Vail Resorts Blames Bad Snow For Low Skier Numbers So Far This Season

by Sarah Kuta
Last updated: 8:50 AM ET, Fri January 19, 2024

Blame it on the weather: A lack of snow may be responsible for low skier numbers at Vail Resorts mountains so far this season, according to the company.

On Thursday, Vail Resorts gave investors an update on the 2023-24 ski season thus far, offering statistics that compare the early part of the season to the same period last year. (The numbers only included Vail’s North American resorts, and excluded both its Australian ski areas and Andermatt-Sedrun in Switzerland.)

Through Jan. 7, total skier visits were down 16.2 percent compared to last year. However, total lift ticket revenue was up 2.6 percent.

Dining revenue was down 5.8 percent and retail and rental revenue was down 13 percent, though ski school revenue was up 5 percent.

“Conditions across our North American resorts were below average in all regions compared to the strong early season conditions in the prior year period, leading to a decline in both local and destination skier visitation,” said Kirsten Lynch, chief executive officer of Vail Resorts, the publicly traded company headquartered in Colorado that owns and operates more than 40 ski resorts on three continents.

Though the bad early season snow conditions affected all of the company’s North American resorts, it particularly impacted mountains in the eastern United States—including the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast—as well as the company’s resorts near Lake Tahoe.

At those ski resorts, “limited natural snow” and “variable temperatures” translated to delayed opening dates, reduced terrain offerings and even resort closure days during the normally busy holiday season.

Across all North American resorts, local visitors, in particular, were more likely to stay home because of the poor conditions, she added. However, the company’s strong season pass sales “significantly mitigated” the slower start to the season. Skiers and snowboarders who did decide to venture out were also still spending money on lessons, rentals, food and beverage, she added.

Skier, Beaver Creek Resort, Colorado, ski resort, snow

And, thanks to the frigid temperatures and winter storms that pummeled much of the country in mid-January over the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend, many of Vail Resorts’ mountains now have much better snow conditions as the season continues, Lynch said.

“We are looking forward to the remainder of the season given the recently improved conditions, the investments we have made to continue elevating the guest experience and the stability provided by our season pass program," Lynch said.

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