Colorado Ski Areas Report Near-Record Season

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12 June 2015

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SAM Magazine—Boulder, Colo., June 12, 2015 – Skier and snowboarder visits at the 21 member ski resorts of Colorado Ski Country USA (CSCUSA) totaled 7.1 million during the 2014/15 season, about one-half of 1 percent fewer than last year's record season and 6.5 percent more than the five-year-average. The figures were released during the association's 52nd Annual Meeting here yesterday.

“Fueled by momentum from last year's record setting season, we're thrilled with this year's numbers, especially in a season that saw snow totals that were 36 percent below the 10-year average during the core of the ski season,” said Melanie Mills, president and CEO of Colorado Ski Country USA.

Mills credited ongoing improvements in the state and national economy and travel sector, strong season pass sales and advance reservations, and a “snow advantage” relative to other Western ski destinations. She added that ski areas reported increases in destination visitation, and gains in spending across all categories. Ski school was an especially strong performer in 2014/15, with gains in lesson volume, participation, and revenue. In-state ski visits were down from last season, attributed to unseasonably warm temperatures that delayed a few resort openings.

“Snow didn't come in earnest until mid-December, and that's when the pendulum swung the other way, and we were fortunate to have good snow conditions and cold temperatures over the popular holiday period,” Mills said.

Vail Resorts has not yet released visitation numbers for its four Colorado ski resorts, so it's not possible to determine whether the state topped last year's 12.5 million visits, or increased its share of the national market, which stood at 22 percent in 2013-14.