With North Bay ready to go on a warming trend which will put the city on average almost 10 degrees above normal temperatures for the next week, skiing is not in the short-term forecast.
“The unseasonably warm weather this weekend and for the near future means we are not making any snow yet,” said Kathy Wilcox, President of the Board of Directors for Laurentian Ski Hill.
“We are certainly looking for snow but even cold would be helpful if we make snow as we do, and want to be hoping for those Christmas Holidays with snow, but it is what it is, so we are looking forward to a great season when it does get cold.”
The hill was looking to open its slopes to skiers on December 18th. Officials say everything is in place to get things going.
Now they need someone to let Mother Nature know it's time for winter to begin.
Wilcox says many Ontario ski hills are feeling the pinch due to above average temperatures across the province.
“Really cold is the clincher for all hills,” said Wilcox.
“Nobody can put snow down if we don’t have the cold and you need it to last because it doesn’t pay to put down a lot of snow and have it melt immediately so I think everyone is looking for a big long stretch of cold weather and snow is certainly helpful as well.”
And Wilcox admits its a crucial year for the ski hill owned by the North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority. She says the organization is looking at various revenue generating opportunities so the hill keeps going.
“We did a huge business plan this past summer with the help of the conservation authority, who owns our asset, and BDO locally who has been a huge supporter and we are following that as our guiding document now so we are looking for more sponsorship opportunities, more events, more corporate evenings, and other opportunities to use our hill to full advantage.”
For more information on the hill you can go to the website at: http://www.laurentianskihill.com
