Another record season for Utah's 13 ski resorts
The final count released early Wednesday put the number of skier days for 2006-07 at 4,082,094, which is a half-percent increase over the 2005-06 record of 4,062,188. This was the fourth straight record season for Utah resorts.
The final count made Utah No. 3 in total skiers behind Colorado and California.
The final count came as a pleasant surprise since total snowfall was below seasonal averages.
Alta, for example, has an average annual snowfall of 500 inches. This past season it received 402 inches.
In contrast, snowfall for the previous two seasons — 2004-05 and 2005-06 — went well over season averages. Total snowfall for 2004-05 was 670 inches, and for 2005-06 it was over 600 inches.
"We knew it was going to be close," said Nathan Rafferty, president of Ski Utah. "I'd have to say it was the momentum developed over the previous two years and the hard work put in by the resorts to work with what snow fell that carried us this season."
The big three resorts in the Park City area — Park City Mountain Resort, Deer Valley and The Canyons — also posted a record number of skier days.
"We don't have specific data to prove it," continued Rafferty, "but we've got to believe the number of destination skiers was up. In those years where we don't get a lot of snow there's a drop in the number of local skiers. Local skiers have become accustomed to lots of snow and tend to stay away when we don't get as much as we normally do."
Other states around the country did not do as well. Nationally, the number of skier days was down 7 percent. The Eastern resorts were hit particularly hard. For many, the season didn't get underway until February.
Colorado is expected to announce its numbers sometime this week. The general feeling is that Colorado, like Utah, had good snowfall and will therefore end up with a good season.
Utah's 2006-07 season started on schedule with a sufficient base. Brighton, Park City, Solitude, Snowbird, Alta, The Canyons and Brian Head all opened the week of Nov. 15, just before the Thanksgiving rush.
Laura Schaffer, director of public relations for Snowbird, reported that the resort received 40 inches of snow in the first three weeks of November, with 38 of those just prior to the holiday.
"It's funny," she added, "but every time it appeared our snow depths were down, we received a storm. The timing was perfect," she noted.
She, too, as most resort officials reported, felt there was an increase in destination skiers and a level or slight dip in the number of locals visiting the resort.
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