Season Melting Away?

Andalusia, IL, January 29, 2006: The ski season may have opened with a historic bang but January’s warm spell has people asking “is the ski season melting away?” Ski Snowstar has seen 31 consecutive day’s this winter of above normal temperatures. Although December started off with an early cold spell that included below normal snowmaking temperatures and a handful of snowfalls, the New Year took an unseasonable turn with average temperatures of 20 degrees above normal and rain.

Ed Meyer, General Manager at Ski Snowstar Winter Sports Park knows every spike and drop of the temperatures so far this season. He also knows that the weather can play havoc on business, even if they have snow. According to Meyer, “No! The ski season is not melting away or even close to being over. The warm-up in January did set us back for a few days until we got a few nights of snowmaking. We’re open now and have been open thanks to the wonders of snowmaking and grooming. But to be honest, a quick look at the slopes makes me wonder if the enthusiasm to ski may have gone South for the winter.”

Not so according to Jim Bowman and his family who have been coming to Ski Snowstar regularly. “Winter is only here a short life of 10-12 weeks. I don’t want to miss out on any possible opportunity to ski. Yes, conditions will vary from time to time, but varied conditions make you a better skier and tend to eliminate lift lines.

Snowstar’s conditions according to Meyer have been quite good. In part from the early build up of snow base and from recent packed powder conditions (very dry natural or man-made compacted snow that is no more than 12 hours old). Snowstar enthusiasts tend to agree. Brad Ryan visited Snowstar recently and was surprised by the good conditions. Ryan commented “conditions were better than expected given the record breaking temps!” Denise McIntyre, also a recent visitor noted that “Snowstar’s determination is making up for Mother Nature’s poor performance”. Then there’s Kendra Wright, ”we drove three hours second-guessing ourselves the entire trip about whether Snowstar would have snow like they promised….Bingo they did and it was wonderful”.

The biggest challenge it seems at the moment for Snowstar is not the actual snow but the perception of the snow. “Even though the ski season is barely half over, some people have already taken skiing off their list of to-do’s this winter. It’s our job to re-build enthusiasm and remind everyone that we are open,” stated Meyer. Some of the ways that Snowstar is trying to rebuild early season momentum is by offering special discounted packages and unusual weekend events such as their Snowbound Beach Party Weekend on February 11th & 12th.

For more information about current conditions, upcoming events or special packages, visit their website at www.skisnowstar.com Snowstar Winter Sports Park has been serving Illinois since 1981. There are six lifts serving 14 runs, including numerous terrain features, and a snow tubing park on 28 acres. The Resort is celebrating their 25th Anniversary season this winter. The ski season runs December through March, weather and skier traffic permitting. The resort is nestled in Coal Creek Valley above the Mississippi River, only ten minutes from the Quad Cities just off IL Rt 92 in Andalusia.


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