THUNDER BAY -- Even though the city has not yet been blanketed by snow one local ski hill is jumping ahead to the winter season.
Loch Lomond officially opened for business this weekend, with artificially created snow covering what would otherwise be bare hills.
New co-owner Grant Brodeur said this is one of the earliest openings for an area ski hill in recent memory, with weather actually cooperating despite not actually receiving any snow.
“Without the cold temperatures the crew wouldn’t have been able to make the snow,” he said Sunday afternoon with a hill full of skiers and snowboarders just behind him.
All of the powder on the runs was artificially created, taking an exhausting amount of effort from the grooming crews.
Brodeur, who along with Jason Gerry took over ownership of the facility in the fall, said getting an early start to the season makes a strong statement about the future direction of the hill.
“To be able to deliver a ski hill on Nov. 15 is a great thing,” he said. “People can see all the changes and things we’re going to be doing is going to be a positive.”
Northrop Johnston was one skier who was taking advantage of the early season.
“These are unbelievable conditions. It’s been really cool to get out and rip,” he said.
Johnston, who is a student at Lakehead University, is an FIS level competitor who is accustomed to having to travel to get a head start on his training.
Being able to do it while staying at home is a huge advantage.
“It means I can sit in class and catch my lecture at noon, come on out and hit some training under the lights and then go back for the evening,” Johnston said.
Brodeur and Gerry brought in Olympic skier Robbie Dixon for their annual fundraising dinner and to kick off the season.
Dixon said the city, which was the home of fellow Olympians Jason Myslicki and Amber Peterson, has a reputation as a strong ski community.
“There’s a rich history with one of the Crazy Canucks from here,” Dixon, who competed in the 2010 Games in Vancouver, said. “My time here in the last four days meeting lots of people and hearing their stories, and for them to enjoy skiing and ski racing, is really cool.”
The biggest sign that the run was in good shape was the number of people making repeated trips down the hill.
“If people are taking more than one run on their first day that means the snow conditions are good and they’re out having a good time,” Brodeur said. “Usually on the first couple of days the snow has the consistency of marbles because it’s more frozen ice but the guys did a great job with the groomer.”
Brodeur said the hill plans to introduce two new runs later in the season.
