Temperatures in the 50s on Saturday did not stop skiers and tubers from hitting the slopes at Crystal Ridge, bringing joy to both visitors and businesses. Rowan Goff, a Milwaukee resident, has been visiting Crystal Ridge in Franklin since he was 10. “It was a Christmas gift from my parents.
They got me lessons here, and I’ve just always come back,” Goff said. While he loves the atmosphere, he admitted that the warm temperatures felt slightly unusual for this time of year. “It’s a bit too warm for me,” Goff joked, remarking on the high of 53 degrees, which is 20 degrees above normal for late December.
For local ski hill operators, the unseasonably warm weather has provided a boost, especially during the holiday season. “It’s warmer than usual for December, but people are loving it,” Riley May, General Manager of Crystal Ridge, said. “The beginner snow is great, tubing has been busy all day, and it feels like spring out here.”
May also mentioned that this year’s start is much better compared to last season, which faced challenging conditions.
Warm temps bring spring-like slopes
“Last year was tough. We finished strong, but we had this kind of weather for three weeks straight,” May explained.
Last year, other winter sports venues like Sunburst Winter Sports Park in Kewaskum struggled with insufficient snow to keep the hills open for boarders. However, May said that Crystal Ridge’s business model relies heavily on their advanced snow-making system rather than on natural snowfall. With the right humidity and temperature, Crystal Ridge has built a solid snow base that should withstand the current thaw.
Other nearby resorts, like Little Switzerland in Slinger, have also reported excellent conditions thanks to these preparations. Hundreds of visitors took advantage of the beautiful day on Saturday, skiing, snowboarding, and tubing down the slopes. “It’s amazing.
I can’t wait to go again and again,” said Lola Pace, a Milwaukee native, with a smile. For more information on the ski hill conditions at Crystal Ridge, visit their official website or stay updated through local news and weather reports.
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