Whitefish Mountain Resort Gears Up for season: ‘Pray for Snow’ Party, Race Team Meeting

Alright, I'll admit I've enjoyed the lack of snowfall so far, but the white stuff better start coming down or a certain skier in my household is going to have an aneurysm. So get out there this weekend and enjoy the annual 'Pray for Snow Party' at the Bierstube on Big Mountain. The party starts at 7 p.m., followed by a bonfire lighting at 7:30 p.m. and live music by the Canyon Creek Ramblers at 8 p.m. There are free snowbus shuttles between downtown Whitefish and Bierstube all evening.

Also, the mountain's race team is preparing for ski season. Here's some information on the team and an upcoming informational meeting from the folks up at Whitefish Mountain Resort:

As the Whitefish Mountain Resort Race Team prepares for the ski season to get under way, organizers will hold an informational meeting for all interested Dec. 3 at The Whitefish Library.

The Whitefish Mountain Resort Race Team conducts season-long alpine racing programs for young athletes. The team features programs for all levels of participants in one, two, three or four, day-per-week configurations, and provides support for racing locally, statewide, nationally and even internationally.

The Race Team programs are operated by Whitefish Mountain Resort, and are also supported by the Flathead Valley Ski Education Foundation (FVSEF). The FVSEF is a non-profit, volunteer-run organization with a mission to support skiing in the Flathead Valley.

This year, the race team has expanded into an option for young athletes that are serious about pursuing a career in ski racing: the Whitefish Ski Academy. The academy is a joint venture with Whitefish Mountain Resort, the local school system and the FVSEF.

“The Academy is in place for more committed Alpine and Freestyle athletes,” said head coach Roy Loman. “The schools have agreed to restructure their schedules to allow more on-snow training time for these motivated athletes.”

The team is hosting an orientation, information and sign-up meeting at the Whitefish Community Library on Wednesday, Dec. 3 from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Anyone interested and their family members are welcome.

For more information on the Whitefish Mountain Resort Race Team or the Whitefish Ski Academy, please contact Roy Loman at or by phone at (406) 862-2912.