Last Week, the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute at the University of Utah released a detailed fact sheet highlighting the economic contributions of Utah's ski industry. If it seems like the Utah ski industry has changed dramatically in recent years, this study largely confirms it. A few interesting tidbits.
Skier days have really taken off since 2020/21 with each year since setting a new record, reaching 7.1 million in 2022/23. And that 7.1 million was reached with Little Cottonwood being closed by avalanche hazard for the latter part of the season. If it seems like there are more people at the resorts than there used to be that's because there are.
Where did all these skiers come from? During the 2022/23 season, 44% were from Utah. The rest came from all over the place. Want to blame California? They are the biggest non-Utah source, although they represent only 8% of skiers. Colorado is good for 2%. I think they come for the snow.
One graph examined the relationship between annual snowfall (apparently at Alta) and skier days. I look at this chart and I see the variability caused by seasonal variations in snow being somewhat small through about 2017/18 when growth takes off and dominates.
You can access more at https://d36oiwf74r1rap.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/SkiIndustry-FS-April-2024.pdf
you may want to have another look at the link to the report
ReplyDeleteThanks for pointing that out. It's been fixed. I must have clicked on the wrong report link.
DeleteTwo thoughts. I agree and am worried about what skiing looks like in 2050 in a warming climate. Honestly sad to think about.
ReplyDeleteSecond, makes me think that we simply need more supply. This is simple economics. It's a supply and demand issue. With Utah's growth, we should be looking at adding more ski resorts and or increasing the skiable acreage at ski resorts. We talk so much about parking issues, and transportation issues, but not so much about the supply side of the equation. Here's to adding more resorts!
As a Colorado skier I love your continued subtle digs at Colorado’s lack of snow. Steamboat received nearly 400 inches so far this season and people are celebrating, while my local mountain, Sunlight, probably didn’t even hit 200
ReplyDeleteWould love to find a similar article for Colorado about how many Utahns come out to Silverton, Wolfcreek, and Steamboat for the snow. None of you Utahns want to accept that both states have great snow haha
ReplyDeleteColorado has great terrain, but not so much the snow.
DeleteWill second this as someone who visits SW CO nearly every season to hit Wolf, Purg and even Silverton this year (worth the trip). The San Juans have some of the best and driest snow in the state, however while quality is there quantity often isn't. UT continues to consistently get some of the best quality AND quantity of any state out west. If someone could offer a compelling argument otherwise I would be eager to entertain.
DeleteFor the record, I skied 3 days at Steamboat this winter, but it was work related. I even have a baseball hat to show for it.
DeleteThe little digs are all in good fun, but really it is a bit of an issue of quantity not quality.
Speaking of sking -- have you seen this ... it's quite the PFAS mind blower ... https://www.sltrib.com/news/environment/2024/04/15/skis-snow-forever-chemicals-water/
ReplyDeleteSki Utah needs to be 100% defunded/disbanded. Get their closing shot in front of the "Mission Accomplished" banner and then get the F out of utah.
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