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10 -- PORT PERRY STAR -- Tues. Janvery 24, 1984 built from the by Cathy Robb «Gabor Marton never dreamed Dagmar would get so big. At least that's what his wife Christa main- tains, a tall, slim woman with long straight hair the colour of coaldust. She toys with a Spanish coffee, twisting the stem of the brandy glass between her fingers while she talks about the ski resort which has become such a large part of the Marton's lives. Before too long she's interrupted by a girl from the kitchen who has burned her middle finger. It has a water blister on it the size of a Jelly bean and you can tell by the mascara smeared under her eyes that the girl has been crying. Christa tells her to drop her work for awhile and soak her finger in cold water until the pain subsides but the girl says she can't. The supply of hot chili is fast running out and she explains that she has to make more before hungry skiers converge upon the chalet. The other people who work in the kitchen are too busy to help with the chili. It's still early on a Friday afternoon and the staff has much to do before the weekend rush begins. Biggest Resort Evin though the slopes have been fairly quiet up to this moment, things have been hectic behind the scenes. Already today Christa has sorted out a ream of administrative pro- blems involving school bookings. Dea with the public and straight- ening out business in the office is what she gen- erally looks after while her husband Gabor takes care of the resort's cafeteria dining lounge, bar and entertainment. To- gether they have turned Gabor's favourite sport into a profitable business venture and the biggest downhill ski resort in the Scugog-, JR 1 LAY HIQUEINST PORT MEY 16 90% P00 ALL LINES OF GENERAL INSURANCE VICTORIA AND GREY TRUST Nrve IB 11Y, 5 Yr. Annual Interest Uxbridge area. Prior to 1963, the year Dagmar officially open- ed to the public, Gabor was a GM worker look-- ing for a good spot to go skiing without travell- ing a hundred miles. When he spotted the hills just west-of Dur- ham Rd. 23, south of Durham Rd. 21, he knew he'd found the property he was searching for. Problem was, when he checked with a real estate agent he dis- covered the land was owned by a farmer who intended on keeping the property and dividing it up for his sons. There was no way he wanted to sell it. That is, until he talked to his sons who said he'd be crazy NOT to sell it. They had no interest in farming. The farmer phoned back the real estate agent and a deal was made. Truck Tow "At first he bought it for himself, 30 acres, as a hobby," Christa says. "It was just to have a place in the country, a place for him to ski. He built his own rope tow out of the rear end of a truck." Suddenly the Martons found themselves deluged with friends and relatives who real- ized what a great (and cheap) place the pro- perty was for a few hours of skiing. As more and more people started using the hills, many of them strangers or casual acquaintances , Gabor Marton put his foot down and started charging. But as soon as he collected money from skiers, they began to demand certain con- veniences. Nowadays a trip to Dagmar can start in the morning and go right on to the wee hours of the night with two triple chair lifts, four T-Bars, a rope tow (NOT made out of a truck), 15 slopes ranging from beginner to intermediate status, 15 km. of groomed cross-country trails, rental equipment (600 sets of downhill skis), and a chalet for socializ- ing. | "So we've come a long way, just like the Vir- ginia Slims,' Christa laughs. Risky Payoffs The cross-country hills were a bit of a risk at the beginning, a time when nobody really knew what it was or what it was all about. "At that time there was only one type of ski and everyboy did what they felt like doing,"' she recalls. 'We've hosted national meets in cross- country and competi- tors said our trails were second to none. So we're pleased about it." But cross-country hasn't been the only long shot to pay off. Like ski resorts everywhere, Dagmar relies on a good winter with lots of snow. When a season is profit- able, the Martons can expand, hoping the next season is just as good or better. "Anything we pur- chase is like that You're always living from day to day," she says. "Many of the things we have now we've gambled on." Like the triple chair lift, something she figures Dagmar des- perately needed but could hardly afford-- especially since last winter was such a wipe- out. Even though there were some good skiing days with the help of snowmaking equip- ment, people would look out into their back- yards, see the green grass, and decide not to bother. Many season ticket holders were just as hesitant, even though there was a three foot base. Dreams Come True '""People didn't psy- chologically turn on to skiing," she says simply. Still, there were 63 days of good conditions reported last year on the downhill slopes (none were reported for cross- country trails), even though Dagmar lost the Christmas break. "We're like a golf* course," she points out. "Until the season is fin- ished we can't go into major expansion.' This year, however, has been a ski resort owner's dream come true, with excellent con- ditions reported nearly every day. Programs with schools have been consistenly busy and ski instructors have been kept hopping. The most popular pro- gram at Dagmar by far is the Junior Program, created for kids age five and up. Children are put into groups according to their ability and the lessons are so success- ful that they're now run both morning and after- noon, Saturday and Sun- day (they started out as one lesson each after- noon). Christa recom- mends booking ahead to avoid disappointment. Ladies Day is another favourite. At Dagmar Wednesday is devoted to women who start off with a one hour lesson and have the whole day to practice. Even the music is changed for the occasion--something melodic instead of rock 'n roll. Night Skiing "It gives the ladies a chance to get away from it all," Christa says with a smile. There's also night skiing, and an adult pro- gram in the evening for those who can't get out during the day. For more advanced skiers Ba Ba there's a racing pro- gram and a newly form- ed Nancy Greene League which will allow skiers to race against other resorts in the same area. All instruct- ors are certified and lessons are available anytime. A relatively new feature at Dagmar is skiing by the hour, the economic answer to families who don't want to pay for a whole day of skiing for children who tire after a short time. "People are hesitant to come out and buy a full day's ticket until they know what it's like", she adds. "Pay- ing by the hour is great for them. New ideas may seem slow in start- ing but if it's a good idea it will get going. And I think this is a good one." SAVE YOUR BOD RUST J VAN CAMP CONTRACTING LD. 90 Vanedward Drive, MY port Perry (416) 985.6469 CANADA FARM SHOW The Agricultural Equipment Showcase Exhibition Place Toronto JANUARY 31: FEBRUARY 1-2-3 * Horse Sale Wednesday February 1 ® Hereford Winter Classic Sale Thursday February 2 ® Invitational Holstein Sale Thursday february 2 * OSCIA--"Outlook 84" January 31 February 10 AM 6 PM DAILY "Mam 1230p m 230pm 1300p m * "Computer tor Farm Management" Sessions each morning of the Show * Country & Western Entertainment February 1 2 3 * Ladies Program 530pm Dainty tenga 3 RI Np ALL SERVICES: Tues | January 3rd through Saturday, February 18th, 1984 -- CLOSED MONDAYS -- Monte Carlo HAIR FASHION 11 WATER STREET PORT PERRY 985-3684 IEA GE neg: SERENE Anniversa ee Sou OFF = Gabor's impossible ski dream Dagmar's first rope tow was rear end of a truck FETE jl Py ; ke Dagmar Ski Resort co-owner Christa Marton (left) and ski school instructor Evangeline Merkley share a last-minute laugh before the Cornish Ski Club lessons begin. Port Perry WADO KAI CLUB begins its "WINTER SESSION" TUES., JANUARY 31/84 BEGINNER CLASSES: 6:00 P.M. (Tues. & Sun.) ONLY $45.00 (for 3 months) Be part of a medal-winning club. Learn self- defense and exercise in an enjoyable atomosphere for males and females of all ages. FOR INFORMATION -- CALL ROB DODS PORT PERRY: (Bus.) 985-9111 OSHAWA: (Bus.) 579-6237 (Res.) 985-3945 ip Call-985-3126 Home Computer Systems Texas Instruments , Commodore 64 & Atari 400/800 Software & Accs. JOHN and VALERIE_.HANNAFORD 487 MAC DONALD ST BOX 1217. PORT PERRY BEFORE YOU BUY ... SEE "CY" CY WILSON GUS BROWN Pontiac Buick Ltd. 1201 Dundas St. E. across from the Swiss Chalet. WHITBY re -- "CY" SAYS -- "A Fair Deal -- Or No Deal' Come in and say Hi to "Cy". 668-5846 686-1566