NL

Marble Mountain sets goal of Boxing Day opening

Marble Mountain ski resort hopes to be open by December 26, if snow keeps coming.

Ski resort saw troubles in recent years

Recent snow means a good base, and with more snow forecast, the ski resort is hoping for an earlier-than-usual opening. (Colleen Connors/CBC)

The Marble Mountain ski resort says if Mother Nature keeps bringing snow and sunny skies, the facility will be open on Boxing Day.

"If we keep getting the snow and the conditions we have been getting the past few weeks, It's shaping up to be a very good winter," said Melissa Dwyer, general manager at the Steady Brook resort.

"If the weather stays the same, and if we can get our snow guns producing on a regular basis, then yes we should be open on December 26th."

Melissa Dwyer is new to the job of general manager at Marble Mountain in Steady Brook. (Colleen Connors/CBC)

That's early for the resort, which has had trouble in recent years with spotty snow and equipment problems — including a lightning strike.

Some enthusiastic skiers and snowboarders can't wait for the official opening and have made their own trails, something Dwyer warned against.

The grooming machines and snow-making guns are all out, to get ready for a Dec. 26 start. (Colleen Connors/CBC)

"We do have ski patrol working, but they are getting ready, making the mountain safe, currently adding tower pads to the mountain and doing their safety checks. So for the time being, we ask people to say off the mountain until we open," she told CBC News on Thursday.

With files from Colleen Connors