Wax ’em up

Boler Mountain carves out an opening date as province eases restrictions

TWO WEEKS AGO, Boler Mountain made the unfortunate but not unexpected announcement that their season was over, with the lockdown order wiping out the majority of their season. But with cases on the decline in the London area and the lockdown being lifted by mid-February, the ski hill has pivoted: actually, they will be able to open after all.

The hill will be open on February 16. Skiers and snowboarders will be required to reserve tickets in advance, which the hill is going to release four days ahead of time. According to Boler Mountain’s Facebook page, they are planning on opening up the tubing hills as well.

Downhill ski resorts across Ontario can start up the ski lifts again once the province lifts the shutdown restrictions in their region.

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The news will likely come as a relief to skiers and boarders who have been cooped up since the lockdown order came into effect on Boxing Day. Ski hills were permitted to open under all scenarios in the province’s previous colour-coded model, but were shut down when more strict measures came into place.

Skiers will have to follow the same sorts of public health measures seen elsewhere, and by now most will be familiar: masks on the chairlift and in any shared spaces, and limited capacity in the chalet. Boler will operate with extended hours in February every day from 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., but at 50 per cent capacity.

Despite the easing of restrictions, the shortened season will result in substantial losses for the non-profit organization. Staff predict the operation will lose between $1.2 million and $1.6 million this season.

Tickets will begin going on sale Friday and can be purchased from Boler Mountain’s website. Kieran Delamont