500,000 skier days this past season

[skiingsnow]

So when the actual # is released by POWDR, then what? What are the people waiting for the #'s gonna do? This is so ridiculous. It's like 1/2 KZone is infatuated with this magical #! We're at the edge of our seats. HS can't wait till it comes out so he can post 20 more pages of made up information. The future of Killington is waiting! I can't wait. It's like waiting for your child to be born!

Who cares. For me personally I like the lower # of animals on the hill on weekends. I hope they never get back to the insane #'s of the past. Who the hell wants million+ on the hill
Not like the place is the size of Vail...

Agree with everything you say. But, Powdr isn't going to be releasing the number, according to what they said recently...

[Bubba]

The town hired a consulting firm this firm states thru their work that Killington had 750k skier visit last year.
The firm the town hired was asked why was some folks were using 400k-500k and the answer from the town hired consulting
firm was that 750k was the # to use and that 400k-500k was wrong and that the final report will use the correct # of 750k
skier visit for the report .
Town paid for the report not paid for by the ski report.

Actually, the consultant didn't say the resort had 750K skier visits this past year. He said they backed into a number using figures such as tax receipts and other economic data available from the state, but that was for calendar year 2006. Calendar year 2007 was not used for the draft study but will be used for the finished report once the final tax data comes out in early July. The 750K figure is reasonably consistent with the 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 reported skier visits for Killington but appears higher than anectodal evidence would suggest for the 2007-2008 season.

[jimbolla]

Bubba
He stated that since powdr would only give them the # if the kept it off the record. That they did figure it to be 750k
skier visits. Why would they try and waste time figuring a # for the previous year when ASC owned it and stated the #
as 795k skier visits. That would be a waste of time trying to figure out a # that was already known. Remember they stated
that they came up with this # since powdr would not make the # public. It did confuse me also later when they stated that
some of last years tax #'s would not be out fow a few more weeks. I guess you get what you pay for and that was crap.

.

[Bubba]

Bubba
He stated that since powdr would only give them the # if the kept it off the record. That they did figure it to be 750k
skier visits. Why would they try and waste time figuring a # for the previous year when ASC owned it and stated the #
as 795k skier visits. That would be a waste of time trying to figure out a # that was already known. Remember they stated
that they came up with this # since powdr would not make the # public. It did confuse me also later when they stated that
some of last years tax #'s would not be out fow a few more weeks. I guess you get what you pay for and that was crap.

.

Considering that it was a draft report and will be modified based on additional information, there may still be updated numbers. The point the economist was trying to make was that the baseline number, whether 750K or 650K, wouldn't have an appreciaible impact on the "displacement" they did for the town. Therefore, using a number they backed into from state economic data and other sources was not a critical part of the analysis and I don't think we should put any stock in the 750K number. The fact is - if Killington truly did 750K visits this year they would have increased from the year prior and the place would've shown it in the lodges and on the slopes. Anectodal evidence suggests that things were LESS crowded this year, therefore one could reasonably conclude that visits were down from the prior year when they announced something around 700,000 according to some else's post.

But, the key point is that the baseline number, for purposes of the town's study parameters, is not important. Once Powdr/SP come forward with a formal proposal, more in-depth analysis will (or at least should) be done and baseline skier visit numbers and year over year changes will have to be part of the economic impact analysis. For now, people are getting worked up over nothing. Powdr, on the other hand, knowing that they'll eventually have to release the numbers, ought to do so now and put this issue behind them. Their PR skills apparently being limited, however, they withhold them and make another issue for folks in town (and elsewhere) to beat them up with.

[jimbolla]

Bubba
The # for the prior year was said to be 795k so yes 750k is 45k less.
Once again the 795k was stated by the select board not me . I agree
that the # is down from the last year. the # has gone down over the last
10 + years and guess what powdr was not here. We can go on and on .The point is the town
hired on a group and this is what you got.
Funny thing this selectboard did not like what the fire dept was asking for so they hired
on a group for a matrix study. Guess what they don't like that repor so now they have
hired a consultant to look over the consultant which looks over the fire dept.Maybe if they don't
like this one they can hire another so we could have three consultant companies for one project

[Highway Star]

Bubba
The # for the prior year was said to be 795k so yes 750k is 45k less.
Once again the 795k was stated by the select board not me . I agree
that the # is down from the last year. the # has gone down over the last
10 + years and guess what powdr was not here. We can go on and on .The point is the town
hired on a group and this is what you got.
Funny thing this selectboard did not like what the fire dept was asking for so they hired
on a group for a matrix study. Guess what they don't like that repor so now they have
hired a consultant to look over the consultant which looks over the fire dept.Maybe if they don't
like this one they can hire another so we could have three consultant companies for one project

