Big Plans for Big Bear During Winter Season

The new ski year in the Southern California mountains began more than two weeks before Christmas, when fickle weather patterns were powdering the Rockies while leaving Sierra slopes virtually barren of snow.

But Southern California ski slopes don’t wait for nature’s snow. More than $5 million was spent last summer to improve the slopes and prepare them for powdering by snow-making equipment rated among the best in the nation.

Here at Big Bear, skiing started on Dec. 8. Grand opening festivities began the next evening at the new Big Bear Inn, a chateau reminiscent of the Bavarian and Swiss Alps.

Paul Rizzo, whose family has three luxury hotels on the Greek island of Corfu, had traveled throughout California before selecting Big Bear as the site for his family’s first chateau hotel in the United States. Together with such renovations as Gold Mountain Manor and Knickerbocker Mansion, it signals a new era around historic Big Bear Lake.

Newport Ski Spree

Next weekend Kiki Cutter, who won fame as a member of the U.S. ski team, will host the Newport Ski Spree at Goldmine and will give ski lessons.

On the weekend of Jan. 10-11 the San Diego Special Olympics for handicapped skiers will be held at Goldmine, the first of several events spotlighting skiers with the courage not to let physical disabilities keep them off the slopes.

The week of Jan. 10-18 will be Winter Carnival at Snow Summit. Special events will include snow sculpturing, treasure hunts and apres-ski parties as well as races open to all abilities. Between Jan. 10 and Feb. 8 Snow Summit will participate in the national Learn to Ski Program.

For $15 on weekdays and $25 on weekends, beginners of all ages will get lift tickets, ski rentals and lessons. A First Timer’s Package at Goldmine this season offers tickets on Chairlift 7, a two-hour group ski lesson and all-day rental of skis, boots and poles for $19.

The International Men’s Pro Ski Tour will be at Snow Summit Feb. 14-15 for downhill races. That weekend will also feature a celebrity ski race. The International Women’s Pro Ski Tour competes on these slopes Feb. 28-March 1.

Handicapped Skiers

Southern California Handicap Ski Day on Jan. 31 will feature the top handicapped skiers from throughout the nation on Goldmine slopes. To watch sightless skiers coming down the mountain, and others with perhaps only one arm as well as one leg, is a deeply moving experience that can bring tears as well as cheers.

Goldmine will bring other kinds of cheering on Feb. 14-15 with its Budweiser Ski Festival, billed as “a big party for one and all.” This season Goldmine is introducing Chair 8, a triple chair that offers a new high in Southern California skiing by ascending to 8,900 feet.

The chairlift was completed two summers ago but was virtually unused last season because of a snowless winter usually too warm for snow making. It’s for upper- intermediate and advanced skiers only, with a vertical drop of 1,800 feet and a grade in some places of up to 70%. Seven other double and triple lifts at Goldmine serve skiers of all abilities.

At Snow Summit new Chair 10, a triple, virtually doubles the lift capacity out of the base area. The other nine lifts include quadruples as well as doubles and triples. Snow Summit spent nearly $2 million this summer improving slopes for all ski abilities. At the top of the mountain, the expanded and redesigned View Haus has triple-level decks for viewing and a kitchen that serves California-style health food.

The smaller Snow Forest area made enough snow to open with its poma lift and three rope tows Dec. 13, and was ready to open its triple chairlift with nature’s first snowfall. In the mountains above Wrightwood, Mountain High West opened four of its six lifts with man-made snow on Dec. 9, for day and night skiing.

On New Year’s Eve the Big Bear Inn will add to the festive spirit with a champagne dinner celebration at $49.50 per person. The Goldmine ski area on the slopes above the inn is sharing in packages that begin with two nights at the inn and two days of skiing at $75 per person, double occupancy. Regular rates at the inn start at $40 weekdays, $60 on weekends and during the holidays.

Custom Furnishings

At Big Bear Inn each of the 80 rooms and suites has its own personality with custom furnishings and antiques. Hand-painted silk wallpaper from China and marble from Portugal, Greece and Italy are part of the chateau’s decor. Hand-carved cupids support golden draperies in the Huntress dining room. The toll-free reservations number at the Inn is (800) BEAR INN.

For accommodations in all price ranges around Big Bear Lake, including lodges, hotels, cabins and condos, call the Big Bear Central Reservation service at (714) 866-5878. Adult lift tickets this season are $23 at Goldmine and $23.50 at Snow Summit.

Restaurants with a wide variety of cuisines will add to the attractions of the new ski season. The Old Country Inn has German and Italian specialties. The Iron Squirrel serves French food. Queen of Siam and Pong’s Place are Oriental. For information on where to dine and what’s happening this winter, contact the Big Bear Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 2860, Big Bear Lake 92315. Telephone (714) 866-6190.