GARY KEAN
The Western Star
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Like a skier looking forward to making first tracks on a slope of fresh powder, Anne Pinsent is looking forward to tackling some of those blank canvasses in her art studio.
Painting is just one of the many things Pinsent will have more time to do when she retires as general manager of Marble Mountain ski resort at the end of April.
Pinsent’s career at Marble began 18 seasons ago with the resort’s ski school. After six years teaching people how to snow plow or use their poles to get back on their feet after a wipeout, Pinsent served as the ski school’s director for four years.
She then took on the role of assistant manager to the chairperson of the Marble Mountain Development Corporation for one year before advancing into the general manager’s job for the last eight years.
Pinsent has seen many changes at the ski hill, which was taken over by the provincial government from the Corner Brook Ski Club in the late 1980s. Most of those changes have been positive, she said.
“I thoroughly enjoyed almost every moment,” Pinsent said Monday. “We’ve seen a lot of improvements on the mountain, like the terrain park and an upgraded snowmaking system. The terrain park was a real need especially. It has taken a while to develop it, but I really feel we’ve gotten there now.”
The installation of the Magic Carpet, the user-friendly lift for beginner skiers, was another significant amenity to be added lately, she said.
The real achievement for Marble, according to Pinsent, was seeing record season pass sales and visitor numbers rising dramatically in recent years.
“Skiers visits were down to 40,0000 (per season) not too long ago,” she noted. “Now, they are up to between 80,000 and 90,000. There has been significant growth and we have had to grow with that by adding the Magic Carpet and those sorts of things.”
Marble Mountain has enjoyed a higher profile with the national and international markets through advertising efforts and the development of Humber Valley Resort.
While visitation from each of these sources has been increasing, Pinsent said there are still many people who have yet to realize what a gem Marble Mountain is.
“The backbone of the place is the local skiers ... We need to augment that with people from the outside and we need to make it as easy as possible for them to get here.”
The terrain is one thing Marble has going for it, but Pinsent said it’s the familial feeling amongst the staff and the regular visitors alike which make Marble an extra special pace for her.
Now she can’t wait for her next day as a visitor with no worries about the hill’s operations.
“I am leaving at a time when I still enjoy being here,” said Pinsent. “I would have hated for it to have ended differently and I was not still enjoying myself.”
While she does plan to spend her free time with family, travelling and doing more visual art, Pinsent said she may return to Marble as a part-time ski instructor in the future.
“I would be very sad if I was going far away,” she said.
The Marble Mountain Development Corporation has been advertising Pinsent’s job and is accepting applications until May 7. Jamie Schwartz, the corporation’s chairperson, said it’s too early to give a date, but he expects to have someone hired this summer.
“It’s sad to see Anne leave,” Schwartz said. “She has been an exceptional general manager and she’ll be tough to replace.”
Humber Valley Resort is always growing in popularity. The area offers so much, and it really is the "things you can do" that make Western Newfoundland Canada such a great place to visit.
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