Skiing is a recreational and competitive sport enjoyed by millions of people around the world. As locations such as Skiing become more and more popular, the demand for ski equipment increases. This, in turn, leads to more people skiing and more people wanting to enjoy the experience on holiday. This article looks at how many people ski in Colorado, which towns and resorts see the most action, and the latest trends relating to ski gear and clothing.
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The 2016 Skiing Season
The 2016 ski season was one of the best on record with 131 skiing days recorded across the whole state. This was 2 days more than the 2015/2014 season and it saw an increase of 7 days compared to the previous year. The season began on September 16th with the first snowfall and it didn’t stop falling all season long. As a result, total snowfall came in at 89.8 inches, beating the previous record of 87.0 inches set in 2015. This was the 12th consecutive year that Colorado saw at least 10 inch snows.](https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2016/jan/16/colorado-snow-is-back-record-breaking-snowfall-in-2016)
Record Numbers Of People Skiing In Colorado
The number of people skiing in Colorado increased by 14% in 2016 compared to the previous year. This increase was fueled by a 45% rise in the number of people taking up skiing as a sport. Those going on holiday to the state increased from 870,000 to 1.05 million in the last year alone. This year’s figure was also up on 2014, 2013, 2012 and 2011.
The Biggest Jump In Skiing Visitation
The biggest increase in ski visitation in 2016 was recorded at Arapahoe Basin. This U.S. Skiing ski area saw a 27% spike in visits this year compared to the previous season. Likewise, Breckenridge saw a 22% increase and Beaver Creek and Keystone saw a 14% rise. These are the top five most visited U.S. Skiing ski areas in 2016.
Other notable increases in ski visitation included Eldora in Southern Colorado, which saw a 120% rise, and Silverton in the Northern part of the state, which saw a 104% increase. Also, Red Wolf in the Middle Park region of the state saw a 79% increase in ski visits.
The Fastest Rising Resort?
The rise of several Colorado ski resorts shows no sign of slowing down in 2017 with Breckenridge, Keystone and Arapahoe Basin set to lead the way. The three resorts saw a combined increase of 29.5% in 2017.
Keystone Resorts
Keystone Resorts is the parent company behind the Breckenridge, Keystone and Arapahoe Basin resorts. The company bought these three resorts in 2013 and have been gradually updating them to meet modern standards. The largest investment undertaken by the company was the construction of a supertrail known as The Maze, which debuted in the 2016/2017 season. The trail consists of eight new trails that are linked by the Keystone Pass. It’s a 17.5 mile loop that will take expert skiers and snowboarders a good part of the day to complete. The trails range from beginner to expert and the views are breathtaking making it one of the most desirable ski trips in Colorado. In addition to the supertrail, renovations were also made to the beginner area and parking was expanded to accommodate more vehicles. This is all part of the ongoing investment plan designed to drive future growth at these popular resorts.
Arapahoe Basin Resorts
Arapahoe Basin is the other major parent company behind the Summit, Snowmass and Centennial ski resort regions. Having bought these resorts in 2012, the company has been steadily increasing the number of trails and snowboard parks whilst also expanding the terrain and upgrading the infrastructure. The biggest investment undertaken by the company was the construction of the Supertrail 34, which debuted in the 2015/2016 season. The trail connects all the resorts via the Arapahoe Pass and is a 25.8 mile continuous loop offering excellent panoramic views and challenging twists and turns. In addition to the supertrail, other renovations have also taken place including Summit’s Snowdeck, which boasts the longest snowboard park in the world. The Snowmass Mountain region also saw an upgrade with the opening of the Snowmass Nordic Center, which features a cross-country skiing course, a snowshoe trail, and a slope-side apron with heating elements. Finally, the company bought a sport hut at Centennial for $50,000 which it then rented out for $12,000 per day. The centennial resort also saw a new snow park with eight trails and an expanded snowflake village, both of which were constructed in the previous year. This is all part of the company’s strategy to become one of the largest and most influential ski resort operators in North America.
Breckenridge Resorts
Breckenridge Resorts Limited bought the Breckenridge Ski Resort in 2010 for a bargain price of $12.8 million. Since then, the company has been investing heavily in the resort, most notably the K2 peak, which was opened in 2012 and is the tallest one in the state. This year, the company will open the Freeride terrain park, which will feature six trails and the world’s first double launch ramp.
Breckenridge is also renowned for its gondola, which was refurbished in 2015 and provides panoramic views of the surrounding peaks and valleys. The summit building’s restaurant, Summit Coffee, serves a range of cuisines and has breathtaking views of the San Jacinto Mountains.
Other Resorts That Saw Increases
Other resorts that saw an increase in visitation in 2016 include Blackcomb in the European Alps, which saw a 21.3% rise, Hotham in Australia, which saw a 16.8% increase, and Portillo in Chile, which saw an increase of 15.3%. Interestingly, the Galápagos Islands in the Pacific saw a decrease in visits this year – down 4% compared to 2015.
What Does The Future Of Colorado Skiing Look Like?
The future of Colorado skiing looks extremely positive in terms of growth, with several major resorts set to see significant expansion in the coming years. This includes Arapahoe Basin, which will see the addition of at least 10 sleeping mattresses for tourists in 2017, and Breckenridge, which will add an intermediate slope in 2018. The largest ski resort in North America, Mammoth Mountain, also has a plan to expand, and this includes building a 4,000 square foot lodge and adding a trail network.
Where Do I Ski In Colorado?
The biggest U.S. ski resort is located in Vail, Colorado, which is in the Western part of the state. The town is renowned for its excellent restaurants, bars and shopping centres, which attract visitors from all over the world. This year, Vail played host to the 20th annual Vail Ski Festival, which attracted 22,000 visitors. This figure was up on 2015 and 2014 but down on the 24,000 attendees recorded in 2012. The festival showcased the very best of the resort’s winter sports and music, with competitions in skiing, snowboarding, and snowball fighting.
Another major resort located in the Western part of the state is Bryce Canyon. The canyon itself is located in Utah, but the Ski Utah sport season starts in October and finishes in June, so most of the action takes place at the Skiing USA resort, located in Ski Canyons, Utah. This year, the Skiing Utah resort experienced its best season yet with 652,000 visitors over the 6-month period. That’s up 15% compared to the previous year and makes Skiing Utah the second most popular winter sport in the state of Utah.