Colorado Ski Country USA Projects Record Skier Visits
Colorado Ski Country USA (CSCUSA) announced at it’s 59th Annual Meeting that skier visits at its 22 member ski resorts increased by 14% during the 2021-22 ski season. CSCUSA is projecting a new statewide skier visitation record, edging out the previous record of 13.8 million visits in 2018-19 by a few hundred thousand. Skier visits during the 2020-21 season totaled 12 million.
Colorado saw a slow start to the winter, with many resorts not receiving significant snowfall until mid-December, causing several resorts to push back their opening dates. Once resorts opened, their teams were hit by the Omicron variant of COVID-19, resulting in staffing challenges just as skiers and snowboarders arrived for the holidays. Snow totals picked up in the second half of the season. A busy February, and a snowy March and April brought a welcome change of pace from the early winter months. Spring saw the return of live music, pond splashes and goggle tans as skiers turned out in force to celebrate the return of après ski.
“Despite the challenges our mountains faced early in the season, we are pleased to report that our business has recovered from the worst impacts of the pandemic,” said CSCUSA President and CEO Melanie Mills. “This winter’s visits have had a positive economic impact in our communities and in our state, while bringing with them challenges that come with growth in visitation,” continued Mills. “That this level of growth comes despite a dry early season and the very limited return of international skiers, is a real credit to the hard work of CSCUSA resort teams and to the warm hospitality of our mountain resort communities.”
"The reason that skiers and riders from across the world come to Colorado every year is for the great snow, the unbeatable mountains, and most importantly, the world class hospitality provided by Coloradans on and off the mountain. CSCUSA acknowledges and thanks everyone in our state who helps make Colorado a world class skiing and snowboarding destination."
