This year sucked for most of us. Yeah, yeah, we know that you guys killed it up in Pee n’ Dub, we get it, and we’re jealous. The rest of us commoners in the Western USA, Central USA, & Eastern USA got worked.
In 2011/12 we saw 51 million skier visits.
Last winter, the USA experienced its highest ever skier visit total at 60.54 million. This year, we had our 2nd lowest skier visit total since 1991/92 when we had 50.8 million skier visits (& were on par with 1978/79…see graph).
It’s likely not a coincedence that we also had our lowest national ski resort snowfall average since 1991/92.
“The 2011/12 season was also marked by the lowest national average resort snowfall since 1991/92, the second-lowest snowfall in 21 years of available data.” – NSAA
We’re starting to think that this snowfall average thingy and this skier visit doohickey might have something to do with each other…
We’d been on an uphill trend…until this year:
THE 2011/12 NUMBERS:
– 51 million skier visits this year
– 15% drop in skier visits from 2011/12 (biggest drop since 1980/81 when it dropped 17.6%)
– 50% of ski resorts opened late
– 48% closed early
– Every region in the USA experienced a decrease in overall days of operation
The reason’s for the lousy numbers this year are obvious: it didn’t snow.
Only the Northwest and Alaska saw snow and there aren’t enough skier visits in those zones to supplement the rest of the USA. California, Colorado, Utah, & Wyoming saw dismal snowfall that lead to an intense disinterest in skiing and snowboarding.
National Ski Area Association:
In the 1980/81 season the industry experienced a 17.6 percent drop in visits, the biggest year-over-year decline in 32 years. Notably, visits fully recovered the following season with a 22 percent increase in 1981/82, a reminder that the industry has demonstrated considerable resilience in the past, and that severely difficult seasons have been relatively rare. Other positive indicators show that the mild weather patterns experienced this season actually fostered an excellent ski and snowboard learning environment, as evidenced by increases in lesson participation rates. The survey also shows that guest service satisfaction levels are at an all time high, and early assessments of season pass renewals for the 2012/13 season are encouraging.
The 2011/12 season was also marked by the lowest national average resort snowfall since 1991/92, the second-lowest snowfall in 21 years of available data. According to the survey, 50 percent of responding ski areas opened late this season, and 48 percent closed early. Every region experienced a decrease in overall days of operation, with particularly significant declines in the Southeast, down 13.9 percent, the Northeast was down 13 percent, the Pacific Southwest was down 11.7 percent, and the Midwest was down 10.6 percent. More modest declines in total days of operation were experienced in the Rocky Mountain and Pacific Northwest regions, with each showing a 0.8 percent decrease. A final Kottke End of Season Survey will be issued in July. For more information visit NSAA online at nsaa.org.
