By Staff
JONES – While many enjoy the warmer than average temperatures, the employees at Swiss Valley Ski Area in Jones want to trade in the T-shirts and shorts and put the snowmaking Carhartts on again.
Employees, wearing shorts and T-shirts, work diligently to prepare for any chance to fire up the snowmaking system. Many of the Midwest ski areas that would usually be booming with business during the holiday break are experiencing unseasonable weather that hasn't allowed for snowmaking.
The 2006/2007-ski season started with record-breaking skier visits the first weekend in December. Within one week, we began to experience rain, thunderstorms and temperatures above freezing for several days in a row. "All we need is 30 hours of temperatures in the mid 20s to turn our green grass into white skiable snow, we are ready with our finger on the trigger of the snow guns", said Jim Wiseman, General Manager of Swiss Valley for the past 38 years.
Swiss Valley is a "feeder" area to many of the northern and western ski resorts. Like many of the small ski areas in the Midwest, Swiss Valley introduces and "feeds" thousands of people to the sport of skiing and snowboarding each year. When the feeder ski areas are shut down it causes a ripple effect within the industry.
Jamie Stafne, Swiss Valley marketing manager and Jim Wiseman's daughter, has an attitude of optimism. "We can only hope that when we make snow or the snow comes from above, people start skiing for the season and don't stop until it is time to play golf in April."