Businesses feel impact of late spring

MONCTON – Maritime businesses say the late spring weather has been impacting their bottom line.

At Mike’s Bike Shop in Dieppe, staff sell seasonal sports equipment and clothing.

Its president and CEO says the weather has been bringing lots of customers through their doors.

“Its driving business like crazy. Ski conditions are very good for cross country and downhill. The ski hills are still all open and people are still out buying strong,” said Rick Snyder. “Snowshoes and cross country skis right now are really the two hot, hot things.”

The long winter helped Elyse Burchill decide to buy a snowboard at the shop.  She says its been a great year on the slopes.

“I love it,” she said. “The more I can get out, the better.”

Children have also been taking advantage of the snow.

At Centennial Park, Mohammad Alqadi, 11, tries sliding down one of its big hills.

“We went skiing a couple of weeks ago, although this year it was hard so we could not make any snowmen, ” he said.

But not everyone is happy with the weather. Others say it’s been a long spring and its time for the snow to melt away.

At Casino New Brunswick, exhibitors at the Atlantic Golf Expo say summer can’t come soon enough.

Bob Hussey is the manager of golf course concessions at the Keltic Lodge Spa and Resort, and says golf course operators want to get back to business.

“It’s been a long hard winter,” he said.  “It started early – it’s hanging on as long as it can and we’re just ready to go.”

Golfers are also anxious to get outside.  Ken Greenwood says they’ve been practicing on fake greens long enough.

“I’ve got a putting green that I’ve been practicing on down in my basement. That’s where I’ve been practicing on for probably an hour a night,” he said. “I am really anxious for the nice weather to hit just so I can get out, enjoy the fresh air and play some golf.”