What have you missed?
As the ski industry looks back on the past season, some stats are looking bleak:
State by state, ski area associations came out with their reports on how the ski season looked.
Utah and Colorado and Vermont are all down for visits over prior year. Vail resorts are cutting staff. Some ski areas did not fare well at all. As with every season, a few resorts and hills shut their doors, possibly for the last time at the end of the season. Blame the economy. Look for deals and promotions to bring you back to skiing his season.
Whistler Blackomb discovered the glacier is shrinking! Well, it has been shrinking in half over the last 100 years. But official scientific reporting allowed us to take notice this summer. You can't blame the economy on that. Maybe you could blame politics and Al Gore that we're noticing.
Despite most reports of a slow year, New York skier visits were up. Plenty of your favorite resorts are expanding operations over the summer and I'll cover the details here in upcoming posts.
If you want to ski now and can afford to travel, there is plenty of snow to be had in the southern hemisphere. Ski Area Management reported July 1st that 60 ski resorts are open around the world. North America offers glacier skiing in a few areas. I know one reader made me envious with proof they were skiing this past weekend at Mount Hood, OR.
As for this Ski Girl....I took a little time away from the keyboard to focus on a few essentials in my life. While i was gone--I won, I won, I won! I won a season ski pass to Okemo and Sunapee. It really does pay to fill out those customer surveys. You really can win. I'm looking forward to a great and long season in 2009-2010 with plenty of New England trips.
I predict plenty of snow, some great gear innovations, and a fantastic showing for great ski girls at the 2010 Olympics and Paralympics in Vancouver.
Summer solstice has passed. The days are getting shorter and the snow is getting closer. Get ready!