The Yukon government is pouring another $160,000 into Mount Sima.

Territorial leadership announced the funding yesterday via press release.

The money will enable the hill, located just south of downtown, to open as an early season training facility for elite ski and snowboard athletes from across the country.

The funding will help pay for start-up infrastructure costs, including snow-making machinery, terrain park development and safety netting for alpine skiers.

There were several reasons the government chose to back this project, Community Services minister Currie Dixon told the Star today.

“We think Mount Sima’s a fantastic asset for this community,” he said. “If we can improve the recreational opportunities for Yukon, and improve our sport development opportunities here, then it’s an easy decision.

“It’s a really exciting project.”

The new training program will enable the facility to generate revenue during the shoulder season, and the influx of athletes should benefit the tourism sector.

“These folks are going to be staying in hotels, buying meals, renting cars,” Dixon said, noting it’s a welcome “boon” during the off-season.

From a sport development perspective, local athletes will garner the opportunity to train alongside high-level teams right here on their home turf.

“They’ll have that opportunity to learn from them, but also to get out on the hill much earlier than normal.”

The initiative will ensure the Whitehorse ski hill remains a winter recreation hub, as well as increase the territory’s profile within the national sporting community, Dixon said via press release.

He told the Star that if the program proves successful, further funding partnerships could be explored.

“This is a longer-term initiative,” he said. “We’ve committed the funding for this year, and at the end of the season we’re going to evaluate the program – whether or not it was a success – and that will determine whether or not we provide additional funding in the future.”

The government’s funding comes out of three departments – Community Services, Tourism and Culture, and Economic Development.

The training program includes work with a number of local businesses and is expected to increase the long-term sustainability of the hill.

The initiative will provide an important source of revenue for Mount Sima, and is also expected to bring economic benefits to the Yukon capital.

The proposal was submitted for government review by the Friends of Mount Sima society, Dixon said.

Recently, provincial and national ski and snowboard teams have struggled to find suitable autumn training grounds, often travelling outside the country to train.

More than 100 skiers and snowboarders are expected to use the facility through the month of November.

A handful of Ontario border-cross snowboarders and eight Alberta slopestyle snowboarders are scheduled to arrive in Whitehorse Friday to kick off the new program.

“There’s a number of teams across the country looking to get on snow as early as they can in November,” said Laurie Henderson, past-president of the Friends of Mount Sima society.

“A lot of the places they’ve traditionally gone couldn’t open last year because they didn’t have snow.”

Most of the groups taking advantage of Sima this season hail from Alberta and British Columbia, but some will come from as far as Ontario.

Clubs will pay a higher-than-average fee for use of the hill.

“It’s a real mix,” Henderson said of the users, ranging from alpine skiers to slopestyle snowboarders.

“We have both able-bodied and para-athletes coming. Most of them are coming for week-long periods, but some will be here for two weeks.”

Henderson said most teams are looking for exclusive access to the hill, but noted the public season is expected to open early on Dec. 4.

“The reason we’re doing this is to increase the financial stability of the hill,” she said. “But everyone will be getting on the snow sooner.”

Local athletes are able to join out-of-town teams when possible.

Just two years ago, the ski hill was facing closure before the community stepped up to ensure it would open for at least one more season.

At that time, Softball Yukon came forward with a $70,000 assist after city council declined to fund the bailout.

The Friends of Mount Sima group was formed in 2013 following the Great Northern Ski Society’s vote that July to close the hill because of financial problems.

The hill had closed after city council turned down a proposal that would have seen the city provide $610,000 in funding to pay off creditors and keep the hill operating.

Mount Sima originally opened in 1994.

Sima saw more than 20,000 day visits last season, and 800-plus season passes sold, said general manager Cindy Chandler.

“That’s a steady season,” she said of the day visits, noting the number of season pass holders has risen significantly in the last two years, from 200.

She called the latest government funding an important step forward for the facility.

“This is a critical opportunity for Mount Sima in terms of generating incremental revenue to sustain the hill,” she said, adding the program is expected to expand in the next two years.

“Of course, there’s fairly major start-up costs to make this happen,” Chandler noted. “We need to produce snow in a short period of time.”

Snow-making began in earnest after the Thanksgiving weekend, with two new snow fans being purchased.

The terrain park is ready to go for this weekend, with the alpine run Dan’s Descent next on the schedule.

An alpine team is expected to arrive in town next Tuesday.

The regular winter usage of the hill was complemented this summer by the creation of two bike trails – one of which is expected to be accessible to snowshoers via the chairlift.

A small but active paragliding community also maintains a launching pad at the hill’s summit.