Published: Dec. 28, 2017
OOOO, BABY
It’s cold outside, but that doesn’t stop skiers and tubers
at Sunburst and Little Switzerland
By NICHOLAS DETTMANN
ndettmann@conleynet.com 262-306-5043
TOWN OF KEWASKUM — The sun was out. That was good enough for
Kewaskum’s Jennifer Finger and her children Caleb, 12, and Caitlin, 10.
Never mind temperatures hovered at or below-zero Wednesday
throughout Washington County and the state.
“It was going to be cold all week and this was the day that
worked best,” Finger said, sitting next to her children who were sharing a cup
of hot chocolate inside the chalet at Sunburst Winter Sports Park.
Sunburst and Little Switzerland in Slinger were open for the
public Wednesday despite the bitterly cold temperatures.
DJ Burns, director at Sunburst, said he wasn’t surprised to
see people at the hill despite the cold.
“Skiers, snowboarders and tubers really have a passion for
winter-time activities,” Burns said. “It’s great exercise; it’s a great social
event.”
The cold, no matter how cold, isn’t deterring
people from hitting the slopes. Finger said her son, Caleb,
asks every day if they can go skiing.
“It’s fun,” Caleb said.
Jennifer added the family goes several times a year as long
as schedules and conditions align in order to stay active during the winter.
This year, area resorts such as Sunburst and Little
Switzerland opened several weeks earlier than usual. Burns said Sunburst opened
three weeks before Thanksgiving, one of its earliest opening days.
“We’ve had a fantastic start to the 2017-18 season,” Burns
said.
This is despite a lack of natural snow.
According to data from the Wisconsin State Climatology
Office, snow totals in southeastern Wisconsin have been below the 30-year
average of 46.9 inches in each of the last three years and five of the last
six.
In 2013-14, the region received nearly 64 inches of snow,
the lone year in the last six to be above the average. So far in the 2017-18
winter season, the region is about 5 inches below the average for this time of
the year.
From 2007-11, the Milwaukee region received more snow than
the average three times. In some years, the totals were well above the average.
In the 2007-08 season, Milwaukee got 99 inches of snow, the second-most on
record, according to the Wisconsin State Climatology Office. The following year
produced 76 inches.
Last year’s 38 inches was the fewest since 30 inches in
2011-12. The lack of natural snow doesn’t appear to be playing a factor on the
local ski resorts as it may be perceived.
Burns said Sunburst’s attendance is growing, on average,
12.5 percent in each of the last five years. Technology is a reason why.
Sunburst, like most ski resorts, can produce its own snow through machines.
“In the last two winters, we were lacking in natural snow
fall,” Burns said. “However, with the quadrupling of the snow-making
capabilities here at Sunburst within the last five years under the new
ownership and management team, we have more than ample snow.”
Last year, Sunburst hosted a U.S. Ski Association race in
December about a week after temperatures hovered close to 70 degrees. Burns
said the feedback from the coaches in that race was that of high praise, very
high praise. They couldn’t believe the pristine condition
the hill was in following the rapid reversal in
temperatures.
“The magic temperature is typically 28 degrees Fahrenheit,” Burns
said, adding low humidity is a key when making snow.
One of the companies Sunburst works with in producing the
snow also produced snow for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.
While it doesn’t hurt to have a mix of natural snow, it’s
not necessary. It could be argued that ski hills in the Midwest fare better
than those destination places, such as in the Rockies.
The reason, Burns said, is because most of those types of
resorts rely heavily on natural snow fall. Without that, the resorts struggle.
Burns said he knew of several resorts that were closed for
extended periods because of the lack of snow. But places like Sunburst, Little
Switzerland and others in the Midwest, especially ones armed with snow-making
machines, do better and are open far more frequently. They don’t rely on
natural snow.
“We don’t need any (natural) snow,” Burns said. “What
ends up happening is people don’t come out and think we have
snow unless they see snow in their own backyards.”
What snowstorms, no matter how big or small they are, do is
just wakes people up to say, “It’s time to go skiing.”
The only challenge the lack of natural snow presents,
according to Rob Friedl, Sunburst CEO, is it makes the seasons shorter.
“As long as we’re cold, we can manufacture all the snow we
need,” he said. “People are starting to understand ski areas can get themselves
covered.”
Because of that, ski resorts appear to be faring well.
“I think it’s positive,” Friedl said. “I have to say overall
it’s positive. I’d have to say there are some large changes in the industry.
What we’re seeing is baby boomer is moving out of the ski scene and the
millennials are taking to it.”
No comments:
Post a Comment