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Saskatchewan ski hills are headed into winter with a rare advantage this year: a full base, every run open, and snow-making already finished well ahead of the Christmas rush.
Crews wrapped up snow-making earlier than usual after capitalizing on an early stretch of cold, Anders Svensson, business manager at Mission Ridge Winter Park in Fort Qu’appelle, said.
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“Every single run now is blanketed in about 30 inches of snow,” Svensson said. “To be 100-per-cent finished snow-making this early is pretty awesome.”
That early finish came down to timing. Svensson said cold temperatures arrived sooner than expected, allowing crews to fire up snow guns earlier than in a typical season.
While a brief warm spell paused production, sustained cold returned late in the month, giving snow-making teams the window they needed.
“We were able to start snow-making really, really early,” he said. “Once we got going again, the guns were running 24/7. We took a short break for opening day (Dec. 10), and then we finished everything up.”
Finishing snow-making early eases pressure on staff heading into peak season. Svensson said having a consistent base across every run reduced the risk of thin spots later on, especially if temperatures fluctuated through December. Recent natural snowfall also helped strengthen conditions by blending into the man-made base.
Opening week was quieter than usual, mainly due to colder daytime temperatures. Still, Svensson said those who did venture out were met with strong early-season conditions.
Between 50 and 100 people were on the hill during opening weekend, including participants in a disabled ski instructor program.
“It was chilly, but the conditions out there were fantastic,” he said. “The people who were out were definitely enjoying themselves.”
Looking ahead, Svensson said milder temperatures moving toward Christmas are ideal for outdoor recreation. He said daytime highs near the single digits and overnight lows around -10 C to -15 C were the sweet spot for skiing and snowboarding.
“That’s what everybody hopes for,” he said. “Being able to spend time outside comfortably and enjoy it.”
With snow-making complete, staff shifted focus toward operations and guest experience. Lessons, tubing and lift operations continue daily. Families planning holiday visits are encouraged to book in advance through a new online system introduced this season.
The updated system allows guests to pre-purchase lift passes, rentals and lessons online, cutting down on lineups and wait times at guest services.
Svensson said the change helped streamline busy days and keep people moving onto the hill faster.
Even after years in the industry, Svensson said the excitement that comes with the start of ski season never wears off.
“It never ceases to amaze me how excited people are when they walk through the doors,” he said. “You get to see people doing something they genuinely love.”
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