Mount Sima ahead of schedule for maintenance work on lift systems

The required repair and maintenance work at Mount Sima is ahead of schedule, with Summits Lifts of Fernie, B.C. expecting to have the lifts certified for operation by early October.

The required repair and maintenance work at Mount Sima is ahead of schedule, with Summits Lifts of Fernie, B.C. expecting to have the lifts certified for operation by early October.

Keith Thaxter, interim President of Great Northern Ski Society (GNSS) said he is pleased with progress to date.

“The crew from Summit Lifts has been on site for two weeks and things are ahead of schedule,” he said in a press release. “Summit is also working closely with our local resources so that we can maintain the lifts to industry standards on an ongoing basis”
Great Northern Ski Society (GNSS) has developed and is executing an initial start up strategy, which should allow Mount Sima to open this year.
A longer term, multi-faceted strategy that will develop Mount Sima into a year-round recreation facility for the Yukon is expected to be completed by March 31st.
“We have this incredible recreational resource at Mt Sima,” said Thaxter. “We are excited by the initiatives we have underway for the current season and long term opportunities.”
In the short-term, however, GNSS is still wrestling with funding issues.

The GNSS has determined that unless funding can be identified by Oct. 1 , Mt Sima will not open this year.

Craig Hougen, Chair of the Finance Committee, is concerned but remains optimistic.
“We have a long term vision which is truly exciting. In the short term however, in order to open Mount Sima for the current season, we will require that our core funding be in place by October 1. After that date, it will be physically impossible to get this complex facility up and running this year. We continue to work with our funding partners and remain optimistic we will meet our deadlines.”
Mount Sima has had all ski operations shutdown since last January as a result of mechanical problems with some of the facility’s equipment, as well as financial issues.
As a result of the hill closing for the season in January, Mount Sima will honour all of the 2007-08 pass holders for the upcoming year. The total amount value to last year’s season pass holders is approximately $70,000.
The GNSS, with financial support from the Yukon Government, was able to commission Kirk Duncan for a study on all areas of the hill earlier this year.

The Duncan report addressed the current status of the hill as well as outlined what is needed to reopen for 2008-09.
Duncan, the area manager of the Eaglecrest Ski Hill in Juneau, Alaska, visited Mount Sima in May and evaluated Mount Sima’s facility, making suggestions on how to improve things for the upcoming season. The report was commissioned after a two day review of the hill.
Based on recommendations from the Duncan Report, the board has expanded and will now include both elected individuals from the community, as well as nominated members from various levels of government and user groups.
The user groups include Parks and Recreation for the City, the Alpine Ski Association of Yukon, the Yukon Freestyle Ski Association, the Canadian Ski Patrol - Yukon Zone, Snowboard Yukon, the Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce, the Tourism Industry Association and the Yukon Government.
The current GNSS board was announced at a special meeting held on July 9.
Its members include four, who were elected, and eight members that were appointed. The former board had nine members.
Since the July meeting, the GNSS board has been working on financial, marketing and human resource planning.
The board has created a multi-year budget and has requested funding from the Yukon Government, the City of Whitehorse and the Indian and Northern Affairs Canada.
Presently, the City of Whitehorse is the only body that has provided any relief to the GNSS board. The city has given two grants for a total amount of $55,000.
The first donation was made in August for $25,000 and the second was in the amount of $30,000.
The GNSS is using the money to repair the snow making system as well as three lift systems, including the T-bar, chair lift and handle toe. Parts were ordered from three different suppliers in B.C., Alberta and Washington State.
The GNSS has also contracted two mechanics from Summit Lift Company, which is based out of B.C. In addition to the money, the city has also provided two workers to help out with the repairs.
The mechanics have been working on the hill from Monday to Saturday and are scheduled to finish by the beginning of October.