After a promising start to the season, Quebec ski resorts are hoping to put a difficult holiday season behind them thanks to the cold weather forecast for the coming days.
Published at 1:29 am. Updated at 8:00 a.m.
After a “very nice month of December” in which it snowed, many of them had their game spoiled by the persistent rain just before Christmas, explains Josée, director of communications and marketing for the Quebec Cusson Ski Resorts Association.
While 60 to 70% of the ski area is normally open at this time of year, between Christmas and New Year the proportion was closer to 30 to 40%, depending on the ski area.
PHOTO JOSIE DESMARAIS, THE PRESS
However, some slopes on Mont Saint-Bruno remained closed due to lack of snow.
However, while some ski resorts are well equipped for artificial snowmaking, such as Bromont, Montérégie or Mont-Tremblant in the Laurentians, others do not have the necessary equipment to compensate for the lack of snow. naturally.
“In fact, thanks to the hard work of the operations team and an impressive fleet of snow cannons capable of operating in such conditions, the mountain currently offers 45 slopes with good sliding conditions on 4 slopes via the 14 open lifts,” confirmed the spokesman for the Mont- Tremblant.
“The ski areas that have less snowmaking equipment are more likely to be affected, as we have not had any major snowfalls in any of the regions at the moment,” confirms Josée Cusson.
Gloomy atmosphere, cold weather ahead
In addition, the gloomy atmosphere in the city has an impact on traffic in the ski areas, where some slopes are still open. “When we see grass in front of our house, we think there is no skiing there, so we fight that perception a little,” explains Josée Cusson.
PHOTO JOSIE DESMARAIS, THE PRESS
The cold weather forecast for the coming days is encouraging for the province's ski resorts.
Conditions are considered “spring” in most train stations in Quebec, but the picture could soon change. Temperatures forecast for the first few days of 2024 are expected to be colder, according to Environment Canada.
In Montreal, for example, highs next week will fluctuate between 2 and -5°C, while the mercury drops to -12°C. ” Out of [de samedi]“Snow production has returned on most of the slopes, making it possible to cover the slopes and increase the ski area day by day,” explains Josée Cusson.
In addition, ski resorts are increasingly investing in automated facilities with buried pipe systems that allow them to produce snow as soon as conditions are suitable.