Published on:
27
May 2025
The Council’s Firpark Ski Centre marked its 40th anniversary and its unique place in the community with a special week of celebrations, commemorating four decades of skiing, snowboarding and tubing.
Since opening in 1985, Firpark Ski Centre, with its state-of-the-art artificial slope and dedicated instructors, has introduced tens of thousands of people, from Clackmannanshire and beyond, to the joy of snowsports.
And during the special week over 450 people turned out to mark the milestone by taking part in activities at the Tillicoultry slope.
Activities during the 40th anniversary week featured:
o Taster sessions for beginners of all ages
o Open sessions for skiers of all abilities
o Curricular skiing
o Tubing sessions for children, young people and adults
o Adaptive ski sessions for both stand and bi-ski participants
o Slideshow and displays with highlights from the last 40 years of Firpark
The culmination of the special week was the celebration evening on Friday, 16 May, when around 60 former and current instructors, technicians and managers were joined by elected members and council officials.
During the evening the attendees were treated to slope demonstrations from the trainee instructors, tubers, Muckhart and District Ski Club (MAD) and adaptive bi-skiers.
However it was mainly a chance for former colleagues and old friends to reconnect and share their memories of the last 40 years.
Councillor Graham Lindsay, spokesperson for People, said: “This special anniversary has given us an opportunity to showcase Firpark and all it has to offer. The centre means so much to the Tillicoultry community, and of course the wider Clackmannanshire area.
“We are so fortunate in Clackmannanshire to have this unique facility and we are particularly proud that every single primary seven pupil in Clackmannanshire is given the chance to try skiing as part of their school experience.
“It was an absolute pleasure to be able to celebrate this amazing milestone with Firpark technicians, instructors, administrators, development officers and managers, both past and present.
“I want to say a huge thank you to everyone involved with Firpark over the years for being part of its history, for being so passionate about your sport and for passing on that passion to the next generation of instructors, technicians and participants.”
Iain Ramsay-Clapham, CEO of SnowSports Scotland, was also in attendance and highlighted the part Firpark played in the development of so many national and international athletes such as four-time winter Olympian, Emma Carrick-Anderson.
For information on classes, ski schools and tubing, call 01259 452339 or follow Firpark on social media.