MOUNT MORRIS, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Officials at Nordic Mountain say they fired up the snow machines Saturday afternoon.
Nordic Mountain owner Rick Schmitz tells WLUK it’s not always easy playing mother nature, but it’s something they’ve got down to a science.
“We basically need, obviously the colder the better, but also the lower humidity the better”
Schmitz says with the help of their snow machines, Nordic Mountain is on track to open the day after Thanksgiving.
And while snow making got a late start due to a warmer than normal November, he’s expecting at least three of the main runs to open on time.
“We are probably right in our average start time, our goal is always to open on black Friday, or as we like to call it White Friday, so usually right in there when we get open”
He says this time of the year it also exciting for employees.
William Ringenoldus General Manager at the resort says snow making is one of the reasons why its never hard to make the first schedule.
“It’s definitely exciting, very exciting, everyone hurries here, everyone wants to work the first day”
Ringenoldus also says this year in particular, they have put new snow machines on their hills, capable of putting out more power and more snow.
He says a total of around 1 foot needed to open each slope.
As for Schmitz, he says they’re hoping that the temperatures stay on colder side for all those die hard winter sports lovers
“In spring people can’t wait to get they’re golf clubs out, in Fall they can’t wait to get their skii’s out”
If the temperatures remain favorable for snow making, Schmitz says Friday should be busy on the slopes.
