Mild weather draws thousands to Table Mountain

Watch above: More than 2,500 people have visited Saskatchewan’s Table Mountain since it opened ten days ago. Amber Rockliffe reports.

NORTH BATTLEFORD, Sask. – Many people have been taking advantage of the warmer weather and heading up to Table Mountain for some skiing in west-central Saskatchewan.

Table Mountain’s general manager Lawrence Blouin said more than 2,500 skiers and snowboarders have come up since it opened ten days ago.

“They were driving out here and seeing that some of the fields were baring off … but once they got here they couldn’t believe the conditions we had,” he explained.

Another draw for skiers is a $2.5-million expansion of the mountain’s main lodge.

“Last April is when we started, and it’s not quite completed yet, but it’s functional the way it is,” Blouin explained.

“The lounge has moved into a totally new area, plus we have a room upstairs which is licensed as well.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "The lounge has moved into a totally new area, plus we have a room upstairs which is licensed as well."

Mark Grain was one of the skiers up on the mountain Sunday. When most kids can barely walk, Grain was learning to ski.

“I’ve been skiing since I was three years old … I started skiing in Regina, and I skied there until Grade Nine, and I moved out to Canmore, Alberta to keep going in my racing career,” said Grain.

Now Grain is back in his home province, taking a course taught by Alpine Skiing Olympian Wendy Lumby.

“I’m here this week to help teach our young and up-and-coming coaches of the future, to get their certification for training, and teaching other athletes how to become world-class and Olympians,” Lumby explained.

“We might be a little bit limited with the vertical terrain here, but we’ve got some really good pitch – we’ve turned out some really good slalom skiers,” explained the team coordinator Aron Klassen.

“Table Mountain alpine race team has had some real successes through the province and has done pretty well overall.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Table Mountain alpine race team has had some real successes through the province and has done pretty well overall."

Eight young skiers from the team are training to represent Saskatchewan in the Canada Winter Games in Prince George, B.C.

Table Mountain is open seven days a week from Dec. 17 to Jan.3, except on Christmas Day. People can refer to the hill’s website after Jan. 3.