Press Release: National Ski Areas Association
December 15, 2000
LAKEWOOD, CO -- Ski resorts across the lower 48 states are basking in the cold this year, celebrating the best
early season snow conditions they have seen in the last three to four years.
Resorts all across the country are reporting excellent skiing conditions, with ``powder'' and ``packed powder''
conditions being the most commonly seen phrases on most reports.
``All of our member resorts are reporting excellent conditions this year, which is a welcome change from the last
three years,'' said Michael Berry, president of the National Ski Areas Association, which represents 332 resorts
across the country. ``The recent storm that blasted across the country may have been bad for commuters and travelers,
but it was a wonderful early Christmas present for skiers and snowboarders, leaving more than a foot of snow at
some resorts.''
Many Colorado resorts, including Aspen, Crested Butte, Steamboat and Telluride, Vail and Winter Park, have received
nearly two feet of snow in the last week and more is in the forecast.
``On November 21, our opening day, we had 70 percent of our mountain open, including some of our steepest terrain,
which we typically aren't able to open until late December,'' said Kelly Ladyga, director of communications at
Telluride. ``We should be 100 percent open by the end of this week, and we're seeing a lot of last minute bookings
into the holidays.''
Resorts surrounding Salt Lake City in Utah, host of the 2002 Winter Olympics, are reporting as much as a five-foot
settled base of snow on the runs.
``This is the best start we have had in the 29 years Snowbird has been open,'' commented Fred Rollins, director
of public relations at Utah's Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort. ``We opened November 10 with mid-season conditions,
and we have had 150 inches of snow already this year. The skiing and snowboarding is outstanding, and we've seen
tremendous response from local and destination guests.''
California resorts have been big winners this season as well, with most resorts reporting between two and four-and-a-half
feet of snow on the ground. ``We've received about a foot of snow in the last couple of days, and it's snowing
right now,'' reported Carrie Roberts, public relations director for Boreal Mountain Resort near Lake Tahoe. ``Mother
Nature has really pitched in this year, and we've opened more terrain earlier than in previous seasons. In fact,
the day after Thanksgiving was a record-breaking day for us, with the most skiers and snowboarders we've ever had.''
Even Big Bear ski area, just one hour from Los Angeles, has a two-and-a-half foot base and 60 percent of its runs
open.
In the Midwest, some ski resorts are opening ahead of schedule. Crystal Mountain (MI) will have 100 percent of
the resort slopes open this coming weekend, Dec. 16-17. Last year, due to warm temps and lack of snowfall, Crystal
did not even open until December 18. And in 1998, opening day was not until December 20.
The story is much the same on the East Coast, where such favorites as Killington (VT) and Sunday River (ME) both
show excellent conditions for pre-Christmas skiing and boarding.
``Things are good this year, much better than in past years,'' said Skip King, vice president of communications
for American Ski Company. ``The temperatures in the Northeast have been perfect for snowmaking, and with the natural
snowfall that we've received, everyone is opening new trails daily. And a real benefit is that business levels
are reflecting this return to normal weather.''
In contrast to previous years, much of Europe is this year suffering from unseasonably warm temperatures and a
lack of the white stuff. In Austria, many resorts that were scheduled to open in late November or early December
have pushed back their opening dates to late December or even later. In the Trois Valles area of France, which
includes the popular resorts of Meribel and Courcehvel, conditions have been reported as being more reminiscent
of April than December.
Scandinavia has been hit particularly hard. Northern Finland is reporting its mildest 'early winter' in 33 years
with many of the country's major resorts desperately short of early season snow. Normally, most resorts would expect
a 12-24 inch base at this time; one of the few resorts open now is reporting just a 5-inch base.
While Canadian ski resorts have fared slightly better than Europe, conditions are still below average. Skier reports
from Whistler and Blackcomb in British Columbia tell of marginal conditions at the base of the ski areas, where
they were downloading the chairlifts instead of skiing to the village due to lack of snow. Resorts in mid and eastern
Canada have been pushing back opening dates as well, but appear ready to open with machine-made snow if the current
colder temperatures hold.
``We know how hard it is to deal with poor early season conditions, so Europe, Scandinavia and Canada have our
sympathies,'' commented Berry.
``On the other hand, resorts in the U.S. are finally having a great early season,'' Berry smiled. ``We're not going
to give any of the snow back.''
SOURCE: National Ski Areas Association