A new owner and grandiose plans have workers at Red Resort and the community of Rossland buzzing.

"There's so much going on:' said marketing director Lucie Fortier. "It's very exciting. We're seeing more happen here in six months than we've had in a long time."

In addition to major additions to lodging around the resorts, skiers and snowboarders have a great deal to look forward to this season.

For beginners, a new magic carpet lift will make it easier to get into the swing of the sport. For those more adventurous, Red has built a new terrain park to the skier's left of the T-bar featuring table-top jumps, rails and a wall feature. Fortier said crews have also done the most extensive brushing to areas like Powder Fields and Pale Face, improving the already fantastic tree skiing at the resort.

"We have the best tree skiing in North America," Fortier said.

When skiers want to take a break, Paradise Lodge also received a facelift over the summer and has a new menu and new sound system.

For cross country enthusiasts, Red has created a 5-kilometre loop using the already established Centennial Trail and a new trail along the upper access road to the parking lot. Off-shoot trails from this loop are also great for snowshoeing.

The Red Mountain Extreme competition is back for this season, scheduled for Jan. 13-16, and Fortier said the resort is looking at a second big event for later in the season.

While there are some flashy new features at Red, Fortier said the resort's charm comes from its very friendly, laid-back atmosphere.

"It's not a showy scene like some other resorts, " Fortier said

The first week in December, Fortier said ,"there was an 80 cm base at the top of the mountain and about 20 cnl at the base lodge."

"It's definitely a little too thin for us right now. One more storm should do us," said Fortier.

That storm came over the weekend, as more than a foot and a half of snow blanketed the hill.

Red has now confirmed December 13/04 as opening day for the 2004/05 season.

Red Mountain is about 30 minutes from Castlegar.

For more information about the resort, current conditions and a snow report, check out www.redresort.com [1]