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Skiers hit hills in record numbers, but Glenorkey is still kept on iceby JANICE WAKE Sun StaffWhile other area ski hills report record attendance, the lack of snow — and the lack of a snowmaking machine — has kept Brandon’s only ski hill closed.“We are ready to open, but we don't have any snow. Every day that goes by it seems less likely that we’ll open,’’ said Norris Murray, director of the the Brandon Winter Recreation Community Club.The group has been trying to open the Glenorkey ski hill, about five kilometres northwest of Brandon. It has been closed for the past three years because of lack of snow and organization.Mr. Murray says at least 10 to 15 centimetres of snow would be needed before they could even consider opening the hill, which now has a packed base of only centimetres.But even if Brandon does get a heavy snowfall, the group may still not open the business because the busiest part of the year is already over, Mr. Murray says. As well, he said a $4,000 liability insurance premium would have to be paid before it could get under way.“Really, what we need is a snow-making machine, and I think we’re leaning in that direction,’’ he said.He estimates the cost of the machine, including installation of a water supply and an upgraded electrical system, at about $50,000.A $75,000 provincial recreation grant is available, but in order to be eligible, applicants, must either own the land or have a long-term lease. The present group has only a year-to-year lease.Mr. Murray said his group is determined to get the hill open eventually, and hoped that it may be operational by next season.“It seems too bad — we have40.000 people here and they have to leave town to go skiing,” he said.Meanwhile at Holiday Mountain 160 kilometres to the southeast, owner Noel Later says business at his LaRiviere operation is up 60 per cent over usual. So far he estimates 10,000 to15.000 skiers have hit the mountain.“We increased our ski rentals from 250 to 400 sets of skis and we rent them all out just about every day,” he said.Mr. Later says his hill is still benefiting from the huge amounts of snow dumped by the mid-November blizzard, and has a 76-centimetre base of snow.Closer to Brandon, at Ski Valley near Minnedosa, manager Don Horner says crowds are up 25 to 30 per cent over last year.“For the last three weeks with the holidays, there’s been no telling weekdays from the weekends, it’s just been busy like crazy all the time,” he said.The hill’s five runs are all open, with an average base of 35 centimetres, he said. Although the weather has been mild, Mr. Horner says it is not warm enough to hurt ski conditions.He says most of the Ski Valley business comes from a 50-kilometre radius, including many people from Brandon.Further north at Mount Agassiz, spokesman Jo-Ann Stevens says conditions are excellent with a 30-centimetre base and 15 centimetres of new snow on New Year’s eve.“We’re averaging about 900 a day during the Christmas season,” she said, adding that she wasn't sure how much business was up over last year.She says the warm weather that has attracted the skiers hasn’t hurt the conditions because the temperatures need only be about -9 C for the snow-making machines be able to work.Warm weather has also hit the ski slopes south of the border at Bottineau Winter Park, 130 kilometres southwest of Brandon, but spokesman Nina Petys said ski conditions are still excellent.“Even with the slight melt, the slopes are groomed daily and we’ve been busy making new snow. The skiing this year has been exceptional. ”Ms Petys said a recordnumber of skiers have been taking advantage of the good conditions, especially Canadians.“We’ve been getting up to 200 skiers a day and up to 500 a day over the holidays. And we get a lot of Canadians on Friday for the Canadian Party where we offer straight exchange for Canadian money..”At the Ochapowace Ski Resort in Saskatchewan, manager Wes Cross says only three of the major runs are open due to lack of snow, but business is up about 30 per cent over last year.Although the ski hill has a snow-making machine. Mr. Cross says it’s been too warm for the machine to work. “I’m going to have a personal heart-to-heart talk with Mother Nature tonight — either a little colder or a little more snow,” he said.But he says the conditions on the runs that are open are excellent. “Actually warm weather for skiers speeds the skis up, the weather softens the top of your base so your skis dig in. It’s beautiful skiing.”FULL LINES: Business was booming Sunday with full T-bar lines at Ski Valley.
Newspaper Details
Brandon Sun
Brandon, Manitoba, CA
Mon, Jan 05, 1987
Page 12
Full Page
Clipped by
Tyler M.
NA, NA 27 Nov 2024
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