Jan. 04, 2012 - Issue #846: Year in review

Surviving the lean years

In a boom and bust province, Sunridge finds formula for stability

Nature and industry merge at Sunridge Ski Area in strange and complementary ways. The lights of the refineries twinkle in the distance as the ghostly moan of a train echoes across the valley. Everywhere else on the horizon, the hillsides are covered in a hobo patchwork of bare brown vegetation and stale snow.


But here, true to the Edmonton region's industrious heritage, a hardworking crew of rustlers and technicians has found a way to provide an in-demand, resource-based commodity. From the top of the chairlift, a carpet of mostly man-made snow unfurls in cascading plunges and rolls of white.
Compared to last year's abundance, it's taken considerably more effort to get that snow in place, says Harold Weissenborn. "Last year we made 90 percent of our snow in 10 days," says the Sunridge general manager/co-owner. "This year it took us 45 days to complete the same amount of snowmaking."


It doesn't stop there either. "With the freezing rain and howling windstorms you basically have to go back and resurface the snow," he laments. Whereas groomers leave fresh snowfall ungroomed on everything but the green runs when conditions are good, so far this year, "We've had to groom 100 percent every day," he explains.


But the hard work is paying off with consistently smooth cruising on forgiving corduroy. All the rails, kickers and boxes are in place in the terrain park. And yet, business has tailed off somewhat since early season, Weissenborn reports.


"Because of the lack of natural snow, I don't think as many people are thinking winter activities," says Weissenborn. Just the presence of snow is a motivator, he suggests. "If they see snow in their backyard they want to go play in it."

Still, Weissenborn doesn't seem all that worried. Slender and bespectacled with sandy hair and a clean brush moustache, Weissenborn has an affable air that suggests he's not easily fazed.
Over 22 years, he's seen his fair share of ups and downs, like when the ski area first began planning installation of the chairlift in the early '90s. Situated in the Strathcona Science Provincial Park, Sunridge leases land from the Government of Alberta within the confines of a provincial park—a rare arrangement among Western Canadian resorts. But that presents its own challenges.


"It was difficult for us in those years ... the province seemed to be pulling out of recreation, there were some lean years and difficult negotiations," says Weissenborn. Eventually of course, the lift went ahead. It opened in 2008, nearly 20 years later—a testament to patience and perseverance. So perhaps it's unsurprising that Weissenborn is taking the current dearth of snow in stride.
It also helps that the area has diversified, adding a snow tubing park in recent years. "That's been very popular ... this year especially because you can't go tobogganing anywhere else."


Down below in the terrain park, a snowboarder gets air off the lip against a backdrop of icy North Saskatchewan River and bare, dry hills. Whether 2012 turns out lean or abundant, it seems you just have to know how to make the best of it.

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