The snowy weather might cause frustration for Saskatoon drivers, but for skiers and snowboarders, there’s nothing better than fresh snow.
Maxine Tebbe, general manager of Optimist Hill, said heavy snowfall actually encourages people to hit the slopes.
“How often, in the middle of Saskatoon, do you get the opportunity to ride on fresh powder?” she asked.
Even on a slower day, Tebbe said the hill will see anywhere from 700 to 2,500 visitors. The hill will typically have four or five ski and snowboarding instructors working each day, Tebbe added.
Tebbe said the snowfall has caused some difficulties with road accessibility, but there are already tracks in the road allowing others to access the hill with their vehicles.
The heavy snowfall definitely didn’t stop Saskatoon snowboarder Max Waslen, who was embracing the winter weather.
“It’s nice having a hill close by,” he said, adding he doesn’t have to drive far to the hill. In fact, the only thing stopping him would be extremely cold weather.
“The -40 C can get a little chilly out,” he said.
Although the staff at Optimist Hill look forward to lots of snow, Tebbe said they also watch out for extreme weather.
“We make sure that when there is an extreme cold warning out that we are not open,” she said.
Optimist Hill is open daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Lift passes start at $19 for adults.