SPOKANE, Wash. — Today may be known to most as Black Friday, but not atop Mount Spokane.
The ski and snowboard park celebrated its opening day on Friday.
Atop the powdery peaks of Mount Spokane, many opted to hit the slopes instead of the shops.
General Manager Jim van Löben Sels considers it a Black Friday gift.
"We're calling it White Friday here at Mt. Spokane," van Löben Sels said. We're super excited to be able to open a week earlier than our scheduled December 7. Be able to open earlier, get an extra month out of the ski season: everybody's excited."
None are more excited than three, nearly four-year-old Liliana, who was braving the bunny hills up and down for the first time and taking turn after turn.
"These lines are very hard," Liliana said.
Freezing temperatures also kept the hills topped white.
"One or two 15-inch snow storms and that was enough to get the base set to open today," van Löben Sels said.
It was the push the nonprofit park needed after just breaking even in 2024.
"Last year was a very difficult year for us," van Löben Sels said.
Mt. Spokane rang in last year with only a third of the slopes open, which is a black and white difference to now.
"So very different landscape than it was 12 months ago," van Löben Sels said.
There's going to be even more to enjoy beyond this opening day, including some new options.
"We added a handle-toe in our terrain park so the people who love the features can just lap that section and we're also launching our tubing hill," van Löben Sels said.
From Black Diamonds to beginner's luck, excitement is sure to last from White Friday well past White Christmas.