THUNDER BAY - With March break in full swing and kids free of the classroom, there is no shortage of energy to burn. Many families know the best way to tire kids out is some fresh air, physical activity, and strapping skis to their feet and sending them gliding down a hill.
This week, people of all ages were taking in the beautiful March weather at the Mount Baldy Ski Area, enjoying a day on the slopes and fun on the tubes.
“We decided we would bring the grandkids out this week for skiing,” said Gail Malcolm, who was at the mountain with family, including her grandkids. “They are from out of town. We are trying to keep them busy. Busy is the goal.”
This year Mount Baldy added a tubing run, and coupled with the magic carpet conveyor belt to get to the top of the run, the new addition was a huge hit.
“It feels really fun,” said nine-year-old Layla Weiers. “It kind of feels scary at first, but then you get into it and its fun.”
“We’ve been skiing lots,” Layla added. “I’ve been going with my grandpa and my brother. We’ve been eating lots of treats in the chalet and it’s been a lot of fun.”
Kristof Kardas, owner of Mount Baldy Ski Area, said the weather has been perfect this March break and he is excited to see all the families out enjoying the week.
“This is something that families can do together and not just watch and just hang out,” he said. “We can do the tubing or the skiing and mom and dad can have some fun. One last push at the straw of the snow season. Right now, we are watching lot of new families coming out, which is super exciting to see.”
This is the second season at Mount Baldy since Kristof Kardas and this brothers Daniel and Jason took over the operation in 2016.
Kardas said there have been a lot of learning curves when it comes to operating a ski hill, and while Mother Nature has not always cooperated, investments in snowmaking and grooming equipment has made the second season a success.
“We want to revitalize skiing in Thunder Bay starting with the grassroots program,” he said. “We need to see what we used to have when I grew up in the 80s and 90s with all the facilities being opened and full. We can do this again, as long as we take care and make sure all the families are involved.”
The hope is to get more people involved in the sport. Kardas understands that skiing and snowboarding can be expensive, but he said it doesn’t have to be and the more people who come out, the lower the prices will be.
“We thought this weekend would be a great time to finish the year off by doing a free ski day this Friday for the Heart and Stroke Foundation,” Kardas said. “We want to be able to offer to everybody to come out and try the last weekend out skiing in Thunder Bay at Mount Baldy and check us out.”
And as long as it keeps the kids happy, and busy, that’s all that matters for families enjoying the last few days of spring break.
“The kids are having a ball,” Malcolm said. “It’s been fun. The kids have loved it. When they are tired of the skiing they just hop on the tubing run. It’s a great way to tire them out and get them some fresh air.”
Mount Baldy will remain open as long as conditions allow, with no set closing date.
