New York skiers and snowboarders just got a much anticipated update on the ski season with Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announcing ski resorts in New York State will be allowed to reopen at 50% indoor capacity Nov. 6th.
NewsDay reports New York state guidelines for ski resort operation state skiers must wear masks when not eating, drinking or skiing and must maintain social distance from other groups, ski lessons will be limited to 10 people, gondolas will be restricted to members of the same party and all shared equipment must be disinfected between rentals. Shuttles, and food, beverage and retail service must conform to state-issued guidance. Outdoor capacity on mountains will be reduced by 25% during peak days or when multiple trails are closed due to unseasonable conditions.
Cuomo when on to say that skiing in New York will allow people to avoid states where the infection rate is much higher:
“If you ski New York this year, not only do you have what I think is the best skiing in the United States of America … but you don’t have to quarantine when you come back. Go ski in one of these other states, then you have quarantine for 14 days. Ski for two, quarantine for 14.”
Visitors to New York’s 50-plus ski resorts generate about $450 million in direct spending annually and are typically open from December through March and employ nearly 13,000 people.
