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For Some Minnesotans, Snowstorm A 1st Chance For Winter Fun

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- While some of us wanted our warm November to continue, others can't wait to get out and enjoy all the snow. We stopped by some snowmobile shops just waiting to get folks out for their first run. And they weren't the only ones happy to see the snow start flying.

That wind may put a damper on that fun for Friday night, at least. In the Twin Cities, we haven't seen enough precipitation to enjoy the snow.

It's more than just cold and a bit inconvenient for anyone out in this weather. At the very least, Friday's snow has people looking to the winter activities in teh months ahead.

"Everyone is really excited, especially the kids who come out here five, six days a week," Andrew Berns of Hyland Hills ski resort said.

Don't let the green grass and empty slopes fool you -- opening day for Hyland Hills could be just one week away. Snow machines sit at the ready, prepared to add several inches of snow to the few flakes that started flying Friday afternoon.

"We've been looking forward to it since March," Berns said. "Ever since we close down, we look forward to 27 degrees to turn the snow guns on and get back to skiing."

The same sentiment is felt at Minneapolis Motor sports where Benn Endsley is waiting to empty the snowmobile show room.

"I'm stoked. It's going to be a good year -- they say snow is supposed to be good," he said.

Winter's arrival has a way of bringing a flurry of activity from those who enjoy this weather sport.

"It's one of the only sports that's out there where we chase the weather," Endsley said. "So everybody else stays out of it and we chase the storms and go where the snow is."

You can expect ski hills to start opening up within the next week. Hyland Hills in Bloomington has the target date of the weekend of Thanksgiving.

And for those snowmobile enthusiasts -- you don't have to wait for measurable snow to buy that new sled.

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