Every winter, skiers and snowboarders anxiously await the first snowfall of the season. Buffalo winter enthusiasts this year faced a dry November - the first time in the history of the city when there was no measurable snowfall in November - preventing local ski resorts from opening until late last month when a major snowstorm finally hit Western New York, dropping 82.3 inches of snow on the Queen City.
The record-breaking snowfall in November 2000 gave the skiing industry a jumpstart that allowed many resorts to open before Thanksgiving. Preseason tickets sales spurred by last season's snowfall may have kept many local ski lodges afloat during this year's dry pre-holiday season.
Despite the absence of a typical Buffalo winter, local ski resorts and UB's own Schussmeisters Ski Club are not reporting any losses as of yet.
According to Schussmeisters club member Keith Falgiano, this season has gone well so far and membership is not down despite the delayed snow.
"The snow has not been working with us due to the fact that the first major snowfall came over winter break," said Falgiano.
Jane Eshbaugh, marketing director at Holiday Valley, is reluctant to use the term "late start" to describe their Dec. 22 opening, despite the fact that this season marked the resort's second-latest opening in history.
Last season's unusual abundance of snow made it possible for most resorts to open by Thanksgiving, enabling them to gain extra revenue from the holiday weekend. This money was then turned over to upgrading facilities and purchasing snowmaking equipment.
According to Eshbaugh, the 60 snow-making hydrants and 50 tower guns Holiday Valley purchased last year are being used this season to compensate for the lack of snowfall.
Other resorts opened even later than Holiday Valley this year after Thanksgiving came and went without a drop of snow.
Kissing Bridge, whose 126-day season last year was the longest in 20 years, advises skiers through their Web site not to "be misled if there's no snow in your backyard" because they are located on the Colden Snow Belt, meaning it could be sunny and mild in Buffalo and still blizzard-like at the resort.
Kissing Bridge adds that even if Mother Nature is not providing snow, the resort's "extensive snowmaking capacity" ensures that the slopes will be covered all season.
Delayed openings and limited snow accumulation have done little, though, to dampen the spirits of local resorts.
"Things are going very well this season," said Eshbaugh. "We were able to open just in time for Christmas. Right now we're experiencing the normal January thaw but we're looking forward to colder weather and more snow soon."
Schussmeisters has not reported financial damage from the green November this season, as anticipation sparked by last year's conditions translated into healthy membership rosters this fall. If Buffalo does not see a white February, however, the negative effects of this season may be felt in next year's fall semester sales.
