Ski hills opening early in Barrie

Horseshoe Resort in Barrie and Mount St. Louis Resort in Coldwater, Ont. welcomed their first skiers and snowboarders of the season Saturday — an early start after what was a disappointing season last year.

“Last year was one of the worst years for outdoor winter tourism,” said Jonathan Reid, general manager for Horseshoe Resort. “We’re super happy to be up and running early. A great start coming up to the holiday season.”

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The hills at Horseshoe were busy with boarders and skiers who were looking forward to a long season ahead.

“We were super excited for this day. Last year we started snowboarding in January, and this year we’re starting in the beginning of December,” said snowboarder Beck Newby.

“We’re getting going early and we’re looking forward to it right until the end of March,” said visitor Patricia Branden.

READ MORE: Environment Canada calling for 10 to 15 cm of snow in Southern Ontario

Weather experts are predicting a colder than usual winter this year, making for perfect conditions for those looking for fresh powder on the slopes.

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It would be a stark contrast to last year when milder temperatures forced some resorts to open their summer attractions in December.

WATCH: Warm weather forcing Blue Mountain Resort to open its summer attractions

“It was just too warm. Too much El Niño. We had warm breezes and you couldn’t get any established snow,” said  Dave Phillips, Senior Climatologist with Environment Canada.

“When it turned cold it lasted two or three days and we just didn’t have a lot of snow.”

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Phillips says the “prospects look good” for a white Christmas this year.

Horseshoe Resort says they’ve invested around $6 million in winter operations, including a new high-speed, six-person chairlift.

“You’re not going to stand in line when you’re here. You’re going to get a lot of great skiing in,” said Reid.