Locals and visitors skied, biked and snowshoed with dogs and children in tow in wind gusts as high as 40 miles per hour on the clearings. Chamber President Jocelyn Law said the wind didn’t stop anyone from having fun. People traveled from far and wide to enjoy stouts, IPAs, lagers, ales and experimental brews.

The weather did stop the Tupper Lake Lion’s Club’s Fire and Ice Golf Tournament. Organizer Stuart Nichols said the wind kept contestants from showing up.

Law said after the event was cancelled last year because of the coronavirus pandemic, Brew-Ski “came right back” this year with a good turnout.

“Whatever we’re doing is great,” Law said.

Justin Tredeo, of In-Law Brewing in Chase Mills, hands a habanero stout to Chris Tierson at the Tupper Lake Brew-Ski on Feb. 19. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Cerbone)

She said the Chamber pre-sold around 1,000 tickets. With designated drivers and kids not in that total, she estimated that there were around 1,100 people on the trails Saturday.

Law was thankful for the trails crew — led by town Councilman John Gillis, who lives nearby — and she thinks they did a “magnificent job.” A thaw and heavy rain last week diminished the snow pack and created a layer of ice over the trails.

On Saturday, Gillis said his crew was out Friday grinding up the hard top layer into skiable snow, and that the couple inches the trails got as the weekend started helped, too.

Law said the approximately $20,000 raised by the event will be donated — some to cover event labor costs and other events, some to MACs Safe Ride, some to the town youth recreation department, a “large” donation to the volunteer trails crew and a donation to a family in town.

Chamber Event Coordinator Christine Day said the new online pre-sale of tickets this year made sales smooth. She also said she plans to pay breweries more to show up next year so they’ll bring more beer. There’s never enough, she said, and kegs kick before the event is over. This has been an annual issue for the growing event, but not a bad one to have, she said.

Ryan Wood, right, and Joe Lawlor of Northway Brewing reach over and under each other to hand off cups full of their beer at the Tupper Lake Brew-Ski on Saturday. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Cerbone)

She said the brewers, especially the ones new to Brew-Ski, loved the event. She hopes they’ll come back for a Brew Fest the Chamber is planning in the Municipal Park this summer.

Maple the dog jumps as Maya the dog and Natalie Carranza, center, look on. Carranza came to the Tupper Lake Brew-Ski on Saturday with friends from Canton and their three dogs in tow. The humans were enjoying Raquette River Brewing’s drinks. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Cerbone)

Maple the dog looks at a beer held by Natalie Carranza from Canton. Carranza traveled with friends to the Tupper Lake Brew-Ski on Saturday. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Cerbone)