Kash Russell, of Midway, 8, descends a slope at Brighton Ski Resort on Sunday, April 22, 2018, in Brighton. Sunday marked the last day of the 2017-18 season. (Photo: Jacob Wiegand, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY –Despite lower than average snowfall this last season, Utah’s ski resorts are celebrating an impressive number of visitors. It was the sixth-best season in state history, and the second-best for economic impact.
“1.32 billion dollars in spending,” says Ski Utah President Nathan Rafferty.
The season, with just 60-percent of average snowfall, was a bit of a let-down for resident skiers and boarders.
“Especially if you are a powder-loving local,” said Rafferty. “That’s more than a lot of big-time ski destinations get.”
Ski Utah credits ski resorts for stepping up their snow-making efforts and investing in ways people can have as much fun off the slopes as they would on them.
“There’s so much more to a ‘ski vacation’ than just the skiing,” says Rafferty.
Resorts across the state welcomed over 4.1 million visitors from November to May. “Skier days” were down nearly 3-percent nationwide.
*The National Ski Areas Association defines ‘skier days’ as one person visiting a ski area for all or any part of a day or night for the purpose of skiing/snowboarding.