It’s time to play outside: the conditions in the ski area of Quebec are “magical”, even “exceptional”, thanks to the accumulation of snow in the last week representing the various resorts. The fans are there enjoying the games and the boats.
Some Quebec regions have experienced particularly suitable weather conditions for fall sports this winter, others less so. But one thing is certain: the snow that accumulated on Saturday – in the middle of spring in the light of all the students of the province – made the ski resorts happy.
“Snow falling, today among others” [samedi], it’s really magical,” marvels Josée Cusson, director of communications and marketing at the Association des stations de ski du Québec (ASSQ). “Families should be happy this snow to play outside and enjoy it,” he adds.
At Mount Sutton ski in the Eastern Townships, “around 11 am, it’s already accumulated 16 centimeters and it’s still snowing,” says Nadya Baron, marketing director. “I think half a meter of snow has accumulated in the last seven days. The area is 100% open and the conditions are really great! »
PHOTO JOCELYNE TRUDEAU, WHILE AT MONT SUTTON
Sutton ski mountain had received a large amount of snow last week.
The same story north of the St. Lawrence River, at Les Sommets de Saint-Sauveur ski in the Laurentians. “It’s really very beautiful, there was already a nice 15 centimeters of snow when I left. It is beautiful snow, new, light, and tomorrow will be better [dimanche] ” informs Christian Dufour, a salesman for the marketing station.
A smooth school break
Going to the ski slopes during the school break is sometimes an obstacle course, but not this year, note the various delegation consulted by La Presse.
That half of the students in Quebec were on vacation from February 27 to March 3 and counts the other following week into the equation, Ms. Cusson estimates. “It spreads the business,” he explains. People are there, but I don’t expect much there, unlike [à d’autres années]. »
In the sport time break accounts for about 30% of the commercial time in the ski resort, recalls Josée Cusson. Ontario students are expected in two weeks.
In Saint-Sauveur, Mr. Dufour also thinks that the mild weather, combined with good daily rolling conditions, helped to reduce the peak period. “It wasn’t such a full day at dusk that you’d pull your hair out,” he rejoices. For developers, it is much better. »
So fewer people on the slopes means less business, the various representatives argue. “So far the break is similar to last year, which was a good year,” reports Nadya Baron, of Mont Sutton. We are not breaking records, but they are there every day, the plot is reasonable, the conditions are really excellent, and what is more, it is not even cold! »
Uneven winter
Winter and ski conditions across the province have been uneven this year. At Charlevoix, Mont Grand-Fond, near La Malbaie, is on the track of the year. “It’s definitely the biggest season of the last ten years,” says Sébastien Tremblay, manager of the station.
“The business is very present, it continues beyond our plan. We have a season with plenty of snow, a very nice temperature that allows us to offer exceptional conditions to our customers. »
Since Saturday, the Mont Grand-Fonds station has calculated that it has received 350 centimeters of snow since the beginning of the season, Mr. Tremblay emphasizes, including 30 centimeters in the last seven days.
Similar conditions were observed in the Massif de Charlevoix, according to Isabella Vallee, head of communications and public relations. “We’ve had 70 centimeters of snow in the last few days and almost five meters of total accumulation since the beginning of the season,” he says. “It’s time to do the best, we know that the country is blessed with natural snow cover. There are five weeks left to enjoy that time!”
The heat and rain at the beginning of January had many concerns in the ski area. “It’s going to have a lot of traffic all the time, that’s for sure,” says Ms. Cusson, de ASSQ.
Some regions south of the St. Lawrence River, notably the Eastern Townships, will not benefit from the same conditions either because of temperatures that are either too mild or too cold, explains Ms. Cusson
“Yes, Mother Nature did not spoil us at the beginning of time, Ms. The Baron de Mont Sutton returns, but behind us! »
