USA Skier Visits Down From Last Season:

The US ski industry just saw its second worst winter in 15 years.  According to the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA), skier visits totaled 53.6 million in the USA in 2014/15 which was a 5% decrease from the previous year and a 3.8% decline from the 5 year average of 55.7 million.  Every region in the USA, despite record numbers in Vermont, experienced a decrease in skier visits this season compared to last season.

NATIONAL SKIER VISITS

2014-15: 53.60 million

2013-14: 56.49 million

2012-13: 56.90 million

2011-12: 50.97 million

2010-11: 60.54 million

In the past 15 years, the only season that was worse than this past season was 2011/12 with 50.97 million skier visits.  The record number of skier visits in the USA was 60.54 million set the year prior in 2010/11.

The main reason for the bad skier visits numbers was a lack of snow.  Snowfall in the USA was down 28% nationally with California having it’s worst snow year on record.  The Northeast had an average snow year but huge snowfalls kept city folks from being able to make it to the mountains easily.

Mt. Baker averages 641 inches of snow and only got 124 inches this year and was closed most of the season.  Over 20 West Coast ski resorts were forced to close their doors mid winter with some shutting down in January and February due to a profound lack of snow.

Utah saw 41% of their average annual snowfall this season while Colorado saw below average snowfall, but they only lost .5% on their record breaking previous season.  The NSAA reports that Colorado ski resorts trailed their record skier visit numbers from last year, but were still above the 5 year average.

“We saw that even despite the variances in weather and snow, our destination visitors were committed to coming to Colorado.” – Jennifer Rudolph, Colorado Ski Country USA spokesperson

The NSAA’s 24-years of snow data reveal that this winter had the lowest snowfall on record for the Pacific Southwest, Pacific Northwest, and Rocky Mountains.  

Low skier visit numbers hurts mountain economies profoundly.  Shops, restaurants, hotels, ski resorts, groceries stores, and all their employees depend on steady skier visit numbers to survive.

The Northeast and Southeast regions were down in skier visits from the previous year, but above the 5 year average.

Season pass sales were up 6.2% across the country compared to the previous season and international visit were up by “double digits”, according to the NSAA.

“This was especially encouraging, because this growth occurred against the backdrop of a strong dollar, which often translates into fewer international visits.  In 2014-15, international visits accounted for 6 percent of all skier visits to American ski areas, up from 5.6 percent (the prior season).” – NSAA

The ski industry is clearly going to have to rely more and more on snowmaking.  We’ve all got our fingers crossed for the forecast strong El Nino and hopefully the strong La Nina that will follow it.