Skiers, businesses pleased with snow

COLDEN, N.Y. (WIVB) - Fresh snow has been bringing big business to local ski resorts.

Skier Brian O'Keeffe, from Colden, said, "Everybody is loving it out here. This is our time to shine and enjoy the winter."

After a great start to the season, in terms of snow accumulation, the warm ups and lack of snowfall started to take its toll at Kissing Bridge. But this latest round of winter weather was exactly what was needed to revitalize the season.

Mark Halter,  president of Kissing Bridge, said, "It has been a roller coaster with the weather department. With freeze, thawed, winter, lake effect snow and then followed by another thaw. Right now we are at one of the crests of winter right now."

At Kissing Bridge, they've been making as much snow as possible to keep skiers and snowboarders happy. But over the weekend, they received 36 inches of natural snow.

Halter said, "You can find areas out there that are five feet  deep with packed snow. You cam find other areas that are probably 12 inches of packed snow. So it varies right now until we can get it all spread out. But we're still making snow today and will continue to do so until we get the mountain to where we can figure it's just about right."

Local rental businesses have also been very pleased. The recent snow spike has certainly helped the trend dating back to last year's ski season.

Owner of Colden Ski and Board Shop Janet Dillsworth said, "Last season was really bad. We've been doing this 16 years, I'd have to say that was the worst season I can remember. Thank God it's been good. We've gotten our snow, but the up and down part is so hard."

The good news is conditions should stay favorable for the businesses. Workers at Kissing Bridge plan on making as much snow as possible over the next few days; which should make everyone here happy.