Go ahead, blame the weather. According to Ski Utah, skier visits to the Beehive State’s ski resorts in 2014/15 dropped 4.9 percent from the previous season. In total, this past winter’s total visits of 3,946,762 is the second worst in the last 10 years – the dubious honor of worst season belonging to 2007-2008. In addition, the number is a 2.2 percent decrease from Utah’s 5-year average of 4,037,349.
According to a press release, skier days were down nationally from 56.5 million to 53.6 million – a 5 percent decrease from the previous season. So where is the industry placing blame? The drought in California and Pacific Northwest, and, surprisingly, too much snow and cold weather in the Northeast states that resulted in decreased skier visitation in all six regions, as reported by the National Ski Areas Association.
Things were not good as far as Utah’s weather either, which may speak to the drop in skier visits. According to the National Weather Service, Utah’s statewide annual snowfall was only 41 percent of average. Although the season started off well enough, with Utah ski areas recording between 100 percent and 130 percent above average snowfall as of January 1, 2015, the early season snow, in combination with resort investment in snowmaking, wasn’t enough.
For a little perspective, Utah’s second-worst snowfall during the 1976-77 winter season was equivalent to this year, but back then skier days dropped 53 percent. This is because snowmaking equipment was not available at the time. It’s interesting to see that comparison and how vital snowmaking is to keep resorts open despite bad snowfall years.
Check out the total Utah statewide skier days for the past 10 years below:
- 2014 – 15: 3,946,762 (9th place)
- 2013 – 14: 4,148,573 (3rd place)
- 2012 – 13: 4,018,812 (7th place)
- 2011 – 12: 3,825,090 (10th place)
- 2010 – 11: 4,247,510 (2nd place)
- 2009 – 10: 4,070,822 (5th place)
- 2008 – 09: 3,972,984 (8th place)
- 2007 – 08: 4,249,190 (1st place)
- 2006 – 07: 4,082,094 (4th place)
- 2005 – 06: 4,062,188 (6th place)