Members belonging to Ski Venture, a family-oriented ski cooperative in West Glenville, were disappointed when this winter passed without enough snow to enjoy the small, local ski and snowboard area, but Monday’s spring snowstorm finally gave them the chance they’ve been waiting for.
Club President Frank Winters said the 2015-2016 winter was the first season in over 78 years where the Ski Venture didn’t run at all.
After snow covered the region Monday, with 4.3 inches in Albany, according to the National Weather Service, Winters said he started telling the 70 families who belong to the club that Ski Venture would be open Monday night.
“We need a lot less [snow] than any other ski areas I’ve ever heard of — we need somewhere in the order of 6 inches or so,” Winters said. “We were never covered enough to make it good this year. This is the first time.
“We’re starting around 6: 30, and I expect people to be there as late as 10 [p.m.],” he said Monday.
In operation since 1937, some families have been skiing and snowboarding at the Ski Venture for generations.
Not having the club open all winter was difficult, Winters said, but the members are grateful to several local ski areas that provide discounts for Ski Venture members, like Maple Ski Ridge in Rotterdam, Willard Mountain in Greenwich and others.
“I missed the skiing, but I missed the people even more,” Winters said. “Everything [at Ski Venture] is a pleasure. It’s a bunch of like-minded people that like to put some effort into what they’re doing … they’re helping out and doing their share. It’s a really neat community.”
Winters said depending on how the snow looks after Monday night’s run, they aren’t sure if the trails will be able to be groomed for a second night before the warmer weather comes back later this week.
“People get depressed in the winter with the long nights and all the darkness, but if you’re just able to get outside … skiing really changes the way you look at winter.
“This is a great way to end it,” he added.
For information about Ski Venture or getting on the membership waiting list, visit www.skiventure.org.
Reach Gazette reporter Kate Seckinger at 395-3113, [email protected] or @KateSeckinger on Twitter.
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