Vermont Sees 4.1 Million Skier Visits: An Increase of 1.8% over 2008-2009

[deadheadskier]

increasing bed base also helps increase skier visits. There's been some fairly substantial slopeside lodging additions in the past five years in VT.

 

[catskills]

increasing bed base also helps increase skier visits. There's been some fairly substantial slopeside lodging additions in the past five years in VT.

Interesting. Build the beds first and then the chairlift/trails.

 

[thetrailboss]

Interesting. Build the beds first and then the chairlift/trails.

Not necessarily so. For example, Okemo's Jackson Gore included terrain expansion. Other places, such as Stowe, were by and large built out in terms of terrain but really lacked beds.

 

[Tin Woodsman]

I would like to understand why Vermont posts an increase in skier visits year after year. This year in other states in the Northeast had a decrease.

Its not like Vermont has been installing a lot of additional chair lift capacity in the last 5 years. As you can see from this link, other states have installed more chair lift capacity than Vermont in recent years. With the year after year increase in Vermont skier visits with minimal lift capacity improvments, the lift lines must be getting longer in Vermont. :blink: Its either that or the Vermont skier visit numbers are BS.

http://www.skilifts.org/old/install_na.htm

Maybe it's b/c VT has, by and large, the best combination of snow and terrain, in the NE. Certainly there are excellent mountains in neighboring states, but I don't think any other state offers the quality, quantity (of bigger mtns, at least) and diversity that VT can bring to the table. In a down economy, people are choosing to spend their vacation dollars there instead of the big resorts out west. Also, when you look at the money being put into Mt. Snow, Okemo, SB, Stowe and Jay, it shouldn't be a surprise that VT is on people's minds. There are noteworthy expansions going on elsewhere, but not to the extent we've seen in VT. Just all IMHO.

 

[riverc0il]

Maybe it's b/c VT has, by and large, the best combination of snow and terrain, in the NE.

Not this year though. That is what surprises me. VT is usually night and day lights out the best skiing in the northeast. Things were a lot more even this year. VT still got more snow overall compared to NY, NH, and ME but it was not the dramatic and drastic difference like normal. Burke barely broke 100" .

 

[kcyanks1]

Maybe it's b/c VT has, by and large, the best combination of snow and terrain, in the NE. Certainly there are excellent mountains in neighboring states, but I don't think any other state offers the quality, quantity (of bigger mtns, at least) and diversity that VT can bring to the table. In a down economy, people are choosing to spend their vacation dollars there instead of the big resorts out west. Also, when you look at the money being put into Mt. Snow, Okemo, SB, Stowe and Jay, it shouldn't be a surprise that VT is on people's minds. There are noteworthy expansions going on elsewhere, but not to the extent we've seen in VT. Just all IMHO.

Not this year though. That is what surprises me. VT is usually night and day lights out the best skiing in the northeast. Things were a lot more even this year. VT still got more snow overall compared to NY, NH, and ME but it was not the dramatic and drastic difference like normal. Burke barely broke 100" .

I doubt most people make the types of last-minute go-where-the-snow-is decisions that you do. I figure the average skier (whatever that is), especially for lengthier vacations, will choose his/her destination based on factors other than relative conditions at the time of the trip. Since Vermont has the some of the most well-known ski areas and is generally the best for snow, people go there, even at times that might not be as true as normal. Just my guess.

Edit to add: And for those who have vacation homes or buy season passes well before the season starts, they already have made their decision.

 

[Glenn]

Glenn, I kind of figure that to "earn" my coveted regular corner bar stool at The Mid Station on the weekends, that I've gotta be there! :beer: :lol:

Atta boy! We had some great times with you guys there this past year.

 

[riverc0il]

I doubt most people make the types of last-minute go-where-the-snow-is decisions that you do. I figure the average skier (whatever that is), especially for lengthier vacations, will choose his/her destination based on factors other than relative conditions at the time of the trip. Since Vermont has the some of the most well-known ski areas and is generally the best for snow, people go there, even at times that might not be as true as normal. Just my guess.

