Economy and Skiing/Riding

[Bubba]

How deep a recession are we looking at and how long before we begin to see a recovery?
How will the current economic situation impact your plans for this winter season? Weekend trips? Winter vacation? Equipment purchases? Lessons? Ski school for the kids?
Has the dramatic drop in oil and gasoline prices had any affect on your planning?
Even if you're not impacted directly, how do you think curent conditions will impact the winter sports industry as a whole?

Discuss...

[Clutch]

How deep a recession are we looking at and how long before we begin to see a recovery?
How will the current economic situation impact your plans for this winter season? Weekend trips? Winter vacation? Equipment purchases? Lessons? Ski school for the kids?
Has the dramatic drop in oil and gasoline prices had any affect on your planning?
Even if you're not impacted directly, how do you think curent conditions will impact the winter sports industry as a whole?

Discuss...

With $2 gas. Carpooling becomes more about not having to drive up alone, than about saving money.

Still getting my salary, so the economic downturn won't affect my spending at all.

[skiadikt]

what do think this is the alpinezone or something?

as far as the recession, this is just the tip of the iceberg. long & deep ... i don't think we see recovery until the 2nd qtr of 2010. unemployment upwards of 8-9%.

thankfully the drop in gas prices - the only positive side effect of the crisis, will help a bit. if gas was still upward of $4.00, we would have definitely cherry picked our weekends a bit, probably sitting out marginal weekends.

for non-pass holder/non-share house types, it's probably a different tune. i'm thinking people have just shut their wallets in general and hunkering down until this mess is over. skiing's probably a luxury they can do without or less of this winter. we're not doing our usual western trip this year and i'm sure others are in the same boat. i'd be shorting the ski industry hard cause they're gonna get killed this winter. just hope it doesn't cause the resorts to cut back on snowmaking etc. hey geoff, you wanna see detoxified slopes - wait 'til this winter ...

[andyzee]

Agree with skiadikt.

[irab82]

Definitely will have an impact. Was going out west in February, not now. Will be heading up north instead, 3 or 4 days, not a week. Have 2 or 3 weekends planned at K but will be looking to cut down on what we pay for lodging, maybe off the access road and haven't done that since the 80s. Have lots of friends who are "tightening their belts" and skiing falls into that category.

[Eski]

my season passes are in hand and new gear in the quiver
fuel prices coming down sure helps, but for how long
affordable lodging and other lift deals will determine how far and often I explore

while on this subject, anyone know of any cheap overnite digs in the Gore area?
(you can pm me, so the thread is not taken off course)

[Stormchaser]

Season passes are paid for, condo costs me the same if I'm there or not, gas is cheaper than last season, two new pairs of skis last spring, and I have an extra day off each week... I'll ski more this winter than last at Killington.

Still planning to travel this winter as well. 5 days in Mammoth the last week in February. 5 days in San Diego (visit my folks). 5 days in Tampa (golf mancation).

What I am holding back on, is buying a new vehicle...

[the Disemboweler]

what do think this is the alpinezone or something?

as far as the recession, this is just the tip of the iceberg. long & deep ... i don't think we see recovery until the 2nd qtr of 2010. unemployment upwards of 8-9%.

thankfully the drop in gas prices - the only positive side effect of the crisis, will help a bit. if gas was still upward of $4.00, we would have definitely cherry picked our weekends a bit, probably sitting out marginal weekends.

for non-pass holder/non-share house types, it's probably a different tune. i'm thinking people have just shut their wallets in general and hunkering down until this mess is over. skiing's probably a luxury they can do without or less of this winter. we're not doing our usual western trip this year and i'm sure others are in the same boat. i'd be shorting the ski industry hard cause they're gonna get killed this winter. just hope it doesn't cause the resorts to cut back on snowmaking etc. hey geoff, you wanna see detoxified slopes - wait 'til this winter ...

couldnt have written that better!!!! k will be EMPTY this season!!!!

[JerseyGuy]

Yup. I think K-Mart blew their chance at anything approaching a happily profitable season by posting a second straight down year in season pass sales.

Paid skier visits? Fuhgeddaboutit. The Okemos of the world (with season pass sales going through the roof, again, the Muellers really owe Powdr and K-Marketing a nice thank-you card) will fare better with at least SOME money in hand, but even those folks are going to suffer.

The resorts that are really going to take it in the shorts this year are out West.

[skiadikt]

Yup. I think K-Mart blew their chance at anything approaching a happily profitable season by posting a second straight down year in season pass sales.

Paid skier visits? Fuhgeddaboutit. The Okemos of the world (with season pass sales going through the roof, again, the Muellers really owe Powdr and K-Marketing a nice thank-you card) will fare better with at least SOME money in hand, but even those folks are going to suffer.

The resorts that are really going to take it in the shorts this year are out West.

yeah jg, that may be the only saving grace for eastern this season is folks staying closer to home.

[skiadikt]

Yup. I think K-Mart blew their chance at anything approaching a happily profitable season by posting a second straight down year in season pass sales.

Paid skier visits? Fuhgeddaboutit. The Okemos of the world (with season pass sales going through the roof, again, the Muellers really owe Powdr and K-Marketing a nice thank-you card) will fare better with at least SOME money in hand, but even those folks are going to suffer.

The resorts that are really going to take it in the shorts this year are out West.

yeah jg, that may be the only saving grace for eastern resorts this season is folks staying closer to home.

[rogman]

The ski areas will be off a little, shops a lot. People will still ski, but choose to get another year out of their equipment and clothing. Destination resorts (i.e. Europe and the West) will feel the pinch, as visitors opt for trips closer to home that they can book at the last minute. Two buck gas will help, but that too will start creeping back up before long. Last year was a great snow year. Chances are this year will return to average, and thus skier visits would be off anyway.

[boston_e]

If gas prices stay hovering in the low 2's then my number of trips won't be affected much, but I'll probablly be more tempted to do the stay over sat night and ski sunday type of trip. (Slopes are less crowded anyway on Sunday and the $20 express card discount is attractive).

I will most likely not buy any new gear, where in the past I might have bought new stuff just because (even if it was something I truly didn't need).

[RENO]

Only spent $50 for boots which was a super bargain. Gas prices reallyyyyyyyyy help a lot with my long drive to work and K. Pass is paid. Condo costs the same like Stormchaser says. Western trip is booked and paid for. I found some great deals on flight, lodging and SUV rental. Yes I worry about what's going on and I look for more bargains and have cut costs in several areas, but unless I lose my job I'm living my life. I would lose my mind if I didn't go riding. I'm not gonna hide in my house. Riding and being in the mountains is a big part of who I am...

[JerseyGuy]

The ski areas will be off a little, shops a lot. People will still ski, but choose to get another year out of their equipment and clothing.

Good point. Given the choice, most skiers will put their money where their truer passion lies: the experience on the snow, not the toys they use on the snow.