The last chairlift has long since passed up Mount Sima, with the final runs being made on the Easter long weekend.

Area manager for Mt. Sima, Guillaume Rochet said this year they had great attendance with 13,000 tickets sold.

This season 300 passes were sold, adding up to about 17,000 skiers and riders on the hill this winter.

The numbers compare to 13,000 tickets sold last year, and about 16,000 all together including pass holders.

What made the season so great, Rochet said, is the hill was able to stay open save for about six days this winter.

The hill was forced to shut down for three days due to extremely cold temperatures, and another three due to high winds.

Last year the hill was closed for a total of 22 days.

Rochet said the traffic at the hill was steady this year.

"It was more constant and people came more often at Sima,” he said.

The only down part to the season was the Arctic Winter Games, when many youth were out of town, missing out on great days for skiing and riding.

At this year's annual Simapalooza celebration on March 28, over 500 people bought tickets.

The event also boasted the largest registration for the boarder cross races.

With the season finished, staff at the hill have now moved into clean-up and maintenance.

Rochet said they are going to try a new venture this year, by opening the hill to mountain bikers for the summer.

Part of the maintenance will be done on the lift to ensure the chairs are capable of holding and carrying mountain bikes up.

Rochet said they hope the hill will re-open in July until September for downhill riding.

This will be the first year the hill will be open during the summer, following in the footsteps of other major Canadian ski resorts that are able to generate revenue year-round.

"It's just a start to make it a year-round facility,” Rochet said. "At the same time it's a test.”

The hill has the right man for the job now, with Jody McCutcheon heading outdoor operations.

McCutcheon is formerly of Whistler/Blackcomb, and came to Whitehorse in October.

Rochet said the mountain biking venture is all about giving back.

"It's mainly for the community,” he said.

With lift maintenance ongoing at Sima, Rochet said this year has been very positive.

"A big thank you to the community,” he said, adding that the hill would not be able to run without community support.

Rochet is now looking forward to having bikers on the hill that usually spends the summer unused.

"I'm glad that the summer will be busy with our mountain biking project.”