The last ski season was a tough one. While some resorts were lucky enough to have escaped the worst of the pandemic, many others suffered heavy damage. Now that the winter sports season has ended, it’s a good idea to reflect on the past months and wonder what next year will bring.
Based on the current climate and economic indicators, the ski industry is likely to take a hard hit. Luckily, as of yet, there have been no firm figures provided on the scale of the damage. However, with the resorts that have closed down already, it’s clear that the pandemic had a significant impact on the season.
The Impact Of The Pandemic
Since the start of the year, the number of daily deals, social distancing policies and closures have drastically altered the ski experience. Going to the slopes has become a luxury, reserved only for those who can afford it. The resorts that did not close down, like Whistler and Big Sky, tried their best to keep the magic alive by extending the season. However, the increasing number of cases and the fear of an outbreak doomed the efforts. Even some of the larger resorts, like Tulum and Chile’s Cerro Cathedral, had to close down their slopes. The fear of getting sick with the new coronavirus prevented people from congregating in large groups, and as a result, the season was deeply affected. This was also reflected in the number of people who went skiing: according to the American Institute of Stress, stress levels increased by 26% in the month after the season ended. This was also reflected in the number of people who went skiing: according to the American Institute of Stress, stress levels increased by 26% in the month after the season ended. This trend continued in the following months, with the stress levels of those who had not gone skiing increasing by 39% compared to the month before.
The Resorts That Survived The Pandemic
Fortunately, there were some resorts that weathered the pandemic relatively unscathed. Located in the northern and southern hemispheres, they benefited from steady snowfall and good weather. This allowed them to operate well into April, even though many other resorts had to close down. To give you an idea of where these resorts are, here’s a list of some of the longest-running ski seasons in history, along with the corresponding countries:
- Sun Valley, United States: 34 years
- Stowe, United States: 33 years
- Park City, United States: 32 years
- Leisure Valley, Canada: 31 years
- Vail, United States: 30 years
- Whistler, Canada: 29 years
- Breckenridge, United States: 28 years
- Kitzbuhel, Austria: 27 years
- Oberammergau, Germany: 26 years
- Chile’s Valle Nevado: 25 years
- Val d’Isere, France: 24 years
- New York, United States: 23 years
Based on these figures, the North and South Poles seemed to escape the brunt of the pandemic. The number of people who went skiing in Vail, Colorado, in the month after the season ended, was the highest it has ever been. The following graph provides a snapshot of the season:
This is in contrast to the southern hemisphere, where weather conditions made it one of the worst seasons on record. The Australian ski season saw the fewest people go skiing since the 1950s, with the season officially ending in January 2021. The year before, Australia experienced one of its warmest winters on record. While the ski industry there struggled to make a profit, the resorts that stayed open enjoyed some fantastic conditions. One of the best Australian ski resorts is Thredbo, located in New South Wales. Its Thredbo Supertrail attracted an amazing number of tourists, including many from Asia. Its chairlift operates 365 days a year, and it has the perfect ski in/ski out accommodation. Another great resort in New South Wales is Falls Creek, with its impressive array of accommodation and bars. In Victoria, the best resort is Hotham, with its fantastic restaurant, bars and terrace cafe. The same can be said about Australia’s other ski resort, Falls Creek, with its nightclub, bars and terrace café. These are just a few of the greatest Australian ski resorts; there’s also Mt Baw Baw, which is situated in the southern part of the country. In case you’re wondering, Mount Buller, which is situated in the Victorian region, and Thredbo, which is in New South Wales, are the only Australian ski resorts that border NSW. The map below shows you where all the Australian ski resorts are located:
Weather Conditions In The South Pole Area
The southernmost ski resort, Chile’s Valle Nevado, shut down for the season in March. However, the giant ski resort of Cerro Cathedral, located in the South American country, did not close down despite the pandemic. Thanks to its steady snowfall, the resort’s ski run, Aguja Paso, offers a thrilling skiing experience. The resort also attracted tourists from all over the world, especially from Asia. Its restaurants, bars and terrace cafés offer some fantastic dining experiences. The same can be said of Argentina’s Las Leonas, as well as of Cerro Cathedral’s neighbor to the north, the resort of Villarica. These are just a few of the greatest southern hemisphere ski resorts; there’s also Chile’s Valle San Valentino and Argentina’s Las Leñas. Villarica is actually located in the southern part of the country, near the border with Argentina. If you’re looking for a travel destination with some sunshine and skiing, then these are some of the best places to be. Alternatively, if you’re a cruise ship enthusiast who wants to visit an adventure playground, then take a look at Valle Nevado and Villarica: they’re located right next to each other and both offer magnificent panoramic views of the Andes.
The Resorts That Will Be Reopening Next Year
Based on the current climate and economic indicators, it’s fair to say that the ski industry will have a hard time recovering. However, there are still some resorts that will reopen next year. Located in the northern and southern hemispheres, these resorts benefited from steady snowfall and good weather. This allowed them to operate well into April, even though many other resorts had to close down. Here are some of the longer-running ski seasons that will be returning next year:
- Sun Valley, United States: 34 years
- Stowe, United States: 33 years
- Park City, United States: 32 years
- Leisure Valley, Canada: 31 years
- Vail, United States: 30 years
- Whistler, Canada: 29 years
- Breckenridge, United States: 28 years
- Kitzbuhel, Austria: 27 years
- Oberammergau, Germany: 26 years
- Chile’s Cerro Cathedral: 25 years
- Val d’Isere, France: 24 years
- New York, United States: 23 years
Based on these figures, the North and South Poles seem to escape the brunt of the pandemic. The number of people who went skiing in Vail, Colorado, in the month after the season ended, was the highest it has ever been. The following graph provides a snapshot of the season: