking has long been a part of our history. Our strategy moving forward is to continue to improve our system by investing in the latest snowmaking technologies that enable us to maintain consistent mountain conditions regardless of fluctuations in climate and snow patterns.”
Executing on this strategy, the Resort invested more than $500,000 in snowmaking upgrades over the summer. The most notable additions for skiers and snowboarders are 50 new two-stage, high-temperature guns that enable the Resort to make more snow at temperatures as high as -2°C.
Blue Mountain also improved its industry-leading snowmaking capabilities by approximately 10 per cent. The increase is generated by the addition of 10,000 ft of new snowmaking pipe and a new pump that increases the Resort’s capacity to push water up the hill at a maximum rate of 14,000 gallons per minute (GPM) to more than 500 hydrant locations – leading the industry in this area.
“With these upgrades, Blue Mountain has invested more than $12-million in snowmaking infrastructure to date,” said Weatherall. “Our snowmaking system allowed us to maintain consistent conditions and stay open more than 96 days last season, one of the warmest on record. The benefits of snowmaking to our guests include insurance against poor seasonal weather, longer seasons, better conditions, faster rebound time from thaws and more durable snow that lasts throughout the season,” he added.
Armed with improved snowmaking the Resort hopes to reassure skiers and snowboarders that it can deliver winter even during warmer than average seasons. The Resort has also revamped its Season Pass lineup and has options available for all schedules, styles and budgets. Early Bird rates on all Passes end at 11:59 p.m. on November 1st, 2012. For more information, please visit www.bluemountain.ca/passes
Winter Highlights
• Despite warmer temperatures Blue Mountain was open 96 days during the 2011/12 season and the Resort has averaged 119 ski days per season over the last 10 years
• Blue Mountain has the largest snowmaking system in Canada with the ability to cover 98% of its terrain!
• Blue Mountain’s snowmaking system returns more than 90% of the water used back to Georgian Bay.
• The Resort has one of the most experienced grooming, snowmaking, and operations teams in the industry.
• Blue Mountain has one the highest verticals in Southern Ontario and the most terrain of any resort in the province.
• The resort features 36 trails, 15 lifts, 2 terrain parks, a pedestrian village with more than 40 shops, restaurants and bars, and a wide selection of off-hill activities.
• Freshly groomed trails every morning and night – 9 a.m. and again at 4:30 p.m. – makes riding under the sun or stars that much better!
• Blue Mountain has 4 high-speed six person chairlifts – so, even when it’s busy, skiers and boarders get more time on the hill.
• New upgrades to the Badlands terrain park will feature a new and improved super pipe and increased space for new jump lines and rail lines. Snowmaking in the terrain park has also been improved.
• 2012/13 Season Passes start at $149. The Early Bird deadline ends at 11:59 p.m. on November 1st, 2012.
For more information about Blue Mountain’s industry-leading snowmaking system, please visit www.bluemountain.ca/snowmaking.htm
Collin Matanowitsch
PR Specialist
Blue Mountain Resorts Limited
Tuesday, 23 October 2012
Friday, 19 October 2012
Fall at Blue - Visit Today
From September 4th to October 31st customize your getaway to Blue Mountain Resort with the Autumn Experience Pack and save 25 per cent off a range of activities and experiences including Scandinave Spa, Apple Pie Trail Adventures, Monterra Golf, Gondola rides and Blue Mountain's many attractions.
Tuesday, 14 August 2012
Rise and Shine at Blue
There's lots to do at Blue Mountain morning, noon and night.
Wednesday, 27 June 2012
Grand Opening of New Attractions
June 29, 2012
It’s a Natural High at Blue Mountain Resort! Join us as Blue Mountain launches new attractions and ushers in the summer break with special offers on select activities throughout the day on June 29th
7am-9am:
Jennifer Valentyne and Frank Ferragine from Breakfast Television start it all off with a Live Eye and early opening, featuring FREE access to the Open-Air Gondola, the new Cascade Putting Course and one complimentary ride on the Ridge Runner Mountain Coaster.
11am-2pm:
HALF PRICE tickets to a wide-selection of attractions. Our mascot Blue and ambassadors from around the Resort will be handing out HALF PRICE vouchers to guests in the Village. Vouchers are valid for access to one of the following attractions: Ridge Runner Mountain Coaster, Cascade Putting Course, Open-Air Gondola ride, Woodlot Low Ropes, Plunge! Aquatic Centre, or Dockside Activities on June 29, 2012 only. The Village will have a great atmosphere with Canada Day Long Weekend entertainment and activities throughout the day.
*Vouchers cannot be combined with any other offers or promotions and has no cash value. Valid on June 29th, 2012 only. Please redeem voucher at the Tickets and Rentals Building located in the Blue Mountain Village EXCEPT for Plunge! and Dockside where offer can be redeemed directly on-location. Weather and conditions permitting.
It’s a Natural High at Blue Mountain Resort! Join us as Blue Mountain launches new attractions and ushers in the summer break with special offers on select activities throughout the day on June 29th
7am-9am:
Jennifer Valentyne and Frank Ferragine from Breakfast Television start it all off with a Live Eye and early opening, featuring FREE access to the Open-Air Gondola, the new Cascade Putting Course and one complimentary ride on the Ridge Runner Mountain Coaster.
11am-2pm:
HALF PRICE tickets to a wide-selection of attractions. Our mascot Blue and ambassadors from around the Resort will be handing out HALF PRICE vouchers to guests in the Village. Vouchers are valid for access to one of the following attractions: Ridge Runner Mountain Coaster, Cascade Putting Course, Open-Air Gondola ride, Woodlot Low Ropes, Plunge! Aquatic Centre, or Dockside Activities on June 29, 2012 only. The Village will have a great atmosphere with Canada Day Long Weekend entertainment and activities throughout the day.
*Vouchers cannot be combined with any other offers or promotions and has no cash value. Valid on June 29th, 2012 only. Please redeem voucher at the Tickets and Rentals Building located in the Blue Mountain Village EXCEPT for Plunge! and Dockside where offer can be redeemed directly on-location. Weather and conditions permitting.
Tuesday, 24 April 2012
Starbucks at Blue Mountain has a Fresh New Look
Starbucks at Blue Mountain Resort (BMR) has undergone a major facelift, and is celebrating its fresh new look with a grand re-opening event on Friday, April 27th, 2012.
The celebration includes an official ribbon cutting ceremony with Duncan McKinlay, Deputy Mayor, Town of the Blue Mountains ; Gord Canning, Chairman & CEO, BMR; and Jacob Biersteker, Starbucks Store Manager. Following the ceremony, Starbucks is providing FREE beverages for an in-kind donation to the Collingwood General & Marine Hospital Foundation (free beverages will be offered from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.). The Collingwood General & Marine Hospital Foundation is BMR’s official employee charity.
Starbucks has called the Blue Mountain Village
Starbucks will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 pm. on Friday April 27th. Regular store hours are Sunday - Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Friday - Saturday 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
What: Starbucks Grand Re-Opening Celebration and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
When: Friday, April 27, 2012 at 11:00 a.m.
Photo Op: Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at 11:00 a.m. with Duncan McKinlay, Deputy Mayor, Town of the Blue Mountains; Gord Canning, Chairman & CEO, BMR; and Jacob Biersteker, Starbucks Store Manager
Details: Free beverages for in-kind donation to the Collingwood General & Marine Hospital Foundation from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and launch of the NEW Frappuccino® blended beverage – Mocha Cookie Crumble
Monday, 2 April 2012
Jazzmania Hits The Westin Trillium House
“Watson, in a nutshell, smokes. She has a kit bag full of smooth moves, and a personality that lifts off the page.”
- Blues Review Magazine.
The Westin Trillium House has put together an exclusive package including the show, accommodations and a sumptuous 4-course dinner prepared by renowned Oliver & Bonacini’s Marc St. Jacques, Executive Chef of Auberge du Pommier, and accompanied by wine pairings from Niagara’s 13th Street Winery, thoughtfully conceived by Master Sommelier Peter Bodnar Rod. Packages start at $190 per person based on double occupancy and there are a limited number of Concert Lounge show only tickets available for $30. Book your package at www.BlueMountainVillage.ca.
Kicking off the region’s music festival season, Jazzmania runs from Friday April 27th to Sunday April 29th with a full slate of shows at select venues across Thornbury and Clarksburg. In its twenty-first year, the festival has grown to include a wide range of crowd-pleasing musical styles including Jazz, Big Band, Swing, Gospel, Blues and old time Rock ‘n’ Roll. Entertaining AND community-minded, Jazzmania donates a portion of proceeds to music education programs and toward the promotion of musical events in the Blue Mountains region. For more information and complete show listings visit www.jazzmania.ca.
Wednesday, 21 March 2012
Ski and Snowboard Tour
The fourth and final stop of the 2012 Canadian Shield Ski and Snowboard Slopestyle tour is quickly approaching. Blue Mountain in Collingwood, Ontario will play host to the tour finale from March 22-24, and will see another $20,000 cash purse handed out. The final stop will also include the crowning of the 2012 overall tour champions during the awards ceremonies following each competition day.
With Ontario experiencing unseasonably warm temperatures this month, the onset of spring riding conditions has come upon us earlier than expected. Luckily, Blue Mountain has been stockpiling snow supplies all season and has assured contest organizers and participants that there will be a condensed slopestyle course ready for this weekend. Park staff will be consistently grooming, maintaining and fertilizing the course throughout the competition to ensure the best possible riding conditions. Event organizers have made a few modifications to the competition scheduling in an effort to ensure all competitors have the opportunity to compete on the course in its best possible state. The pro & am categories will now be practicing at 8:00 a.m. on their competition day, followed by their qualifying runs to begin promptly at 9:00 a.m. The rookie categories will compete directly following the pro & am qualifiers and each competition day will end with pro & am finals.
Thursday’s typical all-day open practice will be abbreviated to a half-day, from 8:00 a.m. - 12:00p.m. in an effort to maintain the course for the competition days. For all the current event details and scheduling refer to thecanadianshield.ca <http://thecanadianshield.ca>
There is a plethora of exciting things taking place at the Blue Mountain stop of The Canadian Shield Tour. One of the most anticipated components will be the resentation of the tour titles to the competitors who have earned the highest number of tour points throughout the four-stops. The overall standings are by no means set in stone and many categories are still open for the taking heading into the Blue Mountain stop.
On the line for the pro category is a 7-day surf trip to Eldorado Surf Resort in El Salvador. Currently Warren Williams is in the tour points lead for the pro men’s division, however his lead is narrow and several riders including Ryan Manning, Craig Gouweloos, Chris Collard and Craig Beaulieu could easily change the rankings if they place well. Similarly in the women’ s pro snowboard rankings, Jenna Blasman current holds the lead ahead of Natalie Allport, Gillian Andrewshenko and Samm Denena. Jenna has placed first at the two tour stops she has attended this year, so another strong performance could capture the title for her. The only certainty heading into the fourth and final stop is that the battle for the podium and the remaining tour points will be a must see at Blue Mountain on Friday March 23.
The pro ski categories also have the opportunity to win a 7-day surf trip with the tour title wins. The pro men and women’s ski divisions are far less ambiguous at this point as both the male points leader, Ian Cosco, and female points leader, Yuki Tsubota, have substantial leads in the tour rankings. Both skiers have podiumed at each tour stop they have attended so far this season, so they are definitely the ones to keep an eye on at Blue Mountain on March 24.
The K2 Skis amateur open division competitors have the opportunity to win a substantial overall tour prize, a 2013 sponsorship from K2 Skis. The current male amateur standings have Braedon Wheeler of Whistler, BC in the tour lead, however there are several talented skiers trailing closely behind him.
The Disney XD rookie categories will also be awarding an overall tour title and prize at Blue Mountain. One boy and one girl from both the ski and snowboard divisions will be awarded a week at Muskoka Woods Action Sports Camp. There are several competitors in the running for the Disney XD overall titles, so it is quite likely that the Blue Mountain stop will determine the overall winners who will be going to camp this summer.
With so much on the line for competitors the final tour stop of The Canadian Shield will offer spectators plenty of entertainment. In addition to the on-hill ompetition tour sponsors including Franks Red Hot, Mountain Dew, West 49,Electric Visual, K2, Salomon and Skull Candy will be onsite sampling products and giving out swag.
Following the ski competition on Saturday, March 24, Coors Light will be hosting one of their famous Coors Light COLD Parties to celebrate the completion of The Canadian Shield Tour. All are invited to join in on the fun at the Blue Mountain Inn Cafe at Blue Mountain on Saturday at 10pm. This will definitely be one party you won’t want to miss. Friday night will play host to the SBC Media Showcase happening at the Cascade Room inside Grand Central Lodge at 730pm - be sure to show up and cast your vote for the best video.
With Ontario experiencing unseasonably warm temperatures this month, the onset of spring riding conditions has come upon us earlier than expected. Luckily, Blue Mountain has been stockpiling snow supplies all season and has assured contest organizers and participants that there will be a condensed slopestyle course ready for this weekend. Park staff will be consistently grooming, maintaining and fertilizing the course throughout the competition to ensure the best possible riding conditions. Event organizers have made a few modifications to the competition scheduling in an effort to ensure all competitors have the opportunity to compete on the course in its best possible state. The pro & am categories will now be practicing at 8:00 a.m. on their competition day, followed by their qualifying runs to begin promptly at 9:00 a.m. The rookie categories will compete directly following the pro & am qualifiers and each competition day will end with pro & am finals.
Thursday’s typical all-day open practice will be abbreviated to a half-day, from 8:00 a.m. - 12:00p.m. in an effort to maintain the course for the competition days. For all the current event details and scheduling refer to thecanadianshield.ca <http://thecanadianshield.ca>
There is a plethora of exciting things taking place at the Blue Mountain stop of The Canadian Shield Tour. One of the most anticipated components will be the resentation of the tour titles to the competitors who have earned the highest number of tour points throughout the four-stops. The overall standings are by no means set in stone and many categories are still open for the taking heading into the Blue Mountain stop.
On the line for the pro category is a 7-day surf trip to Eldorado Surf Resort in El Salvador. Currently Warren Williams is in the tour points lead for the pro men’s division, however his lead is narrow and several riders including Ryan Manning, Craig Gouweloos, Chris Collard and Craig Beaulieu could easily change the rankings if they place well. Similarly in the women’ s pro snowboard rankings, Jenna Blasman current holds the lead ahead of Natalie Allport, Gillian Andrewshenko and Samm Denena. Jenna has placed first at the two tour stops she has attended this year, so another strong performance could capture the title for her. The only certainty heading into the fourth and final stop is that the battle for the podium and the remaining tour points will be a must see at Blue Mountain on Friday March 23.
The pro ski categories also have the opportunity to win a 7-day surf trip with the tour title wins. The pro men and women’s ski divisions are far less ambiguous at this point as both the male points leader, Ian Cosco, and female points leader, Yuki Tsubota, have substantial leads in the tour rankings. Both skiers have podiumed at each tour stop they have attended so far this season, so they are definitely the ones to keep an eye on at Blue Mountain on March 24.
The K2 Skis amateur open division competitors have the opportunity to win a substantial overall tour prize, a 2013 sponsorship from K2 Skis. The current male amateur standings have Braedon Wheeler of Whistler, BC in the tour lead, however there are several talented skiers trailing closely behind him.
The Disney XD rookie categories will also be awarding an overall tour title and prize at Blue Mountain. One boy and one girl from both the ski and snowboard divisions will be awarded a week at Muskoka Woods Action Sports Camp. There are several competitors in the running for the Disney XD overall titles, so it is quite likely that the Blue Mountain stop will determine the overall winners who will be going to camp this summer.
With so much on the line for competitors the final tour stop of The Canadian Shield will offer spectators plenty of entertainment. In addition to the on-hill ompetition tour sponsors including Franks Red Hot, Mountain Dew, West 49,Electric Visual, K2, Salomon and Skull Candy will be onsite sampling products and giving out swag.
Following the ski competition on Saturday, March 24, Coors Light will be hosting one of their famous Coors Light COLD Parties to celebrate the completion of The Canadian Shield Tour. All are invited to join in on the fun at the Blue Mountain Inn Cafe at Blue Mountain on Saturday at 10pm. This will definitely be one party you won’t want to miss. Friday night will play host to the SBC Media Showcase happening at the Cascade Room inside Grand Central Lodge at 730pm - be sure to show up and cast your vote for the best video.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)