Although reservation data coming in for the upcoming winter season is down 3.9 percent compared to last winter, colder temperatures and sporadic snowfall have many resorts running chairs.
Instead of a post-election economic boost, partisan bickering, economic worries and a continuing warmest-year-ever mentality continues to plague the snowsports industry. “On the weather front, while resorts are opening on schedule, no major winter weather event has yet sent a compelling message, leaving consumers not yet convinced that this year is destined to be better than last year,” said Ralf Garrison, director of Denver-based Mountain Travel Research Program (MTRiP). “This is the time of year when we keep our eyes on the clouds and our hands on the tiller as we brace to steer the best possible course through whatever this winter brings.”
Whistler Blackcomb Holdings Inc. announced that as a result of cool temperatures, significant snowmaking and natural snowfall, Whistler Mountain would open five days early on Saturday, November 17. Blackcomb Mountain will open as scheduled on Thursday, November 22.
Heavy snowfall last week across Colorado helped ensure many of the state’s ski areas opened as well. Western Slope resorts Powderhorn and Sunlight reported 18 inches. The storm aided the already-open resorts of Copper Mountain, Arapahoe Basin and Loveland and left 12 inches at Winter Park Resort, which opened Wednesday, as did Wolf Creek. More resorts will open Thanksgiving week including Eldora Mountain Resort, Crested Butte, Monarch, Steamboat, Aspen Mountain, Ski Cooper, Snowmass, Telluride and Purgatory. Silverton, scheduled to open December 1, is considering opening early after receiving between two and three feet from last weekend’s storm.
CustomWeather, a specialized provider of high-resolution weather forecast and alert services, said the weather for Europe’s upcoming 2012-2013 ski season is looking favorable. European ski areas have been receiving snow with above-normal precipitation forecasted over the Italian Alps and Andorra. The company is forecasting normal to slightly-below normal precipitation for the rest of the Alpine region and below normal snowfall across the Scandinavian region.
In Boone, NC, Sugar Mountain opened the earliest in its 43-year history this year. The resort, which peaks at 5,300 feet above sea level, had been making snow since mid-October using eight new hi-tech snowmaking machines.
Tropical storms also brought snow to Snowshoe Mountain Resort, Timberline Four Seasons Resort, Canaan Valley Resort and Winterplace Ski Resort in West Virginia; Mad River Mountain and Snow Trails in Ohio; and Seven Springs and Hidden Valley Four Seasons Resort in Pennsylvania, according to OnTheSnow.com.
West Virginia’s Snowshoe Mountain, an Intrawest Resort, will officially open for the season on Wednesday, November 21, matching the resort’s earliest opening day in the last 15 years. Snowshoe officials credit over two feet of natural snow and excellent snowmaking conditions for the early opportunity.
“If there could be a silver lining to the huge storm that impacted so many people in our region at the start of the month, it’s that our mountains, which experienced a warmer, shorter than normal winter last year, received over two feet of heavy snow with which to open our businesses and invite guests to our region,” said Frank DeBerry, president and COO of Snowshoe. “With cooperating cold temperatures we’re able to build a snow base and start spinning the lifts in time for a much needed Thanksgiving holiday weekend for many.” The new winter zipline will also open on Nov. 21.
