Snowy weather means skis and snowboards for valley residents

SHAVER LAKE, Calif. (KFSN) -- Hundreds of people headed to the mountains to enjoy the snow this weekend.

With plenty of snow at China Peak, the popular resort is happy to report they're having their best season in years, at least so far.

So far this year, the snow totals at China Peak have been better than average. "They've been great," Pablo Salgado of Visalia said. "It's awesome to see glad to see all the snow and having a good year."

The ski resort's owner says they've also been fortunate to have favorable weather on the big holidays, including this weekend. Over 7,000 people have come up in the last two days. Including Austin Horne and his friends, who made the two-hour drive from Lemoore. "The roads weren't icy or anything," Horne said.

"Most people get up in the morning look at what the weather looks like, and they go up for the weekend," China Peak Ski Resort owner Tim Cohee said. "They go up for the day, if they have issues with transportation or the weather seems too difficult, then they probably won't go."

In his six years as resort owner, Cohee says this is their best year yet so far. But timing is everything, and we're only a fraction of the way through the season. "With the El Nino seems to be in effect," Cohee said. "There's going to be a lot of wild stories about snow and everything else, and the best thing to do is always to check with the ski area before you head up."

The resort is winning right now, but they're holding on tight, hoping to call it a successful season when it's all over.

Cohee says they've trained more beginners this year than the last four combined.