Southern Ontario ski destinations fight Mother Nature and public perception amid warmer temperatures

As ski destinations across southern Ontario contend with an unusually warm and low-snow year, some cross-country destinations are being forced to consider making their own snow to preserve business while downhill attractions say their biggest challenge is a "perception problem."  

At Snow Valley Ski Resort in Minesing, Ont., where skiers whipped down snow-covered ski hills Monday, some of the snow is real, and some is made by the resort.

But even though the destination can make its own snow, Snow Valley general manager John Ball says some people in larger cities like Toronto might not realize skiing is a go amid the warmer temperatures.

"We have some natural snow as well as the snow that we make. We've been able to have a great surface," he said. "Some of it is perception."

It's a similar situation at Horseshoe Resort in Barrie, Ont.

"Our biggest challenge is communicating to the people in Toronto and Toronto areas that there is still snow on the slopes," said CEO Jonathan Reid. "It's changing that mindset when they look at the window of green grass, that there's still great skiing to be on."

Horseshoe has made snow to maintain its slopes, but doesn't have the same capacity for its cross-country offerings across the road, which have suffered all season and were closed Monday due to conditions.

"We're probably down at least 50 per cent," Reid said of cross-country skiing visitors this year.

Some cross-country spot considering snow-making

That has the resort seriously considering investing in snow-making for cross-country trails to insulate that side of the business the way it has the downhill business, he said.

And it's not alone.

As snow seasons become shorter, some cross-country skiing businesses that typically don't have the same resiliency of nearby downhill destinations, are being forced to consider what their future offerings look like and if snow-making should be in their future as well. 

Mansfield Outdoor Centre, southwest of Barrie, Ont., is among them.

Mansfield offers cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and fat biking in the winter months. But facility manager David Dingeldein says it's seen half the number of cross-country skiers this year compared to last.

Despite a great Family Day weekend, the destination closed its ski trails after just a few days when temperatures warmed. And Dingeldein fears the pause in cross-country skiing might be the end of the season there.

"The season is becoming shorter. It's starting later, it's ending earlier and it's less consistent through the winter," said Dingeldein.

Operators 'resilient,' says association president

The challenging weather has hurt the business through lost revenue from ski rentals, food sales and group bookings, he says. Still, it's done all it can to diversify its revenue stream by encouraging people to come up to the property for other offerings. Fat biking trails have been a saving grace, he says.

Typically the destination welcomed visitors to its ski trails until the end of March Break.

But with no significant snowfall in the forecast and warmer than usual temperatures on tap, he says, that's not likely this year. 

"It's doubtful that the cross country trails will reopen."

Despite the challenges, however, Kevin Nichol, president of the Ontario Snow Resorts Association, which represents dozens of alpine ski resorts and Nordic facilities in the province, says operators are "a resilient bunch."

He says operators will keep adapting and several more may become "snow farmers."

"These winters aren't helpful when Mother Nature doesn't provide," he said. "But I don't anticipate that there's going to be any insolvency happen out of this."