Sutton (QC), Canada – Sutton officials have a bevy of improvements awaiting the start of the 2010-11 ski and snowboard season at the Townships resort, including new grooming, new snowmaking, lift improvements and new instructional programs and features for the ski area’s 50th season of operation.nA new Prinoth Bison X grooming machine will make sure that groomed runs receive fresh corduroy each night, smoothing out snow produced by a number of new snow guns purchased during the off-season. Sutton’s lifts have been improved, too, with a new unloading terminal constructed for the resort’s Chair V, while Chair IV has received new back pads for a more comfortable ride.

Beginners of all ages will be able to develop their skills this winter in Sutton’s brand new Petits Wapitis Learning Park located in the resort’s Family Zone on the Cendrillon trail. The objective of the learning park is to make learning fun, dynamic, and interactive by incorporating features reminiscent of western Canada’s topography and wildlife.

The Sutton Snow School will use this new learning park to teach beginners different technical skills, whether skiing or snowboarding. The learning park will also be accessible to all those who want to improve their skills, with or without a Snow School lesson.

The Sutton Snow School’s All-terrain Club has been added to the resort’s weekend programs this winter. Throughout this program, skiers and snowboarders will develop their skills through the race course, moguls, Sutton’s renowned glades and in the terrain park.

The Snow School’s “assistant instructor” program has also been revamped. This season, skiers and snowboarders 14 years old and over can now get 16 hours of work experience plus 16 hours of professional training. Anyone interested must apply by Dec. 1 at the Sutton Snow School.

Sutton will turn 50 years old on Dec. 17 this year. In addition to lift tickets that day rolled back to only C$5, the activities will continue all weekend long. On the program for Dec. 17-19 are live music shows, fireworks, and several other surprises.