April 24, 2018 – Last October we reported on the Snowfactory coming to Lake Placid as the Mt. Van Hoevenberg Cross Country & Biathlon Center had seen success with the snowmaking technology and was ready for a full season of reliable snow conditions for their 35,000 skier visits. We checked in with Kris Seymour, Nordic program manager at Mt. Van Hoevenberg for an update.

Tell us your thoughts on how the season went with the SnowFactory in full operation?
Kris Seymour:  Mt. Van Hoevenberg has had a record number of skiing days this year with our first full season with the SnowFactory. Just three seasons ago we had a 39 days that we were open, this year was a very different reality.

What were your expectations and did the results meet or exceed them?
KS: Our operational goal this year was to have groomed skiing for 150 days. We started this season on Oct. 20 with the U.S. Paralympic Team with an on-snow camp,, provided all the snow for the NBC 100 Days Until the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics Celebration in New York City and our season began. The SnowFactory snow launched our season, poor weather provided a number of challenges, but on April 22 with will have been open for 157 days. We have exceeded our expectations.

What has been the reaction from skiers and the quality of the snow this time of year?
KS: Our March and April skiing has been nothing short of amazing this year. We are currently open with “mid-winter” conditions on 30k. The SnowFactory has kept us skiing this season in poor weather by allowing the stadium and connecting trails to stay open.

How long are you hoping to extend the season this year?
KS: Our hope was to hit 150 skier days and since passing that number everything is a bonus. Beyond the total number of days, the most amazing part is we have not run out of skiers. Our weekends have been busy and the weekdays have been steady. Season Pass holders have obviously enjoyed the extra days but destination skiers keep coming.

Were there any mechanical challenges that needed to be overcome or was it smooth sailing?
KS: We were free of mechanical issues this season but maintaining the snow is always an operational effort. Warm ups (reaching into the 60s on a few occasions) this winter forced us to be constantly rebuilding and maintaining our skiing. This is, of course, challenging in the coordination of programs, events and recreational skiing. There were many days this season that heavy equipment was a regular sight on the trails as snow was being moved to protect our trails. Mt. Van Hoevenberg is fortunate to have the management and staff support needed in equipment and skill to achieve these positive outcomes.

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