Mother nature keeps ski hills from opening

Two ski resorts near Calgary have been forced to postpone their planned openings this weekend.

Sunshine Village Ski Resort and Fortress Mountain had hoped to open, but there isn't enough snow.

Sunshine marketing director, John Ross, says the resort depends solely on mother nature because it has no man-made snow making machines. Ross says there's a good base, but one more snowstorm is needed before it lets skiers on the hill.

"We look at November 11th as a tentative opening date to get staff hired so we're ready just in case conditions are there, it doesn't happen every year, we have to be prepared for that" says Ross. Sunshine opened on November 7th last year.

Fortress Mountain spokesperson, Jennifer Ludee, says the crews are on the hills putting in long hours. "Our snow guns are going day and night so we're getting lots of good man-made snow qnd really hoping we can open next weekend" says Ludee.

However, Lake Louise is open with limited conditions. It's hosting the World Cup Men's Downhill and Super G races next weekend.

Canada Olympic Park in Calgary is has aleady opened for business thanks to its snow-making machines.

EXPECTED OPENINGS FOR OTHER ALBERTA SKI RESORTS:

* Fortress Mountain - Nov 24th * Wintergreen - Nov 25th * Mount Norquay - Dec 1st * Marmot Basin - Dec 1st * Nakiska - Dec 8th * Castle Mountain - Dec 8th