Snowy Spring Helping Ski Industry Weather Economic Downturn

05.24.2010 by Elizabeth Ziegler

(KCPW News) The slopes at Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort will remain open into late June this year, marking one of the longest ski seasons in its history. A flurry of late spring snow has helped turn around a season that started out very slowly. Snowbird spokesman Jared Ishkanian says the late ski season will help the resort’s bottom line, and is especially welcome in this economic climate.

“Typically, early June can be a little bit of a lull for us, if we’re not offering skiing, because it’s definitely a little bit of a gap period between when we’re offering skiing and when we’re offering our summer activities,” Ishkanian says. “So, I think it definitely helps us economy-wise. I think everyone knows it was a little bit of a tricky year for the ski industry.”

Ishkanian says the economic downturn in 2008 had forced the company to re-evaluate its economic projections and adjust its profit margins. But so far this year, he says Snowbird has seen strong skier numbers.

The ski industry contributes roughly $1 billion to Utah’s economy annually. Jessica Kunzer, spokeswoman for industry association Ski Utah, says the economic downturn has had an impact in previous seasons. Ski Utah will release details from this year’s season in June.

“It’s certainly a great way to end the season when we don’t have a shortage of snow and the conditions are still great. There’s great correlations between snow and bookings, that’s the business we’re in,” Kunzer says. “And if nothing else, it might help consumer confidence as we head into next season.”

Snowbird has the longest ski season in the state and is the only resort still open. This year, the slopes will remain open until June 20, for a total of 199 days. That’s just two days short of the longest Snowbird season on record. The 2004-05 season extended to July 4.