Just to clarify, it was 795,000 in '05-'06. 700,000 for '06-'07 is stated in an article with Tom Horrocks.

http://209.85.215.104/search?q=cache:gF ... cd=2&gl=us

Skiing's Cold Comfort

Art Edelstein


A perfect storm of conditions is turning the 2007/2008 downhill and Nordic ski season into one of the better ones in recent years. This is a big boost for an industry that has been plagued by a variety of weather and economic problems. If snow is gold then Vermont's downhill and cross-country ski areas have had their prayers answered. After the near debacle that was the 2006/2007 season, this year's revenues are much higher. While most Vermonters are finding the above normal snowfall since December a traveling and shoveling inconvenience, the ski areas are not complaining one bit. Let it snow! echoes through the Green Mountains this winter.

"It is utterly fantastic, a snow filled season from the start," observed Parker Riehle at the Vermont Ski Areas Association in Montpelier. He could barely contain his glee.

While the 2006/2007 season waited until the Valentine's Day blizzard for a major snow event, by Valentine's Day this season there was already enough snow on the ground to have made the first half of the season a great success.

Ski areas around the state report much higher skier visits than last season. Revenues, which most won't reveal, are also up based on the up-tick in skier visits.

Statistics tell the story. 2007 in Burlington, fueled by the frequent snows of December, had 131.6 inches of snow. According to the National Weather Service, Burlington has already, as of mid February, recorded 88.4 inches of snow since January 1, compared to its 52-inch average for this time of year. It is reporting one of the snowiest winter seasons in 130 years of record keeping.

The key to the success of the first half of this year's season is the early start, with several Alpine areas opening just before Thanksgiving, and the fact that even the January thaw could did not wipe out the snow base that had built up.

Riehle is also counting economic conditions that have nothing to do with Mother Nature. "Not only did we start early and strong with great snow and snowmaking temperatures," he explained, "we also saw outside forces lining up in our favor." Those outside forces include the plummeting value of the dollar, which has bolstered the value of the Canadian Loonie, the British pound, and the Euro.

"The US is very attractive to the Canadian and European market," observed Riehle. "We are seeing a lot more foreign skiers because of the US dollar and we are more attractive for the foreign market given the way the currency shapes up."

The decline in the dollar's value, according to Riehle, is keeping northeastern skiers and snowboarders closer to home since the dollar buys less at Canadian or European ski resorts than it did in previous years.

Rising fuel prices, notes Riehle, have made airline ticket prices more of a factor in where skiers travel to for their sport. Places like Vermont benefit when New Yorkers and Bostonians decide not to fly to ski areas out west or overseas. He also sees the growing hassles and inconvenience and uncertainty with airline travel as a factor that's keeping skiers closer to home and more likely to ski Vermont.

Rising gas prices for car travel, are not, according to the ski areas, having any significant effect on sales of passes.

The main reason, however, for the happiness at the ski areas, said Riehle, is the snow, which is "consistent and reliable." This year's January thaw, he said, "Was well timed for early January and did not have a significant impact on the snow pack and left us enough time to shape up the mountains for MLK weekend.

Reports received by Riehle from his Alpine members show, "we're doing substantially better than last year which was an anomaly." Compared to a 10 year average of 4.1 million skier visits a year, by mid February the industry was ahead of the average. The note of caution, he said, was that, "it is still too early to predict how it will come out in the end."

Nordic skiing normally attracts 200.000 skier visits and last year that number was down significantly. This year, said Riehle, "has shaped out to a strong year for them as well."

Last year, while a poor one by any measure of the business, did not force any ski areas to close, and business was down seven percent overall with 3.8 million skier visits.

Riehle sees the heavy snow that is invigorating his industry as, "a tremendous boost not only to the ski areas but to the Vermont economy." Statistics show that winter sports enthusiasts at the ski areas directly spend $750 million instate, and two thirds of that amount is spent away from the ski mountains in surrounding villages and towns on food, lodging, gas, and other items. Tax revenues exceed $100 million in rooms and meals taxes.

Rooms and meals taxes are running ahead of projections for the present fiscal year and Riehle said the increased number of skiers is part of the reason.

Jen Butson, Ski Vermont's director of public affairs, said the snows of late 2007 contributed to a strong start to the season. The Mount Snow ski area in West Dover opened first this year before Thanksgiving on November 10, which is the earliest that area was able to open in a decade. The ski area has also spent $3.5 million to boost its snowmaking capabilities.

