The meteorologists keep forecasting it. The skies are clouding over. And skiers in State College are praying for it. But this January, none have seen the howling winds and insurmountable snowfall of a blizzard.

"I'll believe it when I see it," said Kurt Merrill (graduate-leisure studies). "People should just be patient because snow is coming. It is just a matter of time."

But during this time, Tussey Mountain Ski Area, University ski team tryouts and ski equipment sales have been affected by the lack of snowfall.

Typically, as the winter season approaches, people dust off last year's skis, dig out rubber snow boots, cotton sweaters and mittens and start to plan for their first fun-filled ski getaway at Tussey Mountain in Boalsburg. But last week, warmer temperatures caused the mountain to close, which put the plans of many skiers on hold.

"If you're in the snow business this is not what you look forward to," said Dave Fahrenbach, general manager at Tussey Mountain. "We've gone out and purchased additional snow blowing equipment so we can get up and operating."

The ski area expects to be back to normal by today, he said.

Although the once grass slopes of Tussey Mountain are now blanketed with snow, the ski team is still feeling the effects. "We've had to make a lot of special arrangements to get the season underway," said Todd Fearer (senior-wildlife and fishery science).

When members of the ski team should have been holding tryouts, practicing gate training and enhancing race techniques, they were inside watching forecasts for an upcoming storm only days before their first race.

"You haven't been out skiing, so you loose rhythm," said Steve Ludwig (senior-landscape contracting and turfgrass science). "We've lost two practices, so somehow we've got to make it up to the team members."

While the ski team was forced to miss their first seasonal race, the students in downhill skiing classes were forced to move their ski enthusiasm into the lodge of the ski area.

But most of the instructional skills in the first week of classes can be done in the building, Fahrenbach said.

"There is no detrimental effect except that people are anxious to get back on the slopes," he said. "We are offering a free lift coupon to those students to provide time for lost skiing."

As temperatures on the thermostat begin to fall and flurries make their way through the dense, billowing storm clouds, skiers -- as well as recreational store owners -- show smiles of relief.

"It isn't like things get slow, things stop," Fahrenbach said. "The ski area suffers in many ways. The mountain's rental shop, restaurant and bar all do business services according to who comes skiing."

Meanwhile, the many cross-country skis and snow shoes that have been cluttering the outing club's rental shop, 8 Intramural Building, will now be in demand.

"The more snow you have, the more back places you can go," Merrill said. "But without the hazard of trashing your gear on rocks."

Although shops that primarily sell snow equipment experienced a set back, other sporting goods shops -- such as Appalachian Ski and Outdoors, 324 W. College Ave. -- kept business flowing as usual. Instead of purchasing the newest ski equipment and snow outfits, shoppers focused their attention on camp gear, backpacks and tents, said Scott Tucker, employee at Appalachian Ski and Outdoors.

"We have a big array of equipment so the lack of snow was not paralyzing to us," Tucker said.