Ski hill ready for business

MARQUETTE — The snow has officially landed in the U.P. which means skiers and snow boarders are ready to hit the slopes.

Marquette Mountain is spreading the snow and waxing the skis to get ready for their season opening on Saturday. While this timing may seem like eternity for ski and snowboard enthusiasts, this is NOT the latest that the mountain has opened in the past.

After a slow start to the winter, the business is more than ready to get skiers on the mountain.

“This is a little bit later than most skiers, snowboarders, and employees here at the mountain would like to open but truthfully, it just gave us a little more prep time and better conditions for opening weekend,” said Marquette Mountain General Manager, Jesi Melchiori.

With more than 26 runs along with 9 back-country runs, there was plenty of work to be done.

“They have to make the snow and then on top of that, they have to go out and push all of the snow and groom it so all the conditions are good for the skiing and snowboarding,” said Melchiori.

Marquette Mountain will be open this weekend from 10 A.M. through 5 P.M. Regular season hours will begin on Thursday, December 15th. Beginning classes for children also kick of this weekend, with adult classes starting the first week of January.

While opening this late in the season can slightly alter business, it is typically made up for between skiers getting season passes and races held at the mountain.