April 7, 2025 Another Ski Season In The Books

Barrman stood at the top of the world staring at the slowly rotating T’s on the T-bar as they wound their last turns on the bullwheel. A lump formed in his chest as he waited for  T’-bar to stop moving. Cheers erupted from the waiting crowd when the cable slowed to a stop and the ski season came to an end. 

Time stood still for that brief second as Barrman scanned the slopes below. Refelections of powder joy filtered through his brain and a smile crossed his lips. Time was the only thing that will never stand still, yet there they were soaking in the last rays of sun, preparing for the final descent to the village below.

Fifty days at Big White and another two at Red Mountain Ski Resort constituted one of Barrman’s best ski seasons ever. Yet it paled in comparison to his buddy Cookster who managed the most elusive goal he’d been seeking – a perfect season – one hundred and thirty-six days on snow. Cookster even managed to make the final lift up to the top of the T-bar. 

Barrman, Crispy, Kaydee, and Cookster had a toast to the perfect ski season while they stared with melancholy eyes at the world below. Cookster had been trying for a few years to ski and snowboard the perfect season, ever since his friend Salmers passed away. It was something Salmers always wanted to do and Cookster was determined to ski every day of the ski season as a tribute to his friend. 

What a special tribute it was.

Cookster and his wife Crispy waved goodbye and slid their way to the village below to go watch Jon Bos for the final Apres ski of the year.

What a year it was.

Barrman laughed along with some other friends who hung out at the top of the T-Bar. Braffster was there as was Mr. Raulin, Racy and the Bruceman. There was even some crazy dude named Ricky who was wearing nothing but a Speedo.

Fun times were had, yet slowly people departed and headed down from the top.

The top of the mountain used to be the place where everyone went to celebrate the end of another ski season. But as time has passed things have changed and the young folks who used to bombard everyone with snowballs were now hanging out at the knoll above the Bullet chair. 

That was way too much walking for Barrman and his tired legs. So he and Kaydee were happy to see their friends and hang out at the T-Bar. Everyone was happy there weren’t any snowballs flying in the air. 

Barrman and Kaydee had one last drink and pushed off the top for their last turns of the season. Barrman waved to Kaydee and pointed to the other side of the hill, “Let’s go get a last piece of fresh grooming.”

They turned their boards and slid toward the terrain park. The snow was sticky and slow and the skiing was far from perfect. Even though closing day was a week earlier than usual, there was a feeling in the air that it was time for the season to be done.

Barrman and Kaydee coasted across the terrain park and stopped at the top of one of the largest jumps on the run. They hugged, posed for a selfie, and sighed. It was time for a last dance with the mountain. Barrman led the way and his wife followed behind. Heavy hearts and heavy turns led them down a wide path of unblemished groomed snow. Barrman shouted one last Woohoo to snow god.

When they walked into the Globe, the musical beat of Jon Bos lifted their hearts and soothed their souls. It was like an episode of Cheers as they scanned the crowd. They were in a place where everyone knew their name.

At 6:00 pm sharp Jon’s music stopped and the season was officially over. Everyone had one last toast for ski seasons yet to come. The friends smiled and said goodbye knowing that all good things must come to pass, yet in another eight months a new ski season would begin once again.