Wrightwood, CA–Skiers and snowboarders dressed in Santa Claus costumes will head to Mountain High this Sunday to participate in the fourth annual Santa Sunday.
This holiday event serves as a fundraiser for Protect Our Winters, a climate change advocacy group for the snow sports community. Every Santa who attends receives a free lift ticket valued at $84 with a $20 minimum donation to Protect Our Winters.
“We originally created Santa Sunday to raise awareness and funds for Protect Our Winters, a cause that’s deeply personal to all of us here,” said John McColly, Mountain High vice president of marketing and advertising. “Climate change continues to have a significant impact on winter resorts and we are doing what we can here in Southern California to help.”
Protect Our Winters, a nonprofit charity, seeks to engage and mobilize the snow sports community to lead the fight against climate change through educational initiatives, advocacy and community-based activism.
“We’re very happy to be part of this event for the fourth consecutive year,” said Torrey Udall, Protect Our Winters director of development and operations. “In addition to creating a lot of holiday cheer, it provides us with resources to protect the winter season that we all depend on. We are thankful to Mountain High for supporting us with this really fun Christmas time fundraiser.”
To take part in Santa Sunday, guests are asked to pre-register for the event and donate a minimum of $20 to Protect Our Winters. Receipts for online donation must be presented at registration to claim a day ticket (an 8-hour ticket is regularly $84).
Once a skier or snowboarder has successfully registered, including making her/his donation, that participant must wear a Santa suit complete with hat, beard, coat, belt and pants to Mountain High on December 16. Participants must pick up their tickets, sign liability forms and be at the Snowflake Chairlift at 9:00 a.m. to participate in the Santa Sunday group ride.
Santa Sunday Schedule:
· 8:00 a.m. – Arrive early, pick up ticket in Big Pines Base Lodge. Bring Protect Our Winters donation receipt, photo ID and completed Santa liability form.
· 9:00 a.m. – Meet at the bottom of Snowflake Chairlift for photos
·10:00 a.m. – Meet at the bottom of Blue Ridge Express for Santa Sunday ride
·11:00 a.m. – Hashtag all Santa photos with #mhsantaselfie to win