Thunderhill Ski Club is offering gift cards online and through a downtown Swan River retailer, giving locals and visitors an easy way to pre-pay lift passes (and potentially rentals or concessions) for the holiday season while supporting the volunteer-run hill. The club announced in a Dec. 5, 2024 Facebook post that cards are available digitally via its Shopify storefront and that physical cards can be bought at Rumors Skate and Snow in Swan River.
The Shopify product page for the Thunderhill Ski Club gift card lists set denominations of $5, $10, $20, $25, $50 and $100 and states purchasers receive an emailed link they can redeem online or in person. The product page is live on the club’s shop.
For shoppers, the appeal is simple: buy a gift for someone who skis or chip in toward a community asset. Thunderhill is volunteer-run and serves the Swan River Valley from its base just north of Benito on Highway 83 (about 25 kilometres southwest of Swan River). The hill has been a regional recreation spot since 1967 and is a common destination for families and weekend visitors.
Locally, the cards could steer some holiday dollars toward Thunderhill and nearby Main Street businesses. Rumors Skate and Snow, listed as a retail pickup location for physical cards, could see increased foot traffic from shoppers picking up ski-related gifts. The club also has a history of local partnerships — Swan Valley Co-op made a major donation for the Co-op Chalet — and those relationships have helped fund upgrades and operations.
Beyond holiday shopping, the gift cards provide a predictable advance revenue stream ahead of the season, which can help a volunteer-run club that relies on community support, memberships and sponsors. The Facebook post does not specify whether Rumors is distributing physical plastic cards or printed/digital vouchers, so prospective buyers should confirm the in-store format with the shop before heading out.
