Skift Take

Proactive resorts look to ensure a profitable season by offering multi-mountain deals for early bookers and installing snowmaking equipment to avoid a dry spell that led to last year’s disappointing turnout.

Among values at resorts, Arapahoe Basin is offering a season pass that’s good for two seasons instead of one. And Aspen/Snowmass is teaming with Alta in Utah, Jackson Hole in Wyoming and Squaw Valley/Alpine Meadows in California to offer a $349 pass that includes two free days at each of the four destinations, plus steep discounts on lodging and additional lift tickets. By contrast, a single-day ticket at the Aspen ticket window reached $108 during the busiest times last season.

Passes that offer access to more than one resort are becoming more commonplace. The number of resorts where Monarch Mountain’s season pass holders can ride for free or for a discounted rate is up to 31 this season, and a few international destinations are included. This winter Vail Resorts Inc.’s top-of-the-line Epic Pass offers three free days at Verbier and the other resorts that make up Les 4 Vallees in Switzerland.

Skier Rich Maloy of Boulder didn’t buy a season pass after moving to Colorado from New York last year, partly due to poor snow. But this year, he bought an Epic Local pass from Vail Resorts for access, with some restrictions, to the company’s seven resorts plus Arapahoe Basin, along with a four-pack, good for four days at Loveland.

“It’s based on the irrational hope that last year was the anomalous bad season, and this year will be amazing,” said Maloy, 37. “I’m taking a gamble this year. If it pays off, that’s even more irrational incentive to buy one next year.”

Vail Resorts, whose Colorado resorts include Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Vail, reported strong spring sales of its season passes. An update is expected later this month when it reports quarterly revenue.

There were an estimated 11 million skier visits to Colorado resorts last year, down almost 10 percent from the previous season, according to Vail Resorts and the trade group Colorado Ski Country USA. Industry officials blamed one of the driest winters on record.

Arapahoe Basin, Winter Park, Steamboat and Telluride are among resorts that have added new snowmaking and snow grooming equipment to help keep trails in satisfactory condition when there’s not enough natural snow. Vail is adding a gondola with heated cabins and Wi-Fi for moving visitors uphill in comfort.

Resorts also are adding attractions that don’t need snow. Copper Mountain, for one, added a zip line above its ice rink.

Vail, Eldora and Steamboat celebrate their 50th anniversaries this season with on- and off-mountain activities. The Vail Snow Daze festival, sponsored by Vail and others, amped up the star power for the occasion by scheduling The Shins to play Dec. 13, Michael Franti & Spearhead on Dec. 14 and Wilco on Dec. 15. Concertgoers will have to buy tickets.

Beyond weak snow, Colorado’s ski industry dealt with tragedy last winter, with avalanches killing skiers at Winter Park Resort and Vail Mountain. The victims’ families have filed lawsuits against the resorts’ operators.

Avalanche deaths are rare within resort boundaries. And beyond avalanches, there are generally some skier and snowboarder deaths every season.

The National Ski Areas Association estimates two-thirds of skiers and snowboarders now wear helmets at U.S. ski areas. Several Colorado ski areas require children in ski school to wear them. Aspen Skiing Co. and Vail Resorts Inc. require on-duty employees to wear helmets while riding.

Copyright (2012) Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

smartphone

The Daily Newsletter

Our daily coverage of the global travel industry. Written by editors and analysts from across Skift’s brands.

Have a confidential tip for Skift? Get in touch

Tags: colorado, skiing

Photo credit: Drew Rouse skis down the North Rim at Vail Ski Resort in Colorado. Connor Walberg / Flickr

Up Next

Loading next stories