Snow Problem! Local Man Has Key To Making Homemade Flurries
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- If there's snow, you'll find Jessie and Tyler Duda skiing.
This brother and sister are competitive mogul skiers. Everyday, they hit the hill working on their technique and jumps.
"Practice make perfect," says Tyler Duda.
They don't have far to travel for ski practice. That's because their ski hill is in their own backyard.
"I like getting to ski everyday," says Jessie Duda.
The Dudas live in Brownsville, Pa. where 40 inches of snow has fallen this season. But in their backyard, they have more than 15 feet of snow. That's 180 inches in case you're wondering.
How did it get there? It's all thanks to their coach and dad, Mark Duda.
"I'm addicted to snow, you could say, and I've always been fascinated with weather," he said.
He didn't leave it up to Mother Nature to bring the snow -- he made it. That's right, Mark Duda built his own snow making machine. His love of winter and his degree in meteorology helped, plus years of tinkering with different methods of making snow.
While standing on a pile of snow 15 feet high, Duda says "I can make a pile like this in one night if it's cold enough."
As long as it's 28 degrees or colder, you can find Duda making snow. He's a farmer by trade and he knows that everything has its season, even his precious snow. One day soon, Mother Nature will pull the plug.
Until then, the kids will continue to ski and jump. And all their hard work has paid off this season. Jessie Duda just took first place in her division at the East Coast Freestyle Championships and her brother Tyler came in 3rd place in his division.
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