While some residents lamented the arrival of winter with Friday’s snowfall, others jumped for joy and headed for the hills.
Loch Lomond Ski Area president Ward Bond said he wasn’t expecting the storm, which brought up to 25 centimetres of snow in some parts of the city, but the hill got itself ready and opened Saturday morning.
“It’s fun just to get open that quickly,” Bond said, skis in hand. The hill’s South side is open. And because there was so much snow, no snow-making guns were necessary. Bond admits conditions aren’t the greatest but being able to ski this early makes it worth it.
Just three days ago, the ski hill was nothing but grass.
“It was a really good early Christmas present,” he said. “Everybody’ just so happy to be on the snow again.”
No one was more excited for the snow than ski instructor Jamie Robinson. He crushed his leg in an accident during the summer and was worried he might not get to enjoy a ski season at all. But by Saturday, Robinson was ready to go, saying he was vibrating with anticipation to hit the slopes.
“Finally we got a dump. It’s time to make some tracks. Fresh pow man,” he said.
For Robinson, skiing isn’t just a sport but a culture. Getting to hang out with friends is what it’s all about he said.
“It’s always a good time. You can look around and never see anybody with a sad face,” he said.
Seeing the ski hill open so early was the perfect way to end a good week for snowboarder Brendan Phyllis. He got the day off from school thanks to the storm. And then he got to rider earlier than he thought he would be able to.
“I’m pretty excited I didn’t think snow was going to come for a while and it all came in one big dump,” he said.
With 13 snow guns on the hill’s north side, Bond said if the weather stays cool parts of it could be open by next weekend.
As for Mount Baldy, a message recorded Friday said they could be open by Dec. 1.
