CRESTED BUTTE, Colo.—Colorado’s 26 ski resorts logged an estimated 12.54 million skier visits last season, the second-best season on record, a trade group for the ski industry said Thursday.
The total was down slightly from the record 12.57 million skier visits logged in the 2006-2007 season, Colorado Ski Country USA said. The trade group said the 2007-2008 season was the third straight to top 12.5 million skier visits.
“The fact that Colorado Ski Country achieved more than 12.5 million skier visits in a year that had its share of distractions says great things about the Colorado brand, the dedication of our guests and the caliber of our member resorts,” Colorado Ski Country USA President and CEO Rob Perlman said in a written statement.
A dry fall caused some resorts to push back opening day, but eight resorts broke season snowfall records as the winter stretched on.
Late spring snowstorms helped Arapahoe Basin stay open until last Sunday even though the resort still had almost 3 feet of snow at midmountain. In fact, Aspen Mountain plans to reopen for skiing on 45 acres this weekend.
Some resorts also were hurt because American travelers were worried about the economy, but Colorado Ski Country USA said international visits set a record this season. The group did not release numbers but said international visits were up 21 percent from the previous season.
International guests tended to go to more than one resort, stayed longer than U.S. visitors and spent more than in past seasons, Colorado Ski Country USA said.
A skier visit represents a person who skis or snowboards at a resort for any part of one day.
