Chester Bowl Closing Day is ‘Bittersweet’ After Short Ski Season

Skiers and snowboarders took their final runs of the winter at Chester Bowl today

DULUTH, Minn. — It was closing day today at Chester Bowl and plenty of skiers and snowboarders were getting in their last runs of the season.

It’s been a short season at Chester Bowl, but making and maintaining snow has been particularly difficult according to Programs and Operations Director Sam Luoma. The hill has two snow machines. In a typical season, they make snow for twelve days. This year, they more than doubled that.

“We’ve had short seasons before, but in terms of conditions this is one of the most challenging seasons we’ve had,” Luoma said. Between warm temps and lack of snowfall and then rain and then just an inability to make enough snow to keep the hill open, this has a very, very challenging year.”

Even with the varying conditions, Luoma said the turn out this year has been really good. For closing day, it was forty degrees and sunny. That didn’t deter the skiers and snowboarders, who were looking to get their last runs in. Although, with the warmer weather, some have already moved on.

“I think there is a little bit of bittersweetness,” Luoma said. “I think a lot of families have moved on, especially since, you know, soccer fields are dry so you can go and play and playgrounds are dry. So I think a lot of families have already moved on to summer and spring activities. Those of us that have been skiing and snowboarding all winter, I feel like we’re all kind of ready to move on as well, just especially as most of the snow has turned to ice. So, it’s bittersweet but most of us are already looking forward to next year and hopeful that we have better conditions and more snowfall and more fun next year.”

With the ski hill closing for the season, Chester Bowl is focusing on preparations for summer camp and the Chester Creek concert series. Even without snow, there’s plenty to do!