Kim Rahn is the managing editor of The Korea Times. Since joining the company in 2003, she has covered various beats including the presidential office, Seoul city government, the Bank of Korea and the tourism industry. In 2014, she won the Society of Publishers in Asia (SOPA) award for her coverage of the ordeals of migrant women in Korea.
Ski season opens at Phoenix Park
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Phoenix Park, a ski resort in PyeongChang, Gangwon Province, is scheduled to open on Nov. 7 for the 2014/2015 season with more diverse programs and upgraded systems. / Courtesy of Phoenix Park
By Kim Rahn
By Kim Rahn
Staff at the Phoenix Park ski resort in PyeongChang, Gangwon Province, are making last minute preparations for the 2014/2015 season.
It has 23 slopes, 12 of which meet international standards certified by the International Ski Federation. Phoenix Park will be one of main venues for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics. Athletes will compete for 20 gold medals in 10 events there, including mogul and aerial skiing, and ski and board cross.
The 20-year-old resort will introduce some new systems and events. The opening is planned on Nov. 7, while it can change according to weather conditions.
From this season, the resort will adopt a radio frequency identification (RFID) system for its lifts. Called “Hipass on Ski Resort,” the RFID tags will allow skiers and snowboarders to pass through RFID gates in front of the lifts faster without having to have their lift tickets checked by staff manually.
Phoenix Park offers ski lessons for children on a slope exclusively for them.
Transportation to the resort will be more convenient, as the resort is expanding its free bus operations to 13 cities across the country including Daegu, Busan, Changwon, Daejeon, Cheongju, Asan, Chungju, Pyeongtaek and Incheon.
More buses will also run on existing routes between Phoenix and Seoul and Gyeonggi Province.
The resort will also expand free ski and snowboard lessons for beginners who rent equipment. Three lessons are offered a day, and those wanting the lessons can apply at the program desk after rental.
Membership holders can have their skiing and snowboarding skills tested by instructors, and get one-on-one instruction.
Phoenix Park has a slope exclusively for ski lessons for children aged between four and 12 on a soccer field-sized slope with a slight inclination.
Bottom: Skiers can enjoy a hot spring at the resort’s water park, Blue Canyon.
To celebrate its 20th season, the resort will provide various events, including discounts on lift tickets for visitors who are 20 years old, concerts by indie rock bands, and a DJ show.
Skiers may feel cold after hours of skiing on the snow-covered slopes. What about spa bathing after skiing? Phoenix Park has not only ski slopes but also the Blue Canyon water park.
The park has a dozen indoor pools for children, couples and families. Open-air spas allow visitors to enjoy a hot bath while viewing the snow-covered mountains. A 125-meter lazy river circulates between the indoor and outdoor areas.