LOCAL RESORTS REBOUND SMOOTHLY.

Byline: Jerry Rice Staff Writer

This is the ski season that almost never was.

As fires ravaged the Southland in October, winter sports fun seemed unimportant compared to other matters like saving lives and property.

One of the region's most devastating conflagrations was the Old Fire, which burned 91,000 acres, destroyed nearly 1,000 homes and killed seven people. For a time, it looked as though Snow Summit, which celebrated its 50th anniversary last season, might also be one of the casualties.

``One of the main fronts of the fire was coming around the back way, toward Highway 38,'' resort spokesman Brad Farmer said of the blaze's progress through the San Bernardino Mountains. ``That's the one we were really worried about. If it would have come over that back ridge, into Snow Summit, it could have been a mess.''

The Old Fire came to within six miles of Snow Summit, perilously close considering ``there are hundreds of thousands of dead trees in the forest,'' Farmer said. ``We got very lucky.''

The Grand Prix Fire - which consumed nearly 60,000 acres and merged with the Old Fire near Interstate 15 - was less of a threat to Mountain High in Wrightwood, but it was a concern nonetheless.

``There were one or two days when it was kind of sketchy up here, but for the most part we were pretty much unhampered,'' said resort spokesman John McColly.

And almost as quickly as the fires started, they were controlled, thanks to the efforts of thousands of firefighters and support personnel - and an assist from Mother Nature.

``We went from defending (against) fire at the resorts to making snow in a matter of just a few hours,'' Farmer said.

Skiers and snowboarders responded. Mountain High opened Nov. 3 - its earliest start ever - and enjoyed a record turnout for a November season debut. Bear Mountain, Snow Summit's sister resort in Big Bear Lake, launched its season Nov. 7, and Summit followed suit the weekend before Thanksgiving.

Back in business, all three were looking for one thing this season: some consistent winter weather.

``Last year, we had record heat in January, then rain one week, great snowmaking the next, and a storm the week after that,'' Farmer said. ``It was all over the place. When you have a season like that, (skiers and snowboarders) never really get into the groove of going.''

To help even out the conditions this season, a nearly $5 million improvement was made to the snow-making system at Summit, and a new power- generating plant was added to run it. The upgrades are similar to what was done at Bear Mountain a couple of years ago.

Speaking of Bear, which claims the world's largest terrain park, there's an expanded and heated sun deck for off-slope enjoyment.

Snow Valley Mountain Resort, which is also in the San Bernardino National Forest, focused its off-season improvements on snow making for the beginner and intermediate trails, as well as upgrading the rental equipment.

Back at Mountain High in the Angeles National Forest, phase two of the children's learning center is now finished.

``Now you have this complete facility that's dedicated solely to children,'' McColly said. ``The lessons, rentals, sport shop and tickets are all in this one place. It even has its own on-snow area with its own moving carpet for kids to learn on.''

While Mountain High has always separated preteens from older learners in its ski school - as other resorts commonly do - having a distinct children's facility is a great move, considering the little ones are the future of the sport, said Bob Roberts, executive director of the California Ski Industry Association.

``What's really been a terrific impulse for us has been the whole skateboard culture moving onto snowboards,'' he said. ``I've worked with the golf industry, and they're really struggling to reach out to the younger generation. But thanks to all of these extreme games and the X Games, there's a real emphasis (on snow sports).''

IF YOU GO

MOUNTAIN HIGH SKI RESORT: [phone]; www.mthigh.com

BEAR MOUNTAIN/SNOW SUMMIT: [phone]; www.bigbearmountainresorts.com

SNOW VALLEY MOUNTAIN RESORT: [phone]; www.snow-valley.com.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, box

Photo:

(1 -- color) An invasion force of snowboarders carves up a run at Wrightwood's Mountain High, one of several local resorts that held its breath recently as wildfires swept throught Southern California's mountain ranges.

(2) Snowboarders ride the chairlift at Mountain High, which is trying to attract the next generation of snow enthusiasts with a new children's center.

LaFonzo Rachal Carter/Staff Photographer

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IF YOU GO (see text)