Archive: Around Town

Are you worried that you won't get enough skiing time in this unusually mild winter?  Lansing Recreation Director Steve Colt isn't.  Colt says that the popular Rec Department program was delayed a week, but he expects to get all six sessions in before Spring.

"That's not rare.  We've delayed one, we've delayed two weeks and still gotten it in," he says.  "This winter is certainly not like any other.  We went last week with one of our larger turnouts for the middle and the high school in quite some time.  The bus was full.  We couldn't have taken anybody else.  I drove all the equipment in the Code Enforcement Office pickup truck.  That was packed.  We were lucky nothing fell off of it, and we had equipment in side the cab.  It's good, but it's a little nerve wracking.  You've got to make sure you don't hit a bump on the way over there."

Colt says that even with the mild weather, modern snow-making technology has created good conditions on the slopes this winter.  Ski resorts like Greek Peak routinely make snow to make up for uncertain weather.  Water is forced through snow cannons mounted on the slopes.  28° or lower temperatures are ideal for snow making, though it can be done at freezing temperature (32°).

The Town ski program is for kids from Kindergarten age through 12th grade.  It meets Wednesday afternoons for six weeks at Greek Peak Mountain Resort in Cortland County.  It's for skiers of all levels, and includes lessons as well as ski time.  Older kids ride a school bus, while the elementary school-age kids must find a ride.

"This year the elementary program is literally parent-driven," Colt says.  "That was because we were told there would be not available bus and driver for that group.  Half the parents in that program drive their kids over anyhow.  They ski.  They enjoy it.  And it's not bad to have the parents on-site with skiers that young."

Colt says kids can just go to ski, but he encourages them to take the lessons and improve their skills.  When they're ready to try a more challenging slope they go to a station to be checked out.  If they're really ready, and they go to the next 'sticker level'. 

"I like that because it encourages people to keep taking lessons and working on it," he says.  "So much of this is fun because it's very social, and it's a lifetime sport.  But nobody's so good that they don't need a lesson."

Colt says that while the program only lasts six weeks, the Wednesday ski pass is worth a lot more.

"The skiing pass the kids get for a Wednesday lesson is almost like a season pass," he explains.  "Its good for the six weeks that we go, but additionally it's good for every single Wednesday throughout the ski season until we get to March, when it opens up into a full blown season's pass.  If somebody liked what they did for six weeks and are in a routine and want to keep going, the card that they get through us is good for that skiing time slot throughout the remainder of the season.  And if they happen to sign up for rentals, they get that as well as the ticket for Wednesdays, as long as there's snow."

Meanwhile there are two sessions down and four to go.  The forecast for Monday and Tuesday is warm in the low 40s, but by Wednesday the temperature is expected to go back down to 31°.

"I have a feeling that we're going to get our winter," Colt says.  "It's going to start now, and we'll get through this."

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