ELLICOTTVILLE, NY (WKBW) — Ski resorts, like Holiday Valley in Ellicottville, are embracing colder temperatures and snow.
Holiday Valley posted on X Tuesday morning that snow-making could kickoff Thursday or Friday and opening day could be December 5 or 6.
(1) We’ve got exciting news as we gear up for the ski and snowboard season. Snowmaking could kick off as early as Thursday night or Friday, depending on the weather. at this time we’re targeting an opening day around December 5th or 6th. Night skiing is set to begin December 6th. pic.twitter.com/jgtJZooznr
— Holiday Valley (@holidayvalley) November 26, 2024
I traveled to Ellicottville to find out when you might be ready to hit the slopes.
@holidayvalley gets its first dusting of snow with hopes to start making snow next week. @WKBW #snow #ski pic.twitter.com/pcbLTfZHCi
— Eileen Buckley (@eileenwkbw) November 22, 2024
I spoke with Holiday Valley Marketing Director Dash Hegeman and Mountain Operations Director Jim Curtis about waiting for the right conditions to kick off a new ski and snowboarding season.
“Every year is different. Every winter is different,” remarked Jim Curtis.
"And we're kind of at Mother Nature's whim,” replied Hegeman.
If you're anxiously awaiting the start of the ski and snowboarding season, the first official light dusting of snow across the slopes at Holiday Valley is creating excitement.
“And being able to come into work this morning, first thing, seeing the snow on the ground was definitely something that cheered a lot of people up – got a lot of our fans excited on social media,” Hegeman noted.
“How excited are you to get everything going here for the season?” Buckley asked Curtis. “It would be nice to get everything rolling,” Curtis responded.
Curtis oversees the 60 slopes at Holiday Valley.
“Lifts, snowmaking, lights, grooming – we're in charge of everything out on the hill,” described Curtis.
Hegeman told me they're hoping to crank up their snow-making machine by next week since Mother Nature is not lending a big hand.
"We’ll have some nice windows of opportunity to make snow, especially at night," he said, with a hint of optimism. "Our snow-making team is fantastic and dedicated. They’re ready to get out there and start making snow.”
Curtis and his team are ready for it if the weather cooperates.
"Ideally, you’d love to have the ground frozen before you start, but it doesn’t usually happen that way. We’ve opened with all man-made snow before,” Curtis explained.
With all the mild weather Western New York has experienced this fall, even if 10 inches of snow fell right now, the slopes still would not be ready.
"If we got a bunch of snow today, the reality is the ground is still pretty warm and wet," says Hegeman. "Once you get a groomer on top of it, it just packs down a lot."
