PENINSULA, Ohio — It's a slushy but fast course at Boston Mills in Summit County, because fresh snow has been in short supply for the resort.
"Fresh powder is, like, really nice to glide on," 23-year-old snowboarder Chewy Chew says. "You can see that the [fake] snow they make, it's just a little but more slushy-like."
Chew tells us the staff at Boston Mills works hard to "make sure the conditions are necessary for you to have some sort of enjoyment," even though the region is currently down nearly 12 inches of the real white stuff this season. At times, it has not been easy for General Manager Jake Campbell and his crew.
"We don't quite rely on the natural snowfall; we do make snow at any opportunity we get when the temperature does drop," Campbell stated. "We cant make snow when it's 50 degrees. That was tough. The snow does melt quite a lot."
Boston Mills is the only area resort open so far, with nearby Brandywine as well as Alpine Valley in Chesterland both closed because there just isn't enough so. Even at Boston Mills, the longest slopes are shut down, although the main courses have been profitable since they keep replenishing the fake snow.
"We want snow to ski, but not really," Savanah Dempsey, a regular on the slopes, said. "I feel like you could still do it with this, but it's harder."
Snowboarder Kyle Hutchinson agrees, saying real snow would make things less complicated.
"This is very icy," he told us.
As for others like Chew, anytime outdoors is worth it.
"It's just about getting out here if this is what you want for yourself," he said.
Campbell says he and his staff are waiting for that big snow fall. For them, the season really begins in January and February.