Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2005 • Coppervale opens for the season

Last week, Norm Wilson, Coppervale Ski Hill’s manager, was busy wishing for a little snow so he could open the facility, operated by Lassen Community College.

Well, he got his wish and then some as a pair of winter snowstorms covered Coppervale with a nice blanket of several feet of the cold white stuff.

Now that the hill’s finally up and running, Wilson’s hoping the community will support Coppervale through these days of tight budgets at LCC and across the state of California.

Wilson’s love affair with Coppervale began 23 years ago when he moved to Susanville as a 19-year-old who learned to ski at what was then a National Forest facility.

But he was frequently frustrated when there was four feet of snow on the mountain and the lift wasn’t running.

He asked so many questions, someone finally suggested he should run the hill. He’s been up on the hill every winter since then.

The Forest Service traded the property to a private owner who then signed a long-term lease with LCC.

Coppervale features a poma lift and a rope tow to carry skiers and snowboarders up 800 vertical feet.

While Wilson said the hill’s face can appear intimidating, the facility is appropriate for skiers and snowboarders of any ability. Trails around the backside of the mountain are much gentler.

Other features of interest include rails, box rails and a new rainbow rail arranged in a terrain park popular with snowboarders. Some skiers enjoy that part of the facility as well.

A new-to-Coppervale snow groomer creates the ever-popular corduroy snow pattern. The hill bought the grooming equipment used, and Wilson said a new machine would have cost about $200,000.

With the college’s tight budget, the operation could be in danger, and Wilson hopes to maximize the revenue from the hill’s users.

“We’re encouraging any adult over the age of 17 who’s out of high school to sign up for one of the college classes,” Wilson said. “The classes raise more money for us, and we’re getting more adults than ever.”

Kids used to be able to take the college classes, but changes in LCC’s registration policies now prohibit that practice.

“We used to get about half our revenue from kids” who would come up to Coppervale and learn to ski. The state will no longer allow kids to register in such classes. Wilson said that decision was made by the state, not by the college.

Signing up for a class really is the least expensive option for skiers and snowboarders who use Coppervale.

Wilson said the $31 class fee includes eight days on the hill with instruction at each class session. An adult would spend nearly that much — $30 — for only two days on the hill when purchasing individual lift tickets.

Season passes are also available for the more dedicated users. The passes cost $130 for students, $150 for adults and $275 for families.

Underage kids can by a punch card for $60. The card includes eight trips to the hill and parents can arrange lessons for their children.

“There’s always somebody here to teach the kids,” Wilson said.

A new concession stand offers hot dogs, hamburgers, nachos, sodas and warm drinks.

Wilson said he plans to sponsor two or three skier/boarder crosses — downhill races — with cash prizes later in the year.

Coppervale is open from 1 to 4:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays and from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.

After last week’s first storm, Wilson said, “We’ve got two to four feet right now, and if we can get a few more big snow days, that will just be icing on the cake. Everything’s open and we’re going full bore. It looks like it’s going to be a great year.”