Hermosa Beach Snow Fest – Mt. Hermosa opens for the holidays [PHOTOS]

The forecast called for 64 degrees with 50 tons of snow. Mother Nature provided the sunny warmth, and Spyder Surfboards provided the machine-made white stuff, turning the westernmost slope of upper Pier Avenue into a run for snowboard demonstrations and community sledding at Saturday’s inaugural Spyder Snow Fest.

Mayor Peter Tucker cut a ceremonial Christmas ribbon to open the event, and Spyder co-owner Dennis Jarvis announced, “Welcome to Mt. Hermosa.”

While sun-drenched spectators looked on, pro and amateur snowboarders executed tricks on the ramps and rails of the snow run, which had been formed with Mammoth Mountain machines.

The hill was christened by 9-year-old Sebastian Kuhr, a decorated Hermosa skateboarder who has raised more than $10,000 for the city schools with his own annual pledge-driven events at the Hermosa Beach Skate Park. Kuhr, whose nickname is Seabass, grabbed a snowboard and turned into Snowbass for his run.

He was followed by the 70-year-old Tucker aboard a toboggan that has been in his family since his youth, and Councilman Jeff Duclos on a snowboard.

After the pro and amateur demos, kids and parents trooped west to the Pier Plaza for the traditional meet-and-greet with Santa Claus, who traditionally arrives escorted by city firefighters.

Then everyone went back to a shortened snow run for community sledding, with kids piloting Spyder-supplied discs. They paid $10 for the sledding and a commemorative T-shirt, with all proceeds going to the Hermosa Beach Education Foundation.

The event replaces and expands the city’s holiday tree lighting ceremony, which was abandoned as too costly by the City Council before Spyder stepped in.

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