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Snow Dance Ski Association winds down

With the warmer weather comes the end of another winter on the Hi-Line and the Snow Dance Ski Association is winding down its operation and getting ready for the summer months.

In December, the Snow Dance Ski Association opened a snowboard and ski shop in Havre, renting them to the community.

“The ski shop was a great success for Bear Paw,” Snow Dance Ski Association President Claire Stoner said.

The association opened the store shortly after the Bear Paw Ski Bowl was donated 200 sets of skis, boots and poles from Bridger Bowl Ski Shop out of Bozeman and snowboards, helmets and goggles were donated by Havre’s First National Pawn.

Stoner said that the shop averaged approximately 25 rentals a day, with over 20 seasonal rentals. A number of new faces came in to rent skis, she said, and the association is already looking forward to next year.

The ski shop is still taking seasonal rental returns, as well as still offering rentals to people who want to ski in other areas, she said. Stoner said the store is mostly closed and people who are interested in rentals or returning rentals will have to call to schedule an appointment.

The association is looking into some ideas for opening the store with some outdoor summer recreational items, however, it is too soon to say for sure, she said. The store will be open for Festival Days as well as any big community events around town over the summer.

Over the summer, she said, the association has some big projects planned. The Bear Paw Ski Bowl needs a lot of maintenance, and the association plans to install a rope tow, which will be their focus.

“We’re just trying to get together and figure some things out,” she said.

Stoner added that the Hill Clean Up Day went well last week.

“We got everything done that needed to be done,” she said.

The association took down signs, tower pads, removed all the things from the buildings and ski patrol equipment, she said. They also took down all the chairs so grips could be tested for safety. She added that they are still looking for volunteers.

Stoner said that the ski hill did well this year, with some good snow on the slopes. A few weekends during February they are unable to open Bear Paw due to safety reasons. But even with the few weekends they were closed, she said, numbers where up this year.

The association will definitely open the ski rental shop next year, she said. She said that the association is tossing some ideas around and possibly bringing some new equipment. It is also planning to have a ski swap, were people can bring in old ski equipment and sell it, in addition to winter recreational gear, such as snowshoes.

 

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