Vermont has up to 15 times more trails than in 2006, said Butson, and 30 percent of the trails had opened by early December. Last year only two percent had opened that early and in 2005 that figure was 14 percent.

As of December 5, 2007 10 resorts had already opened.

Snow really has a snowball effect in the ski business. Butson said all the snow here coupled with snow falling in southern New England and New York had the juices flowing among skiers. "When people in New York and Boston get the snow, that helps our business," Butson explained.

The Christmas season at the resorts, according to Butson, was very good. "The inquiries, reservations at hotels, and people at the mountains were all up. That is all resorts across the state big and small."

Talk of recession in the US economy does not seem to have thawed the enthusiasm for skiing in Vermont this year, according to Butson. "Things are up this year and continually positive," she said. At resorts that are destinations for families and travelers, despite the economic status, people are still traveling, skiing and taking vacations. "We are not seeing a downturn," she observed.




Vermont Ski Resorts Doing Well




Vermont Ski Areas surveyed for this article report an excellent first half of the season. "So far it's been terrific. We got off to a tremendous start and this was the best December and early January I can remember in my 20 years in the business," said Cindy Felch at the Bolton Valley Resort.

Ski school programs are up over 20 percent in enrollment, and season pass sales are up almost 20 percent as well.

Felch is reporting increases in skier visits across the board, from adults to students and families.

The resort's condominiums are seeing, "the strongest increase in occupancy." She said families like to cook and the trend is towards self-catering.

Felch categorized Christmas Week as "terrific." Occupancy was strong as were the food venues and ski schools. "People had money and they spent it," she observed.

"Burke is on track for a record season," predicts David Gwatkin at the Burke Mountain Ski Area in the Northeast Kingdom.

Burke is a small area that sees, on average, 70,000 skier visits or about 1.4 percent of skier visits for the state. This year has been a good one with Christmas and the Martin Luther King Jr. holidays both "excellent." The mountain opened December 8 with nearly all its trails open something Gwatkin said was, "unprecedented."

This has also been a record year for season pass sales with 16 percent more student age passes than the previous high. The mountain is five percent ahead of its previous record year overall.

Bill Stenger at Jay Peak categorized December and early January as "wonderful." He should be happy. The mountain has received over 244 inches of snow as of early February.

Most areas, said Stenger, would rather have a good start to a season, a start like this year, because the momentum carries on into the second half of the season. "Vermont has a chance of having a very strong year depending on the snowfall for February and March," he predicted.

At Jay Peak, skier visits as of early February were up 50 percent from the previous year and Stenger was unabashedly happy. "This is our best year ever so far." He points to a record level of season pass sales. His mountain straddles the Quebec border and with the Canadian dollar at par with the US dollar, bookings are up. "With the fortunate weather forecast you hit a home run," he explained.

He also sees Canadians spending more than in the past and staying overnight more. While Quebec remains a day market, Ontario families are staying longer.

"It's been a tremendous December. January was so-so, but February has been phenomenal," observed Eric Friedman at Mad River Glen in Waitsfield. He said his region, "got more snow than anybody else."

This cooperate ski area relies on 65 percent of its revenues from day skiers. Comparatively, Mad River was, "phenomenally above last year." Mad River was unable to open until January 2007. "We are blowing the doors off of last year," beamed Friedman.

He believes his area could see 90,000 skier visits this year if March is strong. Last year there were just 60,000 skier visits there.

Further south at the Killington Resort there are also smiles. "It's been a great season so far," reports Tom Horrocks. Bookings here are strong through the end of the season. The Martin Luther King weekend saw a significant increase in overall paid skier days in addition to overall skier numbers.

Last year Killington had 700,000 skier visits, which is on par with the previous three years. What this year's numbers will bring Horrocks cannot yet say.

"We have a very large contingent of kids and groups from the UK in mid February and that has always been a very strong market," said Horrocks. "As the value of the dollar declines we are more attractive to the UK market."

Killington opened on target on November 19. Christmas was very strong with excellent snow conditions. "From a lodging standpoint," he said, "We did very well."

"Looking at the reservations on the books, the incredible snow conditions and forecasts for more snow it all bodes well for the industry in general," said Horrocks who is hearing, "a lot of buzz in the industry in general as people are hitting the slopes all over the country."

"It's great. We're up about 160 percent over last year," said Bonnie MacPherson at the Okemo Mountain Resort. Season pass sales are up 30 percent and there has been a 300 percent spurt in college season pass sales. "We're right on the mark with projections for sale revenues and skier visits."

