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Some nordic ski centers open early

Mount Van Hoevenberg, North Creek Ski Bowl start season today

The state Olympic Regional Development Authority’s Michael Battisti tries out the groomed ski trails at Mount Van Hoevenberg on Dec. 2, 2013, another year when the facility opened earlier than usual — Nov. 29 that year. (Enterprise photo — Andy Flynn)

LAKE PLACID — The Mount Van Hoevenberg Nordic Center in Lake Placid and the Ski Bowl in North Creek open today for the 2017-18 winter season.

Mount Van Hoevenberg’s Snowfactory has been making snow since early October, and visitors can expect 1 kilometer of skiing on the Mini Loop, on a 24-inch base.

The Snowfactory can produce snow in temperatures as high as 60 degrees.

“It’s exciting to be opening this soon,” said Mount Van Hoevenberg Program Manager Kris Cheney-Seymour. “Traditionally, the center eyes a mid-December opening day; however, the Snowfactory technology has helped put down a good base of snow, and our hope is Friday is the first day of more than 140 days of operations this winter.”

The staff at the North Creek Ski Bowl have been making snow when temperatures have allowed, since Nov 9 and will open with 1.5 kilometers of skiing on a 6- to 12-inch base. Additional kilometers of skiing may be added before the end of the weekend.

The Snowfactory begins making snow on Oct. 3 this year at the Mount Van Hoevenberg Nordic Center near Lake Placid. (Enterprise photo — Andy Flynn)

“People refer to the Ski Bowl as a ‘hidden gem,'” added Gore General Manager James Bayse. “Last winter when other nordic centers were struggling with keeping snow, the nordic center stepped up and hosted several events. In a very short time, the Ski Bowl has earned a reputation as a must-ski destination, and we’re all proud of that.”

Single day tickets at Mount Van Hoevenberg are $20 for adults, $18 for teens and seniors and just $12 for juniors and skiers over 70 years old.

At the Ski Bowl, tickets are available for $16 for visitors ages 13 to 69, $8 for skiers ages 7 to 12 and only $12 for skiers 70 and older.

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