Edit to add: And for those who have vacation homes or buy season passes well before the season starts, they already have made their decision.

These folks would not contribute to a season to season increase, though. People who plan vacations in advanced and enjoying going to VT because it generally has better conditions by definition already booked before they knew what conditions were going to be. This would be a micro constant.

A bigger factor would be more people not flying out west that substituted VT instead of NH due to their location e.g. NYC which has a higher population mass than the NH and ME metro areas of NH. I think this seems more likely, folks from NYC, NY, NJ, PA, etc. deciding to drive north instead of flying west. Most of these folks would never get over to NH and ME.

 

[deadheadskier]

I'd like to see that 4.1 number broken out by ski area.

 

[kcyanks1]

I doubt most people make the types of last-minute go-where-the-snow-is decisions that you do. I figure the average skier (whatever that is), especially for lengthier vacations, will choose his/her destination based on factors other than relative conditions at the time of the trip. Since Vermont has the some of the most well-known ski areas and is generally the best for snow, people go there, even at times that might not be as true as normal. Just my guess.

Edit to add: And for those who have vacation homes or buy season passes well before the season starts, they already have made their decision.

These folks would not contribute to a season to season increase, though. People who plan vacations in advanced and enjoying going to VT because it generally has better conditions by definition already booked before they knew what conditions were going to be. This would be a micro constant.

A bigger factor would be more people not flying out west that substituted VT instead of NH due to their location e.g. NYC which has a higher population mass than the NH and ME metro areas of NH. I think this seems more likely, folks from NYC, NY, NJ, PA, etc. deciding to drive north instead of flying west. Most of these folks would never get over to NH and ME.

I understand your point, but if those folks took an extra trip to their standard eastern destination instead of going out west, they would cause the increase. Your comment is of course relevant why those people do go to VT over NH/ME in general. And while I'm not at all the one-(or two)-ski-week(s)-a-year type person, NH/ME really aren't much on my radar either. In my case it isn't just the longer distance (that's part of it) but the fact that I don't have a car, and rely on a ski club I joined for a good part of my eastern skiing.

 

[drjeff]

These folks would not contribute to a season to season increase, though. People who plan vacations in advanced and enjoying going to VT because it generally has better conditions by definition already booked before they knew what conditions were going to be. This would be a micro constant.

A bigger factor would be more people not flying out west that substituted VT instead of NH due to their location e.g. NYC which has a higher population mass than the NH and ME metro areas of NH. I think this seems more likely, folks from NYC, NY, NJ, PA, etc. deciding to drive north instead of flying west. Most of these folks would never get over to NH and ME.

Dead in correct IMHO by riv! With the increases in visits, I think that its safe to day that its coming from the "masses" not the hatdcore skier/rider who tends to go more for where the current snow is, and not just traditional resort reputation. And based on that, VT more than any other New England/Northeast state is geographically (and interstate highway) situated to relatively easily draw from BOTH the vast population centers of NY and Boston

 

[arik]

Maybe its all the great VT craft beers attracting visitors.

 

[catskills]

Interesting looking at NY Ski Clubs websites and where they schedule ski trips. I see day trips to the Catskills. Never an overnight in the Catskills. I see overnight trips to Vermont and Sunday River. I don't see any trips from NY ski clubs to NH.

http://www.skisite.com/clubslist.cfm?state=NY

I don't see any trips to Whiteface or Gore. Even this Albany, NY ski club does not have ski trips to Whiteface or Gore.

http://www.ocskiclub.org/trips.htm

Obviously ski club members have meetings and vote on where they want to have ski trips.

 

[billski]

Dead in correct IMHO by riv! With the increases in visits, I think that its safe to day that its coming from the "masses" not the hatdcore skier/rider who tends to go more for where the current snow is, and not just traditional resort reputation. And based on that, VT more than any other New England/Northeast state is geographically (and interstate highway) situated to relatively easily draw from BOTH the vast population centers of NY and Boston

I hear the word "convenience" used quite often when selecting a resort.