An absolutely swell season

„One cannot rely on the weather,“ says Jaroslav Krejčí, pointing at a glade lined by felled spruces. The man has big plans for the Monínec hill, standing amid the picturesque central Bohemian countryside. By the end of the year, there will be a kilometre-long ski trail with a four-seat ski lift on the slope. Many locals are shaking their heads in disbelief, and not only because of the felled trees and a feared tourist invasion. Mr. Krejčí's hill is 700 metres above sea level. After two warm winters, the skiing industry in the Czech Republic is stalling even a few hundred metres higher. But the grey-haired man of 60 is adamant. Besides, betting on Monínec has already paid off once.

Going for it

The offer was simply unexpected. „Actually, it was a joke. They told me – if you want to preserve it, try to run it,“ Mr. Krejčí says, recalling a talk he had in 1994. At that time, he was the mayor of Sedlec-Prčice, a town with a population of 3,000. He received the plan of state-run mining company Diamo to tear down the loss-making Monínec recreation centre near by. „I thought it was a waste,“ says Mr. Krejčí. He did not find support in the town, so he started to rescue the centre on his own. He stepped down in a few weeks and moved to the derelict houses with his entire family. His offer to Diamo was simple: If the business goes well, the…