SASKATOON - Old Man Winter has presented plenty of surprises this winter that, at times, have challenged seasonal outdoor recreation venues. However, Saskatoon’s Optimist Hill is making the most of a favourable forecast for the first week of April by extending their season by several days.
The end of the season at this Saskatoon ski hill was slated for March 29 with the annual Slush Cup year-end celebration. Mother Nature decided to deliver another snowstorm event the last weekend in March which resulted in Optimist Hill changing the date of Slush Cup to April 5.
Additionally, the ski hill announced through their social media that they would offer more dates opening of April 2-4 from 4 to 9 p.m. each day.
A number of questions were presented on their Facebook post questioning the change of hours as a result of the Mar. 28-29 winter weather, with Optimist Hill responding, “Everyone...we have no protection as snow does not fall straight down, accumulating where we want it. There was also freezing rain that damages snow...what little we have left. If you have been following the weather apps, they change every hour and we are trying to give as much notice as we can. We are currently grooming the hill so it is SAFE and usable and that takes time."
User safety is one of the venue’s top priorities. Their website states, “In keeping with our mission to bring out the best in kids, we want to be able to provide safe access to all of the amenities at Optimist Hill, including skiing, snowboarding, and tubing. There is no other place in this community to access these types of outdoor winter activities all in one place.”
