Kelly Canyon Hopes Snow Will Bring Biz

This week’s weather is great news for local ski resorts after a tough few months of below-average snowfall and business.

Austin St. George got a lesson in snowboarding on Friday afternoon. It was love at first slide for the California boy.

“Just the feeling you get as you’re going down. You feel like you’re floating, just gliding across,” said St. George.

There was plenty of smooth sailing at Ririe’s Kelly Canyon Ski Resortm thanks to a couple of inches of fresh powder that fell on Thursday.

Climbing 1,000 vertical feet of sparkling white mountain on a snowmobile, it was hard to imagine a ski slope any other way.

“Its not been too good,” said instructor Brandon Youngstrom. “Pretty windy, not much snow. I’m glad we finally got some.”

Assistant Mountain Manager Todd Martin said there’s nothing like fresh powder, especially during a tough season.

“Ah, there’s no other feeling like it,” said Martin. “It’s just you and the elements and whoever you’re skiing or snowboarding with. There’s nothing like it.”

Martin said this year’s lack of snow in the valley has left many people thinking Kelly Canyon isn’t even open.

“We’re very lucky to have more snow than most resorts in the state. We’re just one of two or three even open and we’re going to stay open,” said Martin. “As long as we have snow, we’re going to stay open.”

With more snow predicted overnight, Martin was hoping the lifts will be full on Saturday.

“We want everybody to come up, as quick as they can!” he said.

Officials at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort said they had 3 feet of fresh snow, and are expecting another 30 to 40 inches.