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Show HOLIDAY/JANUARY skier numbers 1997 dwindle Gerard ski passes, but shredders are not a new o figure. The number of skiers By Mark market because they are already counted in the number of “skier” visits. The U.S. Forest Service — landlord in the U.S. is falling as the Baby Boom generation ages, so why do Wasatch ski resorts expand facilities each year? It's a fact: as skiers age, they ski less. Boomers old, and the are now 32 to 50 years U.S. skier market has gradually shrunk by 16% between 1988 and 1994. It’s 18- to 24-year-olds who ski more than anyone one in ten ski. But there aren’t enough GenX’ers to make a statistical dent in general skier declines because Boomers make up fully one-third of the population. Yet all local ski areas, except Alta, are busy replacing double and triple chairlifts with expensive 4- and 6-person lifts. They’re cutting new ski runs, building more restaurants and lodges, and burying pipes for artificial snowmaking. Historically, ski resort profits skyrocketed in the 1970s when Boomers were young adults. At that time, short skis and plastic boots had drastically reduced the skill level needed to ski. In the 1980s the ski industry advertised heavily in southern and Georgia, states like Texas attracting a new market of skiers. In the 90s the number of “skier visits” in the United States — roughly equivalent to lift tickets sold — has been flat. 1995 skier visits hovered at ae 53 million. Silver Lake at Deer Valley. Pei a Snowboarders | folders buy 15% of for Salt Lake area ski resorts — is quick to point out that while new runs and lifts are going in, none of the Salt Lake County ski resorts are expanding beyond their defined Forest Service permit areas. For example, last summer Snowbird, Brighton, and Solitude’ received permission to install one high-speed, 4-person ski lift each. All three lifts use existing ski lift towers. Upgrades were allowed by the Wasatch-Cache Forest supervisor based on past environmental impact studies. Expansions beyond permitted areas — such as Snowbird’s proposed lifts into Mineral Basin and White Pine Canyon, or Snowbird’s planned threestory restaurant on top of Hidden Peak — would get an environmental review and public comment before a decision is made, said Mike Sieg, Salt Lake District Ranger. Is the Forest Service concerned that ski resorts are expanding services while the national market of skiers is shrinking? “Yes,” said Sieg. “It does concern us. However Utah’s ski industry is in about as good a shape as any other, and even with Snowbird’s proposal, we're not talking about big expansion. Growth here is incremental.” On the Summit County side of the Continued on page 11 SAT The Beauty ef All- Wheel-Drive fe re io TEN 1 DAY PASSES WHILE THEY LAST *PRICE STATE STREET ee Yo ae Vie LSS 7200 SU . PLUS TAX & LICENSE. 1 Ue ee eran eV ee ue ee eee DEALER RETAINS REBATE. |
