Skip to content

New programs at FAR aimed at attracting locals

Fernie Alpine Resorts’ ski school has announced new programs aimed at attracting locals to the hill.

Fernie Alpine Resorts’ ski school has announced new programs aimed at attracting locals to the hill. Three different programs were made specifically to cater to local residents and people who may not have visited the hill in years.

“The whole idea through different programs, both for adults and for kids, is to try and get some local interest back into being at the resort, being skiing or snowboarding and back at the resort,” said Wendy Reade. “It’s to try and sort of eliminate the disconnect between the town and the ski area.”

Reade has been working with Keith Liggett to make the programs with the main focus of being cost friendly. The Get on the Snow program, which will run from Mar. 7 to 28, combines three half-day lessons, three lift tickets and rentals for $149. Participants of the program are also able to purchase half price Resorts of the Canadian Rockies loyalty cards.

Mommy Ride days provide a half-day lift ticket and free childcare for an afternoon for $69 from Monday to Thursday. Finally, the No School Ride days offer an active form of childcare. On the six days in the school district when the public schools are not in session, lesson and lift ticket programs are available. The offers are only open to residents or business employees.

“Cost is a barrier, it is expensive to ski. This is something we can do for locals so the barrier isn’t so high. The programs that work are the programs that build the community around skiing,” said Liggett.

Both Reade and Liggett say the programs are part of a larger three to five year plan, hoping to invite more locals on the hill.

“There is more information at their fingertips to decide if they are going to go for the day or not go for the day. I think that is a challenge for our business at large, just the snow industry at large across the board. I think that we being the ski area have to do a better job of inviting people to come up,” said Reade.