Okemo was under 600,000 skier visits last year but expects to surpass that number by a wide margin.

"This is the winter we've all been waiting and hoping for," predicted MacPherson. "It makes a difference in overall spirit for everyone. People are skiing who haven't for several years."

At Stratton Mountain it's also been "a great season, one that opened before Thanksgiving," said Myra Foster.

Here as elsewhere, season pass sales are strong and interest is high.

Foster categorized this year as "significantly better than last year. Last year was difficult at the start but we finished in great fashion. We have been wide open earlier than in previous years. We've been on a roll since opening day."




Nordic Ski Areas Are Doing Well




Few Nordic ski areas make snow, so a poor snow season severely limits the use of trails and can keep skier visits way down. Some areas had few trails open last year. That is not the case this season.

"It's been fantastic, we opened December 1," said Bill Salmon at Grafton Ponds Nordic Ski Center.

There is snowmaking here on five of the center's 30 kilometers of trail. Last

year there was no natural snow until Valentines Day, but this year all the trails are open. Season's pass sales are up and Salmon reports that December "was our second best in 20 years for all around sales."

"This type of year you wish every year would be like this. People down country are getting snow and this keeps them mentally in tune with winter sports."

"We opened December 3 and every day since," said Gene Foley at Ole's Cross Country Center in Warren. This is a pleasant change from the previous two years when Ole's was opened about half the potential season.

"Having a full season, we're still catching up from previous years but we're very happy to see it," said Foley. "It's one of the better seasons in the 11 years I've worked here."

Foley said most Nordic centers can't afford snowmaking equipment. With the increased variability of winter due to global warming, location will matter. "In the industry it's all about location. North of Route 4 there is pretty good snow, below Route 4 the snow is just hanging in there, but they are all still open," said Foley.

Ski areas like Ole's are now using snow conservation where the trails are smoother, which allows them to be open for skiing with less snow cover. Areas will also have to improve drainage so there is less pooling of water on trails. "These are important business investments that require a lot of trail work that is expensive," explained Foley. "We are doing this to be able to open with less snow and be able to keep that snow."

"We've had a decent season, way better than last year," said Chuck Black at Wild Wings Ski Touring Center in Peru. He, too, opened the earliest ever on December 5. In business 34 years, Black can look back to February 10 as his fifty-fifth day of operation this season. "That was significant," he said, "because all of 2006/2007 there were just 54 days of skiing here."

The record for annual skier visits here was 7,500 sometime in the late 1980s. Last year saw a measly 2,515. This year, he predicted, "We'll end up close to 5,000. It means we can keep going another year."

Black may have summed up the ski industry both Nordic and Alpine with this observation. "If you have snow you have skiers and it's pretty good. If the weather stays good, I project close to the best winter we've ever had here."

[jimbolla]

Hey don't shoot the messenger
I was told by a selectmen in a meeting that asc last year in biz was 795k and that this year
was 500k. Then in another meeting the consultant stated 750 for the year that powdr would not give
them a #. I was told that 500k was a mistake . Maybe people should get it straight . Why would you
ask Powdr for 06/o7 # when they did not own. Just shows the report is not at all accurate. Take a look
at the pages with the tables for loss of revenue when skier visits are down say 75 k . I asked was that from
the history of Killington or just an overall stat. I added since killington once had some 1.3 million skier visits
and 795k or maybe now you show that it was 700k the past year before Powdr. The answer was the numbers do not exist
thats why they had to figure it on their own. I then reminded them that asc did give #'s . Response was they did not know that.
W e can go on and on fact is for 18k you can not get something to work on or with.

[Mister Moose]

Skiing's Cold Comfort

Art Edelstein


Further south at the Killington Resort there are also smiles. "It's been a great season so far," reports Tom Horrocks. Bookings here are strong through the end of the season. The Martin Luther King weekend saw a significant increase in overall paid skier days in addition to overall skier numbers.

Last year Killington had 700,000 skier visits, which is on par with the previous three years. What this year's numbers will bring Horrocks cannot yet say.

700,000 is such a round number you have to wonder what number they rounded up from. I'm sure they wouldn't round down.

[since1961]

Art Edelstein is a part-time journalist, I remember when he had an occasional column/pics about the outdoors in the Times Argus a few years ago. I wouldn't take his info as gospel. Pretty weak as a source IMHO.

[CAPBOY]

wtf is a skier day???

BrockBack Out

[nopowdr]

A skier day is 1 person skiing with lift ticket or pass for 1 day.

If my family of 4 skies 5 days mid week, thats 20 skier days.