BURNSVILLE, Minn. — This time of year, skiers and snowboards become antsy, but staff at Buck Hill say predictions for nice weather ahead is actually bittersweet.
Buck Hill is a business that relies on snow, so there's a downside to 50 degrees. However, it does give staff more time to get ready for the season.
"It also allows us to prepare for snowmaking," said Matt Gustafson, the director of marketing for Buck Hill.
On the bright side, Gustafson said the warm temps give his team a few more weeks to work on their new ski lift, replacing their main lift that was nearly 50 years old.
"It allows more people to be in the air than standing in line, which is great," said Gustafson. "But everyone's kind of just anticipating, getting excited and really waiting to turn those snow guns on and open the resort."
Gustafson said the usual goal is to open for the season the week of Thanksgiving, but he suspects it may be pushed back a tad.
On the other hand, golfers are certainly embracing warmer temperatures.
Baker National Golf Course reopened Wednesday, in hopes the weather will hold for up for another week — or more — of play.
"If you can golf in November, and also get in in April, winters are not quite as long," said Jeff May, the golf outing coordinator at Baker National Golf Course.
They, too, have to get the course ready for winter, and these temperatures allow them to get ahead.
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