Mount Sima’s snowmaking equipment will be getting an extra workout over the coming days in preparation for the national cross-country skiing championships. The event will be coming to Whitehorse in March.

Claude Chabot is a co-organizer for the 2016 Haywood Ski Nationals being hosted at the Whitehorse Cross Country Ski Club, March 19-26.

The possibility of using Sima’s snowmaking equipment was first considered months ago, he said in an interview this morning.

“(It was) my paranoia there would not be enough snow,” Chabot said.

He and others involved in the national event had to consider in its planning, including how to deal with a lack of snow if that was what the winter brought.

As he pointed out, there are no viable options for the competition to happen elsewhere if there’s not enough snow on the ground at the cross-country ski club.

“We looked at a whole lot of different options,” Chabot said, pointing to having the snow trucked in as another possibility.

The question on using their snowmaking equipment was put to staff at Sima. The downhill ski and snowboard facility proved very accommodating, with the ski hill having already done its snowmaking early in the season.

Sima acquired updated snowmaking equipment ahead of the start of this ski season thanks to $160,000 in funding from the Yukon government.

The money went toward infrastructure at the hill like the snow-making equipment, terrain park development and safety netting, which enabled the hill to open in November as an early season training facility for elite ski and snowboard athletes from across the country.

“They’ve been terrific,” Chabot said of Sima staff. He noted the work that has been done with Sima over the last few months so that snow-making could take place at the cross-country ski facility.

Chabot noted it’s likely the cross-country ski club would have enough snow for the competition provided there is no major melt in the coming weeks.

He described building up a strong base now, using the Sima’s equipment, as more of a “preemptive measure,” ensuring there is a base in the case of a melt.

While the nationals aren’t scheduled until the end of March, Chabot believes the cooler temperatures the city is seeing make it a good time to build the base now.

Snow-making was set to begin around noon today. Chabot said spots where snow is known to melt first will be targeted.

Snow will be made and then moved around to create the base.

Chabot said it’s anticipated it will take approximately 36 hours, though he acknowledged he’s not the expert when it comes to snow-making.

For that, Sima staff are at the cross-country ski club providing the expertise, with club staff also at work.

The snow-making is not expected to have any major impact on recreational skiers at the ski club, Chabot said.

While no full trail closures are anticipated, there may be a “slight detour” here or there on trails when snowmaking is underway.

It’s estimated the snowmaking endeavour will cost just under $10,000.

While Chabot is pleased the snow-making equipment is available, he certainly wouldn’t complain if natural snow were to come before Haywood Nationals time.

The event is anticipated to bring 500 athletes as well as their coaches, team staff and families to Whitehorse.

Sima officials could not be reached for comment this morning.