SAM Magazine-Denver, Mar. 11, 2010-Colorado Ski Country USA (CSCUSA) member ski areas saw visits dip 4 percent durin January and February compared to the same period last year. This puts visits for the season to date down 2 percent.

After an encouraging start to the season, visitation slowed in January, as snowfall lagged across a large part of the state. When the snows returned in February, so did the skiers and riders. "Snow conditions are the biggest driver of visitation," said Melanie Mills, president and CEO of CSCUSA. "So where conditions were dry during some important mid-season weeks, we saw a sizeable drop in visits. The combination of snow, when it arrived, and a smorgasbord of great deals really boosted visits in February."

Also on the plus side, she noted, skier spending is trending up somewhat, as is participation in ski school.

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