PENINSULA, Ohio — It’s opening weekend at Boston Mills Ski Resort, and if you’re looking outside wondering if there will be any snow, rest assured they’ve got plenty of white stuff.
As 2020 gives way to 2021, many families are looking forward to the new year and new beginnings.
For the last year, life may have seemed like it’s going down a slippery ski slope.
“I like going fast, I like going straight down the hill, sometimes turning,” said 9-year-old Andrew Navratil. “Unless you hit a rock, then you can flip.”
A perfect metaphor for how life has gone the last nine months. The COVID-19 pandemic has been a bump in the road, one that has thrown everyone for a loop.
But a bad day on the slopes beats a good day almost anywhere else.
“It’s fun because I’m going with my friends,” Andre said. “We’ve never been snowboarding together, so I don’t know how it’s going to go. I hope it goes good.”
Families have been heading for the hills all weekend as the ski resort opened its doors for the first time the season, looking for safe and socially distant fun to have during the winter months.
“Having an option of something for them to do, something to get the energy out,” Andre’s mother Andrea Navratil said. “Knowing there’s a safe way to do it and just be normal is pretty great.”
Skiers and snowboarders have been cutting their teeth at Boston Mills and Brandywine for years, before graduating to bigger slopes.
“What we offer here takes away that fear factor of getting into the sport,” said Boston Mills marketing manager Thomas Conti.
The two ski resorts, now owned by Vail Resorts Inc, boast the biggest ski club in the country.
“Our biggest competitor for sure is going to be Netflix, or Playstation or Xbox. It’s people who are inside, might be watching a movie and are looking outside saying ‘It’s kind of cold, I don’t want to go out there,” Conti said. “But when you strap on your skis and put on your snowboard and get on the hill, it’s a full body exercise, it warms you up and it’s a lot of fun to be out here.”
Reservations will be required to visit. Every lift ticket comes with a reservation and Pass Holders must make reservations online. All on-property transactions will be cashless and face coverings will be required.
Still, many people are excited to have an outdoor activity to pass the time during the pandemic.
“It’s a good way to stay outside with COVID and stay active, for sure,” said Doug Blank.
Brandywine will open for the season on Monday, meanwhile Polar Blast Snow Tubing is expected to open next weekend.
CLICK HERE for tickets and more information.
RELATED: Boston Mills sets opening date
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