One of Northern Arizona’s longest running businesses just celebrated a milestone. Arizona Snowbowl observed its 75th anniversary with 10 days of festivities around the ski area and historic downtown Flagstaff last month. The birthday party kicked off with a torchlight ski parade viewed from Hart Prairie Lodge on Feb. 1. Seventy-five torches representing birthday candles carried by skiers and boarders zigzagged down the mountain to the delight of the crowd.
Arizona Snowbowl, which was just voted Best Flagstaff Attraction by readers of the Arizona Daily Sun and a top 10 Ski Destination by the Phoenix Business Journal, was established in 1938. Since then, the ski resort has become a favorite for Southwest snow enthusiasts. As part of the diamond jubilee, people who played a part in the history of Arizona Snowbowl shared colorful stories at fireside chats at Zane Grey Ballroom of the Weatherford Hotel.
Avocational historian Jane Jackson and producer of the documentary film entitled “Echoes of the Peaks, An Early History of Skiing in Northern Arizona,” moderated the fireside panel of ski pioneers. Panelists included otolaryngologist Wayne Frerichs, M.D.; Jimmie Nunn, Fellow, American Institute of Architects; Arlene Kerr; Bill Williams, former Flagstaff Unified School District Superintendent; Karen Malis-Clark, retired National Forest Service public affairs officer and Brian Dierker, actor and local businessman and owner of Humphrey Summit Ski.
Snowman contests, avalanche safety presentations, slopeside Lumberyard Brewing Company beer tastings and parties at downtown pubs were also part of the week-long event. A gala party at High Country Conference Center crowned the festivities on Feb. 8.
“We maxed out with over 400 tickets sold for the anniversary party,” reported Dave Smith, director of sales and marketing at Arizona Snowbowl. The program for the evening read like a Who’s Who of snow sports enthusiasts. Michael Berry, president of the National Ski Association, spoke on the importance of medium-sized ski areas in the industry. Phil McNichol, who taught skiing at Arizona Snowbowl while attending NAU and later became one of the winningest U.S. Ski Team’s men ski coaches, talked about his extraordinary ski experiences. Brad Steward, a Flagstaff local who first brought snowboarding to Arizona Snowbowl, spoke about his career as professional snowboarder and founder of the globally recognized Bonfire Snowboarding, manufacturer of snowboarding outerwear.
“The well-attended event was a lot of fun and everyone enjoyed themselves. It was a big time of celebration and now, going forward, we’re concentrating on spring break. Hopefully we are getting more fresh powder,” Smith said.
Arizona Snowbowl was ahead of last year’s snowfall with almost 200 inches of snowfall by March 1. “We’ve got some of the best snow in the Southwest right now,” said Smith, adding that the new snowmaking capabilities laid a good base. “We’re seeing people from Colorado, New Mexico and Southern California coming here because of the good snow.”
This season, the ski resort unveiled the result of its $12.5 million investment in visitor experience upgrades. Snowmaking equipment now blankets 50 percent of the trails including Agassiz Lift up to Midway and down Volcano, Wild Turkey and Roundup. All beginning and intermediate trails at Hart Prairie and Sunset have snowmaking. Other improvements include two conveyor belt “Magic Carpet” lifts designed to shorten lift lines and make skiing easier for those learning to get on and off chairlifts. An additional snowcat machine was added to the trail grooming fleet to improve skiers’ and snowboarders’ experiences. Additionally, the ski resort is now the first in the world to offer new top-of-the-line Never Summer rocker-style snowboard equipment for rent or purchase.
Spring break specials can be found on the Arizona Snowbowl website, along with Two for Tuesdays, Women’s Wednesdays, Boomer Thursdays and Family Fridays when the Sunset Lift and Hart Prairie terrain is open until 6 p.m.
“As students and families start making plans for spring break – Arizona is having one of those rare springs offering the best of both worlds. You’ll be able to ski and snowboard in Flagstaff one day, then enjoy golf or baseball in Phoenix the next!” said Smith. FBN
Arizona Snowbowl: www.arizonasnowbowl.com