Nova Scotia ski hills 'just pounding out the snow' for early openings
'It's been a number of years since we've been open before Christmas, so we're pretty excited'
Cold temperatures and early snowstorms mean some skiers and snowboarders in Nova Scotia are already enjoying mid-winter conditions.
"The snow itself is fantastic. It really is sort of January conditions in December as far as the snow and the quality of the snow," Ski Martock operations manager Andy MacLean said Friday.
Martock opened Friday morning to cold, blustery and windy conditions.
"It's about as hardcore a winter day as you can have," MacLean said.
Good timing
While the road conditions kept many skiers away, he said staff used the day as a soft opening for the weekend. Ski Wentworth opens Saturday.
"This is a really nice opening date for us, 'cause we'll get that whole Christmas Break," general manager Leslie Wilson said.
"The kids of course are off school mid-week and they're just so keen to get going. And then after Christmas, people have all their new ski and snowboard gear, so they're all fired up and anxious to get out here."
'Just pounding out the snow'
While Wentworth always aims for a mid-December opening, it doesn't happen every year. But the recent cold snap has made for excellent snow-making conditions.
"We're just pounding out the snow," Wilson said.
The two alpine hills in Cape Breton are hoping to open earlier than usual.
Ski Ben Eoin near Sydney, N.S., bought several new snow guns this year. Those have been running for more than a week.
General manager Rob Carmichael is aiming to open Dec. 21, just before schools let out for the holidays.
"It's been a number of years since we've been open before Christmas, so we're pretty excited about that," he said. "It would be nice to get open for the entire Christmas break."
Blizzard a 'big time' help
Ski Cape Smokey in Ingonish is also hoping to open over the holidays. The community-run hill has been without snow-making capability for several years, and relies entirely on natural snow.
Volunteers have already groomed the hill twice. Friday's blizzard is "definitely going to help us big time," Ski Cape Smokey Society chairman Larry Dauphinee said.
"We're probably still going to need at least one more storm but we're getting very close."
A few years ago, the society had its earliest opening ever on Dec. 26.
Last year the hill didn't open until mid-February and then only for four days of skiing before the snow disappeared.
'Hurting financially'
While a lengthy season is taxing on the hill's volunteer staff, being able to cash in on holiday business would be a big help to the society, Dauphinee said.
"Especially after last year, where we only had the four days, we're hurting financially, so to get open early would be a big advantage."
Smokey could possibly be open as soon as Boxing Day, he said.
"It all depends on Mother Nature."