Ski Martock draws Boxing Day crowds as fresh snow marks start of 60th anniversary season

Skiers are seen at Ski Martock. (CTV/Hafsa Arif)

Skiers and snowboarders took advantage of fresh snow on Boxing Day at Ski Martock, as the popular Nova Scotia slope marked an early start to its season and the beginning of its 60th anniversary.

The hill saw a steady but manageable flow of visitors, with families and friends heading out to enjoy the winter conditions following snowfall the day before. While it was not overly busy, many said it was the perfect way to spend the holiday break.

“Oh, I love skiing. The ski hill’s open – I’m here,” said one skier. “Everything else on Christmas right now is closed and the ski hill is open, so what else can you do?”

Martock opened for the season earlier than usual thanks to favourable weather and snowmaking conditions. The hill began the season with one run and expanded to two on Boxing Day.

“Mother Nature, she’s a sweetheart this year because we opened on December 12, which hasn’t happened for a very, very long time,” said Ski Martock CEO, Martin Kejval.

Snowmaking has been key to the early opening, with hundreds of hours required to build a solid base.

For families, Boxing Day on the hill was about spending time together.

“What better way to enjoy the break than come out for some skiing on a good snowy day,” said one visitor who was at the hill with family.

Others welcomed the chance to get outside after the holidays.

“Super nice,” said a snowboarder. “I’m glad to get some air now.”

This winter marks 60 years since Martock first opened, and the anniversary will bring several new features designed to make the hill more family friendly. Plans include fun-line trails with banked turns, a ski-through or jump-over castle at the top of the hill, and the introduction of tubing for the first time.

Major anniversary celebrations are planned around March Break.

Looking ahead, the hill is also exploring ways to expand beyond winter operations. While the facility already has a strong snowmaking system, the operator is now considering summer attractions such as mountain biking or a mountain coaster. However, those ideas are still in early planning stages.

While Boxing Day itself was quieter than peak days, the hill expects visitor numbers to rise as people settle into the holiday break.

“Hopefully now that people are getting over the coma of eating too much turkey, we’ll see them in the next couple day,” said Kejval.

For now, the focus remains on building snow, opening more terrain and welcoming visitors back to a ski hill that has been part of Nova Scotia’s winter culture for six decades.

“Come celebrate 60 years of Martock with us. Ski, snowboard, and just enjoy yourself,” said Kejval.

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