Believe it: Colorado skier/snowboarder visits are UP

“It’s a solid start,” commented Melanie Mills, president & CEO
of Colorado Ski Country USA. “However, we still have a long way to
go with a lot of season left. For now, we’re glad to see a little
momentum in the way of increased visitation and are hopeful it will
continue.”

 Late fall and early winter storms brought enough snow to
Colorado that some resorts were able to open ahead of schedule and
have the majority of their terrain available for holiday guests.
Healthy snow conditions in the southwest and central parts of
Colorado helped drive visitation to those resorts, while drier
conditions in the northern part of the state in December limited
first period visitation to some degree.

The holidays brought enthusiastic skiers and riders to the slopes,
particularly during the New Year’s week. Group business around the
holiday time and robust international visitation in parts of the
state also helped boost skier visit numbers. Ski schools were
jam-packed, an indicator that skiers and riders are spending a bit
more this year. The busy holiday period is indicative of Colorado
skiing’s strong brand and a testament to the quality product
offered by CSCUSA resorts.

“We are seeing some positive signs this year but are not breaking
out the bubbly just yet,” continues Mills. “Travelers are booking
their trips very close to the time they plan to travel, so it’s
hard to predict our future.”  Looking ahead, the Association
has cause for optimism. Snow remains a top consideration, so the
big snowfalls throughout the state in the last week combined with
the visibility of skiing and snowboarding during the upcoming
Winter Olympic Games will help drive participation in the key
mid-season months.