Ski season kicks off today at Asessippi

A frigid temperature today that is expected to feel like -38 C with the wind chill isn’t stopping Manitoba’s largest ski resort from opening for the season — followed by other ski hills that expect to open later this month.

Ski and snowboarders yearning to glide across the white powder are finally able to check out the Bunny Hill and runs using the Squirrel Chair lift around 10 a.m. at the Asessippi Ski Resort near Inglis.

Staff are still making snow for the runs that use the Porcupine and Bear Chair lifts, said Shannon Johnston, the assistant manager of the hill.

“The last two weeks we’ve had some really good snow-making weather, so there’s been some really great progress out there. We’ve also got some natural snow, which obviously helps,” she said.

Johnston said groomers typically start making snow in mid-to-late November depending on the weather, but it must be at least -10 C to start. Temperatures between -15 C and -20 C are ideal for snow making, she said.

The process of making snow is a science, she said.

The resort has two pumphouses that run water to their hydrants located throughout the 26 runs. Then a team of groomers make snow through a system that has both water guns and air- and water-mixed guns.

The water only snow making guns spray water through tiny nozzles into the air and by the time it falls, it makes snow, she said.

The snow making guns that use a mixture of air and water have nozzles that make finer water particles, which makes the water colder, allowing staff to make snow even in warmer temperatures, Johnston said. The resort also uses automated fan guns.

She hopes thousands of people will come out for the opening weekend.

“There’s so many great runs for everyone,” Johnston said, adding that her favourite is the Giant Panda Run that takes the Bear Chair lift.

“It’s way off on the far end of the resort, and it’s windy and treed, and it’s just so beautiful,” she said.

“You can almost imagine you’re out in the mountains.”

Johnston has been working at the resort for 26 years and enjoys teaching people how to ski and snowboard as an instructor.

Staff at Ski Valley near Minnedosa have spent nearly three weeks making snow and grooming the slopes in preparation for their opening day on Dec. 17.

Ski instructor and owner of Ski Valley Jay Klym said he expects to see a few hundred people skiing or snowboarding on opening day if the weather co-operates next week.

“I’m just hoping we can get the hill in as good as shape as possible (and) give our guests the best experience we can,” he said.

Getting the 10 runs ready for the season is a huge process that involves using three snow machines, a snowcat vehicle for grooming and doing any maintenance on the chair lift, Klym said.

“With some of the warmer weather we’ve had, it’s taken a little longer than expected,” he said, adding that it usually takes workers two weeks to make enough snow to open for the season.

Ski Valley has three beginner, three intermediate and three expert runs with a 10th run dedicated to people interested in entry-level jumps at the terrain park.

“We do have a little bit for everybody at every level,” Klym said. “There’s not a lot of super intense terrain here, so it’s pretty friendly for beginners everywhere.”

The ski instructor of about four years said teaching people how to have fun outdoors is his favourite part of working at the hill.

During the week, ski instructors like himself will teach school groups, but on the weekends there are lessons for skiing and snowboarding.

Unlike the other ski hills, Duck Mountain Ski Area doesn’t use any snow-making machines and relies on natural snow, said Kiera Levesque, the general manager of the hill that borders Manitoba near Kamsack, Sask.

Duck Mountain Ski Area has a tentative opening date set for Boxing Day. Last year, staff saw more than 100 people ski or snowboard across Duck Mountain’s 22 runs.

“It is quite the hidden gem,” said Levesque, who teaches skiing, but is also getting certified to become a snowboard instructor, too.

“Whenever we have a big snowfall, our powder days are amazing.”

She said the hill has about five inches of snow already and staff are looking forward to more snowfall soon.

Each ski hill has varying hours of operation. People are advised to check their websites for cold weather closures before heading out.

» tadamski@brandonsun.com