Facing pressure from Olympic organizers and a bit of unseasonal warm weather, officials at Cypress Mountain have told shredders to buzz off. Since Tuesday the Alpine Area at Cypress has been shut down, with no plans to reopen until mid-March, after the Winter Games. The closure comes 3 weeks earlier than the scheduled Olympic break.

"With the success of the Games potentially at stake and with all the preparations
which are now necessary to get the courses into condition for competitions, Cypress
Mountain has agreed that the plan of action is necessary to fulfill our role in
supporting the hosting of the Olympic Games," said an email to season pass holders. "The Alpine Area at Cypress Mountain be closed to all public visitors until further notice. The Nordic Area will remain open."

Olympic Preparations at Cypress. Lifts at the West Vancouver resort have been closed since January 12.

The email continued that if the temperature were to drop and new snow were to fall, the downhill area could reopen. Weather forecasts are predicting more rain, however. Whatever happens Cypress Mountain has promised restitution for Season Pass holders, and with courses still well covered in snow and contingency plans in place, Olympic officials are insisting that all events will go as planned.

Cypress on January 15. Apparently more snow is needed if lifts are to reopen this month.