Ski Utah President Nathan Rafferty was the first to use it, predicting Utah will bounce back this winter and entertain roughly 4.2 million skiers and snowboarders, people just itching to get back onto good snow after the disappointing winter of 2011-12.
Skier-day totals dropped last year to 3.8 million, the lowest since 2003-04, when snow arrived late, picked up for a while in mid-season, then dropped off again. "It was kind of a downer year," Rafferty understated.
The weather pattern hurt the whole U.S. ski industry, he noted, with Utah’s 10 percent drop from 2010-11 (second highest ever at 4.22 million) being less painful than the 16 percent decline nationally.
But after last weekend’s big storm, and with forecasts calling for more snow the weekend, Rafferty is ready to stop talking about how bad last year was and eager to be optimistic that November’s weather is a sign of what’s to come.
Rafferty also said he is not concerned that Utah’s uphill quest to compete with Colorado for skier visits might become more challenging now that Coloradoans have voted to legalize marijuana, reinforcing that state’s claim to be more fun apres-ski than stodgy Utah.
"That may do us more good than harm," he said, noting Utah resorts’ promotion of family ski vacations. "Our goal is never to be Vegas. We’re not after the Vegas crowd, but people who love skiing." Salt Lake Tribune
