Well this is a surprise. Ski Utah released the final skier numbers for the 2017/18 season and, despite the terrible snow year, we had the 6th best season ever. The report also shows that it was the second best in terms of economic impact. I guess in Utah, even when the skiing is bad, it’s good.
Here’s the full press release from Ski Utah:
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (June 18, 2018) – Despite limited help from Mother Nature during the 2017-18 ski season, Utah ski areas posted their sixth best season in terms of skier visits. Starting Nov. 21 at Brighton Resort and ending May 13 at Snowbird, visits for the season totaled 4,145,321 – down 9.6 percent from last season’s all-time record and even with Utah’s 10-year average.
Nationally, skier days were down slightly to 53.3 million, a 2.8 percent decrease from last season’s 54.8 million. Snowfall, an important metric in driving visitation, was down in most regions across the U.S. Statewide Utah snowfall totals were just 60 percent of average, with Wasatch valley temperatures three to five degrees above normal during the ski season, according to Brian McInerney, hydrologist with the National Weather Service.
Despite the decline in visits, total ski/snowboard-related spending in Utah remained strong at $1.322 billion versus last year’s all-time record of $1.431 billion, buoyed by out-of-state per skier expenditures rising from $309 per capita per day last year to $337 in 2017-18. Utah resident per day spending remained flat at $107 per capita per day versus $106 last year.
“Utah’s ski industry continues to be a strong player in driving the state’s tourism and economy,” said Ski Utah President Nathan Rafferty. “Multiple factors need to come together to make a successful ski season and, with limited natural snowfall, Utah’s resorts stepped up by investing in snowmaking infrastructure and delivering unparalleled experiences for skiers and riders on and off the slopes.”
Total Utah statewide skier days for the past 10 years are as follows:
All-Time Rank
(Last 10 yrs.)
2017/18 – 6th place: 4,145,321 skier visits
2016/17 – 1st place: 4,584,658 skier visits
2015/16 – 2nd place: 4,457,575 skier visits
2014/15 – 10th place: 3,946,762 skier visits
2013/14 – 5th place: 4,148,573 skier visits
2012/13 – 8th place: 4,018,812 skier visits
2011/12 – 11th place: 3,825,090 skier visits
2010/11 – 4th place: 4,247,510 skier visits
2009/10 – 7th place: 4,070,822 skier visits
2008/09 – 9th place: 3,972,984 skier visits