The COVID-19 pandemic put an early end to the season for Saskatoon’s Optimist Hill but this winter was still a busy one.

Now in it’s 2nd season, Optimist Hill actually closed on the same day, March 17th, last year due to warm weather.

Joe Van’t Hof, co-chair of the Optimist Hill says they were quite pleased with the numbers this season, especially at the start. He says with great weather, and plenty of snow the first few weeks in December, the hill was very well received all the way into March.

Looking ahead, Van’t Hof says the plan will be to create a second magic carpet, elevator lift. With materials already purchased the hope is to begin construction in the fall. The result, he says, will be an alteration in the park that creates a separation for skiing, snow boarding and tubing.

Van’t Hof says they hope to continue to build up the hill each and every year by adding new elements, new conveyors and new opportunities for people who have never had the chance to ski inside of Saskatoon.