“We need the staffing to make the ski resort safe. Staffing does become an issue because spring time is when a lot of people start their summer jobs.” Marketing Manager for Granlibakken Annora McGarry
Between local workers starting summer jobs and J1 workers heading back to their home countries, several Tahoe area ski resorts are closing down because of a lack of workers despite having enough snow to keep spinning lifts.
My News 4 spoke with Annora McGarry from Granlibakken who said the resort hires students from the J1 program which is a visa program that allows students from all over the world to come work and experience Tahoe for a few months. Tons of ski resorts participate in the program but did not expect the season to last this long so as the international workers head home they are becoming increasingly short staffed to the point where closure is the only option.
Granlibakken, Donner Ski Ranch, Homewood Mountain Resort, Tahoe Donner Downhill and Tahoe Cross County Ski Area are all closed as of Sunday.
Here is a list of the closing dates that have been announced so far:
April 23
-Boreal Mountain Resort
-Diamond Peak
-Northstar California
-Sugar Bowl
-Royal Gorge
May 29
-Mount Rose Ski Tahoe
July 4
-Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows
[images from homewood mountain resort facebook]
