Ski-Blog.comJune 22, 2009
Utah Resorts See Drop of 6.5% Year Over Year in Skier Visits (h/t First Tracks)
Salt Lake City, UT - Ski Utah reported today that skier visits at its 13 member resorts were down 6.5% year over year in 2008-09. A record season in 2007-08, however, meant that 2008-09 was nonetheless the state's fourth best ski and snowboard season on record.A total of 3,972,984 skier days made business during the 2008-09 ski season busier than any in Utah prior to 2005. The 2008-09 winter breaks a string of five consecutive record ski seasons in Utah, and in fact nine of the busiest ski seasons in the state's history have occurred within the past decade. A skier day is generated by one person visiting a ski area for all or any part of a day or night for the purpose of skiing.
Nationally, total skier visits were down 5.5 percent to just over 57 million skier days from the previous year’s all time record of 60.1 million skier days, according to a preliminary survey conducted by RRC Associates for the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA). The survey also suggested that the Rocky Mountain Range (Colo., Idaho, Mont., N.M., Utah and Wyo.) experienced a 7.2 percent decline down to 19.8 million visits from 21.3 million visits during the 2007-08 winter season. The region’s decline could be attributed to a strong and early snow season on the East Coast, causing many snow riders to choose resorts closer to home in an effort to cut back on travel expenses.
5.5% for the country and 6.5% for Utah is not that bad all things considered. I keep expecting it to be worse than it really was. Still close to pre-2005 record numbers for the country as a whole.
Posted by Justin at 07:37 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0) | Categories:
June 08, 2009
Snowbowl Finally Prevails - Snowmaking Will Not Start This Season
The Snowbowl Ordeal is finally over once and for all:
The United States Supreme Court on Monday turned down a request by several Arizona Indian tribes to stop a Flagstaff ski area from making artificial snow from treated wastewater on the San Francisco Peaks.The case has bounced through federal court for several years, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals considered the case twice, first siding with the Native Americans, who revere the mountains as sacred sites. Last August, the Appeals Court reconsidered in favor of the management of Arizona Snowbowl.
At issue is whether religious groups can trump the mandated multiple uses of federal land by the general public. Snowbowl sits in the Coconino National Forest, not on Indian land.
Several Native American tribes, including the Navajo, who were the lead plaintiffs in the lawsuit, the Hopi, Hualapai, Havasupai, and Apaches, believe using reclaimed wastewater there was tantamount to dumping sewage on their sacred sites.
The Indians and supporting environmental groups took the case to the Supreme Court, which discussed the case in closed conference last Thursday. On Monday the news was posted that the court had turned down the case, letting the lower court decision stand.
The decision essentially clears the way for Snowbowl to make artificial snow, although it won't happen this season.
The only real surprise in the whole thing was the first 9th Circuit ruling that likened snowmaking with treated wastewater to using sewer water at a Christian baptism. It makes you wonder what crack that judge was smoking.
Congrats to Snowbowl and cannot wait for them to get snowmaking installed and open the new terrain.
Posted by Justin at 12:23 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0) | Categories: Snow Bowl
June 07, 2009
Summer Getting Started - Awaiting Camp Trip to Wyoming
Not a lot going on as you can tell by the complete lack of posting. I am working to sell the condo, we are selling our house, and we are moving to a little more comfortable digs on the outskirts of Phoenix (not that we weren't already in the outskirts).
I am officially out of work as of probably next week and am living off of severance while looking for a new job. It isn't a bad deal and has given me some time to think about and prioritize my life some. Gone is the condo and the overpriced house. Casualties of the housing collapse in Phoenix and Brian Head as well as of my downsizing.
One real plus of the developments has been that I have been able to cut my fixed monthly expenses significantly and this will make it easier for me to travel. I am also unloading the place at Brian Head which will make it more likely that I will be able to ski more at Wolf Creek and in Utah at other resorts.
The economy ain't great my friends. But as will most addicts, I will find a way to get to the slopes as often as time and money permit. The plus side is that I can focus on deals even more... if that is a plus side.
Not much else is new. Just preparing for our annual camp trip to Shell Lake, Wyoming, and watching the snowpack sensors drop every day. Leaving in three weeks.
Posted by Justin at 10:13 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0) | Categories: Personal
May 23, 2009
Article on How to Care for Your Skis Over the Summer
Nicole Wolf from Denver Skiing Examiner has a great article on caring for your gear over the summer:
Skis: At the very least, thoroughly wipe down skis (bases and edges) with a dry towel to prevent summer rust. I also strongly recommend applying a coat of wax to your bases so they aren’t deprived of moisture while they hibernate in your garage all summer.However, if your skis were good to you this season and you’d like a repeat next year, I would suggest the following:
1 – Stone edges to remove burrs and rust that may have accumulated over the season. Sharpen with file so they are razor smooth and ready to rip next winter.
