Mild winter has cross-country skiers stuck in their tracks

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This article was published 07/02/2024 (597 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Unseasonably mild temperatures have cross-country ski enthusiasts stuck in their tracks this winter.

The stretch of fair weather has quickly melted away the snow and any hope of running scheduled community events. On Monday, the Cross Country Ski Association of Manitoba postponed its provincial championship to March 23-24.

The competition was originally scheduled for Saturday and Sunday at the Birch Ski Area west of Carman and was expected to draw more than 100 skiers from across the province.

“With an event, you’re inviting a whole bunch of people to an area and people are coming from long distances. So, you can’t wait until the very last minute because they have to make a decision early,” said Karin McSherry, the association’s executive director.

There needs to be at least a 10-centimetre snow base to even consider hosting the championship, McSherry said. Winnipeg and many of its surrounding areas have been well below that for much of the season, and it has taken a toll on outdoor winter enthusiasts such as skiers, snowboarders, ice skaters and snowmobilers.

“It’s been very difficult,” McSherry said. “You can ski, it’s not like it’s impossible to ski or it’s not like there’s not other places in the province to ski. In fact, Turtle Mountain and Riding Mountain, they have a lot of snow.

“But if you live in the Winnipeg area, it’s been depressing.”

McSherry said the CCSAM has been forced to cancel “pretty much everything that’s on (their) calendar” to this point, including a weekly race series on Wednesday evenings at the Windsor Park Nordic Centre, which is closed until more snow falls.

The month of March might not be any better for snow, but that’s a risk the organization needs to take at this point.

“There’s other events on our calendar already in March so that’s one factor in making it that late in March. It’s not unusual for there still to be snow and the possibility of it being much better than it is now is possible, but it’s definitely very late,” McSherry said. “We’re at the whim of Mother Nature, so the weather will be what the weather will be and we just gotta roll with it.”

Four hours west of the provincial capital, the downhill ski hub of Asessippi Ski Resort has managed the unseasonable stretch thanks to its snow-making ability.

“Whatever Mother Nature can provide, great, but that never gives us a big enough base,” said Shannon Johnston, assistant manager of the resort. “They designed the hill so that it’s north facing, so it can survive some warmer temperatures, it doesn’t get the afternoon sun as bad. They planned it this way in the build to survive spring.”

Asessippi, a popular destination for Manitoba skiers and snowboarders, strives to pack nearly a metre of snow around the area. A mild October meant they couldn’t begin making snow until mid-November and didn’t finish until Jan. 22, weeks later than usual.

Johnston said crews managed to build enough of a base to open Dec. 15 — the resort’s usual opening — and that it’s been crucial to take advantage of colder weather by making snow. During peak snow-making periods, the machine will run 24 hours a day.

“If it (drops) below -20 and we’re snowmaking, it just pumps out the snow and it’s beautiful snow — you’re not gonna turn it off, right?” she said.

Because of the uncertainty of conditions, some weekends are busier than others.

“We definitely are getting calls, ‘Do you guys still have snow? Will you be open next week?’” Johnston said.

Closer to Winnipeg, the Springhill Winter Park at the north floodway — which also makes snow — has also survived the mild temperatures. While calls to the office weren’t returned, Springhill’s website indicates the sports park has been in operation but was closed Tuesday through Thursday this week. It reopens for business again Friday.

jfreysam@freepress.mb.ca

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