Snowdance Ski Association is gearing up for the year and looking for volunteers

Snowdance Ski Association is gearing up for the coming season and is looking for a number of volunteers to help with the maintenance of Bear Paw Ski Bowl and the operation of the hill once the season begins, ski association member Dave Martens said.

He added that the ski association has also gotten a new piece of equipment for the hill and will be reopening the ski and snowboard rental shop.

The Bear Paw Ski Bowl is entirely operated by volunteers, with the exception of a few paid employees from Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation, and is managed by the non-profit organization Snowdance Ski Association. The hill is owned by Rocky Boy's Chippewa Cree Tribe and is one of the 14 areas in Montana which has a hill for skiing and snowboarding.

Martens said that in July of this year Snowdance Ski Association purchased a rope tow from Bozeman's Bridger Bowl Ski Area. A rope tow is a type of ski lift in which skiers or snowboarders are hauled up a slope while grasping a loop, driven by a motor. He added that it is a great addition to the hill because, in the past, newer skiers or snowboarders had no means of getting up the hill unless they wanted to either hike or ride the chairlift up to the higher slopes.

The rope tow should allow newer skiers or snowboarders to easily go up the smaller slopes and get a chance to practice, he said.

He added that Bear Paw Ski Bowl used to have a rope tow, but it was damaged in the mid to late 1990s and was unable to be repaired. The Snowdance Association had looked into purchasing a rope tow from Bridger Bowl last year, but was unable to purchase it and transport it back to Havre because of weather conditions. This year, thanks to Ken Erickson, owner of E1 Towing, and Kade Barsotti, the Snowdance Association was able to transport the rope tow to the hill, Martens said, although a lot of work still needs to be done.

"We really appreciate it," he added.

Installing the new rope tow will require a number of hands to get the job done, he said. It requires a new power service, he said, adding that the Snowdance Association has already contacted Hill County Electric Cooperative and will be having a new power pole installed east of the warming hut. But, in addition to having a power supply, the rope tow will still need to be physically installed, requiring a number of volunteers. He added that the rope tow will need to be installed before the weather gets much colder if it is to be used this season.

People who are interested in volunteering can contact Martens at 390-1238 or email him at [email protected]. People can also find more information on Bear Paw Ski Bowl's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/skibearpaw/ .

Snowdance Ski Association is also looking for volunteers to help with the regular maintenance for the hill, he said. Anyone can volunteer, he said, adding that the ski association usually has a work party every Sunday at noon.

The work parties usually last a few hours and involve things such as tree trimming and small repairs to the buildings on the site, Martens said. He added that during the off seasons the warming hut and a few of the other structures on the ski hill are often vandalized and require some small repairs.

Martens said that every volunteer, while on the hill, will receive a radio so all the volunteers can stay in communication. He added that every volunteer will also be eligible for a lift or snow rental voucher for their help.

"The only way that the ski hill sustains itself and continues to exist is through the work of volunteers," Martens said.

He added that many other communities do not have a ski hill and it is only through people volunteering is it able to stay in operation.

Snowdance Association is also looking for volunteers to become ski instructors and ski patrol, to operate the rope tow and to work in the ski and snowboard rental shop, he said. He added that the association has a shortage of younger, newer volunteers and welcomes people to join.

He said ski patrol is an important job and does require people to pass a class and become certified in order to be on the ski patrol. Ski instructors also have a certain amount of education needed.

Snowdance Association is also holding a fundraiser swap meet starting Friday, Nov. 15, 2019, at the ski and snowboard rental shop located at 417 First St., from 4 to 8 p.m., Martens said. Friday will be a drop-off day, for people to drop off the equipment they are wishing to sell or swap.

He added that the swap meet is a great opportunity for people to upgrade their equipment or get rid of their old gear. A person will be at the rental shop to inspect the equipment to assure the equipment is safe.

The event will have a $1 per item fee to check in items for consignment and will be cash only. Snowdance Association will provide consignment tags and paperwork, and people are expected to fill them out completely.

People will be able to shop Saturday, Nov. 16, from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Debit and credit cards will be accepted, he said. People will also need to pick their unsold items between 3 and 5 p.m. on Saturday. Any items left unclaimed by 5 p.m. will be permanently retained by the association. ‍If an item sells, a 20 percent consignment fee will go to Snowdance Ski Association.

Martens said the ski and rental shop should be opening for the season at the beginning of December, to allow people to rent equipment and ski or snowboard on other areas around the state. He added that, depending on the weather, the Bear Paw Ski Bowl should be opening at the beginning of January.