2 – Scrape any remaining wax from your bases, then clean with a base cleaner or citrus solvent (available at many ski/snowboard, bike, and automotive shops, or online)
3 – Apply a liberal coat of wax to bases using a hot iron (preferably not your mom/girlfriend’s clothing iron; waxing-specific ski/snowboard irons actually exist! Check it out). Lightly run iron over side edges to coat with wax to protect against rusting. No need to scrape skis; simply let the bases soak for the summer.
4 – Strap skis together and store.Boots:
Infinitely easier than caring for skis, but undoubtedly more important. (It’s possible to salvage rusty, dry skis, but there is no salvage for moldy, rotting boots.)1 - Remove boot liners from shells.
Great read and good info.
Posted by Justin at 11:23 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0) | Categories: Gear
Snowbird Extends Season into June
Snowbird just extended its ski/ride season through June 14th, making the 2008/09 ski season the second longest in resort history with a total of 200 days. The longest occured in 2004/05 when Snowbird stayed open until July 4th.Of course, this extension will only happen if conditions in the Wasatch Mountains will allow for it, but folks at Snowbird seem optimistic that the massive amount of snow that fell this winter has left a snowpack that will last through June.
Currently the resort is only open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays with limited lifts operating including the Tram, Little Cloud, and Mineral Basin.
Even though there is enough snow to keep the ski season alive, summer operations begins on May 22, meaning that foot passengers are now allowed on the Tram from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Downside is that southern Utah got Jack this winter.
Posted by Justin at 10:44 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0) | Categories: Alta-Snowbird
May 16, 2009
National Skier Visits Down 5%
Skier visits numbers came out and were not as bad as one might have expected:
PORTLAND, Maine - The economy may have fallen off a cliff last year, but the ski industry's drop was a lot more gentle.Preliminary figures show there were 57.1 million visits to ski slopes across the country during the past winter, a 5.5 percent decline from the record 60.5 million visits the year before.
It could've been worse without favorable weather in most parts of the country that helped offset the slumping economy, the National Ski Areas Association said Friday.
The figures were released as ski executives attended the association's annual convention and trade show in Florida, where spokesman Troy Hawks said many ski managers felt they had dodged a bullet.
"The positive thing is that it was a fairly strong snow year," Hawks said. "Many of the resorts said they would probably rather have a bad economy and a good snow year, versus a good economy and a bad snow year."
The industry makes its money off of all of the ancillary items like lodging, food, entertainment, etc. It isn't just skier visits that matter, but apparel sales and so forth, but given how bad unemployment is and a host of other factors, just being down 5% isn't too bad.
Posted by Justin at 11:51 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0) | Categories: General Skiing
April 29, 2009
Mammoth Summer Events Trying to Make Resort Affordable
Mammoth is trying to keep summer affordable which is a good strategy in today's economy.
1. Scenic Gondola Ride – Visitors are carried past sweeping views of the Minarets, the Sierra Crest, and dozens of sapphire blue alpine lakes on a gondola ride to the summit of 11,053 foot Mammoth Mountain. Admire the panoramic views, learn interesting facts about the area at the interpretive center, or tour the summit with a naturalist. Cost is $18 for adults. Up to two children 12 & under ride free with a paying adult.2. Mountain Bike Park – Mountain bikers of all abilities can take the ride of their lives, experiencing the exhilarating 3,000-foot descent from Mammoth Mountain’s 11,053 summit. Mammoth’s Mountain Bike Park offers 100 miles of single-track trails with everything from water stops in shaded areas, to a scenic gondola that transports bikers up to the summit, to bike rangers to answer questions and assist with gear. Use of the mountain bike park, which includes a lift ticket on the gondola, is only $39.
3. Red’s Meadow Valley and Devils Postpile National Monument (the“Mini-Yosemite”) — A shuttle ride ($7 for adults, $4 for children 3 to 15 years) leads visitors to a geologic wonderland. An easy .4 mile one way walk leads to Devils Postpile, a rare sight that ranks as one of the world’s finest examples of unusual rock formations. Nearby, Rainbow Falls plunges over a 101-foot-high cliff. A moderate 2.5 mile one way hike leads to the falls.
Some stuff to do if you want to get away to the mountains for a weekend. I am waiting to get some other deals on lodging and happenings in the area.
Everyone is hurting, so now is a great time to get deals and save money.
Posted by Justin at 03:39 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0) | Categories: Mammoth
