‘One hell of a blessing’: Winter recreation businesses cashing in on early-season snow

While it’s early in winter, the bursts of significant snowfall culminating with Tuesday’s storm are game-changing for Minnesota businesses and winter promoters that thrive on it.

Excitement about the snow so far is tangible at Ollie’s Service, a motorsports and equipment dealer in Alexandria, Minn., where snowmobiling rules.

Ollie’s has sold 35 new Ski-Doo snowmobiles in the last three weeks — as many as the last two winter seasons combined, said general manager Brad Noetzelmen. A new sled, on average, is $15,000.

“It’s one hell of a blessing,” Noetzelmen said. “People are happy and excited.”

The weather also has driven in longtime customers to get new carburetors or other service on their old sleds. They also are coming to the shop for the camaraderie of its traditional Wednesday rides, which will pick up on some of Alexandria’s hundreds of miles of trails.

The cold temperatures that have helped to produce the snow are encouraging, too.

Freezing lakes combined with snow have created excellent conditions and access for Wintergreen Dogsled Lodge in Ely, said founder and guide Paul Schurke.

The lodge has seen a recent increase in trip inquiries. They are mixing with repeat customers, champing to get into the wilderness. The lodge typically guides about 700 customers in winter.

“Folks are just missing it,” he said. “There is enthusiasm in the air.”

The timing and level of cold temperatures and snow are giving Cook County an early jump on winter sports, said a tourism official.

“We can start grooming skiing and snowmobiling trails earlier than we would,” said Kjersti Vick, Visit Cook County marketing director.

The cold weather also has helped Lutsen Mountains ski resort make snow. The resort has new equipment firing on Moose Mountain, expanding the possibilities for early-season skiers, Vick said. Some Moose Mountain runs could open this weekend.

Luke Skinner, associate superintendent at Three Rivers Park District, said the bump was the result of a “backyard effect.” Snow on the ground brings out the casual winter sport participant. And Hyland Hills hasn’t had natural snow when it opened the last two seasons.

Hyland Hills’ Nordic trails, which opened Dec. 6, are busier, too. After Tuesday’s dumping, trails are open and groomed across the park district’s system. Skinner anticipates even more people getting out to ski — and getting out in other ways, like snowshoeing and fatbiking.

“We are getting lots of calls and interest, especially about natural snow activities,” Skinner said.

The weather is well-timed. The park district’s all-day Nordic Ski Opener event is Saturday at Elm Creek Park Reserve in Maple Grove. It features free ski gear rental and lessons.

For all the excitement, the group representing thousands of the state’s snowmobilers encouraged caution. State snowmobile trails officially opened Dec. 1, but not all are groomed, and some still need maintenance or have areas, like swamps, that need a hard freeze, said Scott Wakefield, board member and past president of the Minnesota United Snowmobilers Association (MnUSA).

“We’ve got to get our fund back up,” he said. “Clubs will be out grooming, and grooming costs money.”

Wakefield said snowmobilers’ excitement is genuine, but it might be short-lived. He said a recent presentation to the group by a DNR climatologist focused on the mercurial nature of a La Niña effect that is likely making this winter colder — so far. However, the La Niña is weak, making its impact less certain.

Wakefield’s takeaway and the message to group members: