FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Jennifer Rudolph, 303.866.9712, Jennifer@ColoradoSki.com
Nick Bohnenkamp, 303.866.9724, Nick@ColoradoSki.com
COLORADO SKIER VISITATION REFLECTS A HEALTHY INDUSTRY
Resorts Overcome Slow Start To Enjoy Robust Holiday
DENVER, Colo. - January 17, 2008 - Colorado Ski Country USA announced today its 26 member resorts reported solid skier visitation for the beginning of the winter season. Colorado's ski resorts hosted an estimated 2,873,363 skiers and snowboarders during the first period of the 2007-08 winter season, defined as October 10 - December 31, 2007. Although this is a decrease of roughly 12.5 percent from last season's record setting first period, this year's visitation numbers are more in line with a typical ski season.
"Seeing numbers this strong after a slow start to the season is testament to our 26 resorts and everything Colorado has to offer," stated Rob Perlman, president and CEO of Colorado Ski Country USA. "Along with Colorado, other regions and ski destinations had great snowfall in December and because of that, visitation is spread across the country. It's an indicator of the health of the industry overall."
Several factors come into play in defining this season's first period numbers. The 2007 Thanksgiving holiday fell earlier in the month than usual. This, coupled with low snowfall totals in November and several resorts delaying their opening dates, got skier visits off to a slow start.
The lack of precipitation in November was quickly made up for in December when Colorado received large amounts of snow, breaking December snowfall records at some resorts, and topping out at 16 feet in Wolf Creek at the end of 2007. With all this great snow, resorts then faced the challenging effects of inclement weather on travel.
"Not every year can be a record breaking year, and while we are comfortable with where we are today, we are confident that Colorado will continue on its steady pace as ski industry leader," adds Perlman. "January visits are proving to be strong, telling us that folks are traveling in 2008, which is great since Colorado still has the majority of winter left."
Skier visits are the metric used to track participation in skiing and snowboarding. A skier visit represents a person participating in the sport of skiing or snowboarding for any part of one day at a mountain resort.
# # #
Colorado Ski Country USA is the not-for-profit trade association
representing Colorado's 26 ski & snowboard resorts. Information
about the organization and its members can be found at www.coloradoski.com.
