Brains
Some winters just don’t deliver — the 2025-26 season in the Western U.S. is a perfect example of that. When snowfall comes up short, the impact goes far beyond a few thin runs or early closures, putting real pressure on the ski areas that communities rely on. These seasons can test the resilience of even the most established mountains, especially the smaller, local hills that don’t have much margin for a bad year.
How skiers and snowboarders respond in these moments can play a meaningful role in what the future looks like when the snow finally returns. Here are our top five ways you can support your local mountain after a poor season.
#5 Be Understanding
Ski areas don’t control the weather, so being patient and realistic goes a long way in supporting your local ski area during a tough year. Resorts are often doing the best they can with limited resources and terrain. Understanding variable conditions and difficult calls like early closures helps show support when they need it most.
You can also engage online and spread the good word. Follow your local resort, share their posts, leave positive reviews, and talk them up. It sounds small, but visibility helps drive visits and keeps them relevant.
#4 Show Up Anyway (and bring a friend)
If your ski area is still open, show up. Skiing and snowboarding are still fun even in low snow years. Buying a lift ticket, grabbing lunch, or booking a lesson helps keep money coming in at a time when resorts need it most, especially late in the season when crowds thin out. Bringing friends or introducing someone new to skiing or snowboarding also goes a long way. Growing the community helps offset dips in participation during tough winters and supports the long-term health of the mountain.
#3 Spend Money on the Mountain
Spending money on the mountain is one of the simplest ways to support your local ski area when conditions have been tough. Skipping the packed cooler once in a while and buying a meal, a drink, or something from the shop helps generate the higher-margin revenue that many smaller resorts rely on to stay afloat. Taking a lesson or clinic is another meaningful way to contribute, even if you’re an experienced skier or rider. Lessons are a key source of income and help keep instructors working through a challenging season.
#2 Support Summer Operations
Many resorts are becoming year-round destinations and often rely on mountain biking, hiking, scenic lift rides, and events to generate steady income during the off-season. Spending time and money there in the summer helps offset winter losses and keeps the operation in a stronger position heading into next season.
#1 Buy Next Year’s Pass Now
Buying a season pass early is likely the most meaningful way to support your local ski area. Spring pass sales are a critical source of cash flow, giving resorts a much-needed financial boost during the off-season when revenue is otherwise pretty limited. Locking in your pass ahead of time helps them cover expenses, plan improvements, and head into next winter on more stable footing. Next season has to be better, so don’t wait. Buy your pass now.
At the end of the day, ski areas depend on more than just snowfall. They rely on the people who show up, stick with them through the lean years, and believe in what they offer beyond perfect conditions. Tough winters come and go, but the strength of a mountain often comes down to the community behind it. The support given now can make all the difference when the snow returns and lifts start spinning again.
