Spirit Mountain, Mont du Lac Open Slopes for Winter Season
TWIN PORTS– “The fact that we’re open today is exciting and we’re looking forward to the winter,” said Director of Resort Services at Spirit Mountain, Jon Regenold.
“Opening’s been great. We got a lot of people out here yesterday. We started off with the kids hill,” said Hills Manager at Mount du Lac Resort, Mike Ohara.
The recent cold blast of air created enough snowmaking for Spirit Mountain and Mont du Lac Resort to get some of their slopes open this week for the first time this season.
Sunday, Nov. 26, was Spirit Mountain’s first day of winter operations.
Snowboarders’ and skiers’ got in on the opening day excitement.
Typically Spirit Mountain opens on Black Friday, but warm air delayed snowmaking on the big hill.
Spirit Mountain crews began pumping the snow since last Tuesday, Nov. 21.
“These opening days are always so much fun because it’s like welcoming back family. Seeing folks that maybe we haven’t seen the rest of the year but there’s another excitement for another season,” said Regenold. “We’re making snow right now to last the whole season so that we can know that the end of March is doable.”
In the coming weeks, Spirit Mountain will be offering skiing and snowboarding lessons for the inexperienced or for those who want a refresher on their skills.
Meanwhile at Mont du Lac Resort in Superior, skiers and snowboarders got their start on Saturday, Nov. 25.
Snow machines have been blasting about one cubic-yard of snow a minute since last Tuesday, Nov. 21.
“It’s a good day to get started. Not as much snow as we wanted to have but I think this is what’s falling first snow we’ve seen in about a month,” said Ohara. “We were a little behind this year with the 65 degree weather we had a week ago. We’re generally open the beginning of Thanksgiving weekend. So you get the whole holiday to ski which nobody was able to get that done this year.”
Mont du Lac Resort’s normal hours begin this Thursday, Nov. 30.
The resort is also celebrating it’s 75-year-anniversay with a two-day celebration over the New Year’s weekend.
