New snow-making equipment allows Quebec ski hills to open early
Ski season in full swing at Somment Saint Sauveur, which opened Saturday
A little more than six weeks ago, Quebec experienced some of its hottest September temperatures on record.
Sommet Saint Sauveur's water park was still in full swing, with swimmers floating by in the winding pool beneath the ski hill's chairlift pulleys.
On Saturday, however, the slope's landscape looked a little different. Pool water was replaced with a fresh blanket of machine-made snow. The swimmers were gone, succeeded by skiers and snowboarders zipping down the hills.
The ski season had started at Saint Sauveur in Quebec's Laurentians.
Seizing an opportunity
Though Nov. 11 may seem early, the cold weather of the last few days has presented an opportunity for ski hills to get a head start in the struggling industry.
Warmer winters caused by climate change, plus a shift in precipitation patterns, has pushed several resorts to invest in new snow-making equipment that can work in higher temperatures.
But to be able to invest, they need to sell lift tickets, said Yves Juneau, the president of Quebec's association of ski hills (ASSQ).
Ski hills have found themselves competing against other activities, such as video games, that appeal to today's kids, Juneau added.
New equipment to help ski hills' resiliency
"This year, we're seeing a lot of investing [in snow-making equipment] at ski hills everywhere across Quebec, and that's why we're able to ski on a Nov. 11 like today," Juneau said.
Saint Sauveur installed more than 60 new snow machines, according to Simon Pagé, Sommet Saint Sauveur's customer experience director.
"It's going to allow us to expand our use of the hill faster this season," Pagé said.
Though the province's hills experienced one of the worst ski seasons in decades in 2015-16, due to warmer temperatures that caused several hills to close early, they reported much better conditions last winter.
Juneau said they're hoping for the best again this year, but the more-powerful machines will help soften the blow if poor weather comes their way.
with files from Radio-Canada's Michel Marsolais