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"A Family Tradition for 126 Years" . S &® & The Private Family Ski Club * 16 downhill runs ° 3 lifts e new snowmaking capacity e instructional programs Lakeridge Road to spring (turn west) for 3 kilometres 298-8971 Guaranteed Best... oe SERVICE oe SFLECTION ee PRICE 170 Main St. Unionville 477-4604 Eiheevils Ski Area 6 chair lifts, 10 slopes 100% snowmaking capacity Rentals, Ski Lessons Cafeteria Open daily - 7 days a week 10:00am - 4:30pm Bethany, Ontario Hwy. 7A (705) 277-2012 i HGH BBLB wow. KING ii de by Kelly Lown Port Perry Star Weather co-operating, skiers could be hitting the slopes and trails this week. Skiing is a family sport, a sport that offers a way of getting away from the every day pressures. It is a challenging sport, but also one which provides its followers with a great sense of accomplishment and pride. Along with the excitement and thrill skiing provides, it keeps one physically fit. It improves your endurance as well as strength, co-ordination and flexibility. Skiing is a popular sport. Canada's 300 ski resorts sell more than 20 million lift tickets each year. The sport is one which can last a life- time and is enjoyed by all ages, and it is never too late to learn. With 15,650 certified alpine instruc- tors and 800 cross country ski instruc- tors at 350 ski schools across Canada, it is an easy sport to learn, both safely and quickly. The best way to learn to ski is from a qualified instructor. Beginners can learn the right way to ski from the start with tips on controlling your move- ment on the skiis, balancing yourself, how to fall and get back up and how to use a wedge slowplow to turn and stop. Whether you are a downhill or cross country skiing enthusiast, skiing offers a relaxing view of trees and forests in a winter wonderland setting. There are trails and slopes rom open, groomed trails to rugged rocky terrain, for every ability from beginner to expert. Skiers are a close-knit group of peo- ple with unspoken codes of conduct on the slopes which keeps the sport safe. Skiers must ski under control in a manner which they can stop and avoid other skiers and objects and yield the right-of-way. There are several ski resorts in the surrounding area which offer residents a good time, whether on the slopes or the trails. Dagmar Ski Resort, located minutes down Lakeridge Road from Highway #7 offers skiers 11 runs and a half-pipe NEW YEAR & EVE GALA Dinner, Dance & Complimentary Bottle of Wine. Call now for tickets 64920072 $60.00/couple © 8pm - lam dashar Trillium Valley Cross Country Skiing Banquet Facilities 25kms. Cross Country Trails Groomed & Track Set Trails 9:004:30pm - 7 days a week 655-3754 for information or snow condition. 8 as well as six cross country trails with sections equipped with snow making equipment. Visitors can start on the beginner hills or tackle the challenging moguls. Ross Dunnin, promotions director for Dagmar, said the club is offering a new STEP program to skiers this year, which the resort is one of the few in the area to be offering the program.The program was adopted by the Canadian Skiing Instructors Alliance last year. It allows skiers to learn the art of skiing through stages. After successfully com- pleting a step the skier earns a pin and moves up a level in difficulty. The club also has a Learn to Ski Program where for $35 the skier receives a four-hour lift ticket, a four- hour rental and a one-hour lesson. Ski School programs will be begin at the ski resort on January 8 and run for nine-week sessions. Other upcoming happenings at Dagmar include a free ski day on December 19. Anyone is welcome to ski day or night for no charge. A fun- draiser for the Special Olympics, skiers may make donations to the cause. Every Friday night in January will be Q107's Psychic Slalom. The Q107 ski team sets up courses for public rac- Lop w 'Ve - QF Ww I'S children in this club. It really is a family club," said Russ Tate, who is in charge of club membership. He said the club offers excellent ski programs for all ages. There are private and group lessons, tot programs and adult racing. The racing is designed for enjoyment while improving their skiing abilities. "The thing about our club that stands out is safety. There are virtually no accidents. The hills are safe, because there is no overcrowding," he said. The club is currently in a member- ship drive and will be full by year-end or next season at the latest. "We are a family-oriented, grass-roots oriented club that sets us aside from other private clubs. We are small and friendly and we have an active social calendar," he added. The club is slated to open either the weekend of December 13 or 20, weath- er depending. It is open all weekends from December to March including the Christmas and March breaks. For cross country enthusiasts Trillium Valley offers 25 kilometres of groomed, track-set trails. There are three trails one each for beginners, intermediate and experts. Instructional lessons are also available at the ing. It is a fun resort. night for Area Ski Clubs and The resort, which families, and equipment suppliers has been in opera- prizes are tion for 14 years, awarded. The are eag erly offers a chalet, can- club will also be awaiting snow teen and bar ser- hosting a New vice, as well as a Year's Eve party EC a Kf banquet hall. The this year. Devil's Elbow Ski Area located five kilometres north of Bethany off County Road 38 offers skiers 10 slopes, six chairlifts with 100 per cent snowmaking. "We are one of the major ski areas in South-Central Ontario," said John Holmberg, manager. Skiers of all calibres can enjoy a day at Devil's Elbow on a variety of slopes from moguls to flat areas to introduce the beginner to the sport, or challenge the expert, according to Mr. Holmberg. Instructional lessons and rentals are also available at the resort. Visitors are greeted with a 1,000-car parking lot and a 2,000-person cafeteria. Devil's Elbow will be open as soon as the cold weather hits. "We do not need snow (due to the snowmaking machin- ery), just cold weather to freeze the ground. Devil's Elbow is open seven days a week, Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. and weekends and holi- days 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Skyloft Ski Club, located about 3 km west of the water spring on Lakeridge Road (Durham #23) is a private ski club which offers its members a real sense of family fun. The club has 16 runs with three lifts and is equipped to handle 200 families. "Currently there are more than 300 resort also holds a New Year's Eve party. While enjoying a day of skiing at Trillium Valley, visitors can also enjoy skating on a pond on the property. According to Ron Richards, general manager, the trails will be ready and will be open as soon as the snow hits. Prices at Trillium Valley are $10 for adults and $8 for children for a full day of skiing. Rentals are $12 for adults and $10 for children. Trillium Valley is located just off Simcoe Street at Raglan. The right equipment is very import- ant in skiing. Old Fire Hall Sports in Unionville offers a wide selection of skis and accessories to individually suit each skier. The store has been in business for 11 years and "we pride ourselves on being the best in service, sales and selection," said Ross Millar, owner. The store has won the National Ski Retailer of the Year award twice. The store has a wide selection of alpine and cross country skiis and accessories as well as footwear and ten- pigequipment at what Mr. Millar says 'are the guaranteed lowest prices in Toronto. The company is also looking forward to the spring when it will be selling a line of bicycles and in-line skateblades. Old Fire Hall Sports is located on 170 Main Street in Unionville.