MCKENZIE BRIDGE, Oregon (STPNS) -- SANTIAM PASS: Resort operators at the Hoodoo Ski Area decided to celebrate its 75th season by giving away daily prizes for 75 days. Started on Monday, January 14th, the event will pick a new prize-winner every day through March 29th. Top prizes include a Volcom limited-edition snowboard, goggles, jackets, backpacks and several $100 gift certificates.

People can enter via hoodoo.com or Hoodoo Facebook once daily and eligibility will be reset every day, regardless of previous wins during the 75 days. More details will be available on Hoodoo.com starting Monday.



While the contest is sure to make winners happy, Hoodoo has other reasons to celebrate. The 2013 ski season is off to a great start, with attendance way up. Officials report skier visits total almost five times the figure for the same period the previous year. For comparison, December of 2011 was a dismal, rainy month that saw a total of only 3,612 skier visits. December 2012 saw a total of 17,885 alpine skiers flock to the popular family ski resort at the summit of Santiam Pass.

Combined with last month’s totals for Nordic skiing, sledding, and tubing, the total visitors for the month totals 22,000. Hoodoo Ski Area’s office manager, Brynne Beverly, said conditions have combined to make this their financially strongest Christmas break ever.

Over the years, Hoodoo has evolved into a full-service ski area with more than 800 skiable acres, 30 alpine trails, 15.8 km of Nordic trails, three quad lifts, one triple chair and one double chair. The resort also offers also offers snowbike, Trikke and snow scooter rentals. The lodge includes a rental and repair shop, ski shop, restaurant, full bar, lockers, showers, arcade, and dining areas, as well as a large lot with overnight car parking and RV sites (by permit only). Day parking is free for Hoodoo guests and Snopark permits are available for the nearby snow parks.

The resort offers night skiing, which will continue on Friday and Saturday nights until 9 p.m. Regular operating hours are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The resort is closed on Wednesdays. For a full list of upcoming events, go to the Hoodoo Ski Area Event Calendar at www.hoodoo.com/calendar. Follow Hoodoo on Facebook atfacebook.com/HoodooRecreation and on Twitter at twitter.com/HoodooSki.