Bear Mountain, popular SoCal resort, opens for ski season

BIG BEAR LAKE, Calif. (KABC) -- Bear Mountain, one of Southern California's most popular resorts, opened Friday and some 4,100 enthusiastic skiers arrived to hit the slopes.

Snowboarders Maarten Dijkstra and two of his friends drove up from San Clemente.

"There's really not much action going on right now at the beach, so it's time to hit the mountains," said Dijkstra, who wore a muscular blue costume for the occasion.

His friend, Eric McKee, was dressed as a bumblebee.

"This was like the very first chance we're able to hop on our boards," he said. "I haven't rode since February, so yeah, brought some good friends along and sharing smiles with people in the line. It's a good day."

Simon Davvy was clad in a tiger suit.

"Being from SoCal, we don't really get a lot of snow," he noted. "So whenever Big Bear opens up it's always like, let's get up and go."

The latest storm dropped some snow this week, and combined with man-made snow, the resort was able to have two lifts up and running.

"We actually are the first Southern California resort to open this year," said resort spokesman Justin Kanton. "Dedicated snow making really helped out this year."

Season passes are currently on sale, and prices go up Dec. 15. For more information, visit bigbearmountainresort.com.