Snow sports feel hard hit from economy

Many students have seen noticeable increase in cost in their favorite winter pastime

By: Gail Cole

Posted: 1/6/09

Will skiing and snowboarding soon be too expensive for the average OSU student?

Like the auto and retail industries, the economic downturn has impacted the ski and snowboard industry causing resorts to raise prices and cut operating costs.

Ski areas around the nation, especially in the Rocky Mountains, are seeing decreases in visitor attendance due to the economic recession. Aspen Skiing Company, operating Aspen/Snowmass resorts, said they expect to see business drop by 10 to 15 percent this season, according to a Dec. 10 Associated Press story titled "A lift for skiers: Recession spurs deals on the slopes."

The reduction in revenue has forced resorts to look for ways to save money.

For example, Vail Resorts, Inc. has laid off 50 workers and does not plan on hiring for 92 of the seasonal positions according to the same AP story. Vail Resorts, Inc. owns five large western ski resorts, including Vail and Breckenridge in Colorado.

Not all resorts are hurting. Some East Coast and California resorts are seeing increases, such as Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort in California, which had a 30 percent increase in season pass sales according to the same AP story.

Rising prices have affected many Pacific Northwest ski areas. OSU students have found that prices have risen on everything from lift tickets to equipment and rentals.

"It's gotten more expensive," said Nick Katt, a sophomore in exercise and sports science. After skiing at White Pass in Washington over winter break, he noticed that daily lift tickets have risen to nearly $50 this season.

Tickets for popular Oregon resorts have similarly high prices. A daily adult lift ticket at Mt. Bachelor costs $58, while a holiday/peak season lift ticket costs $69, according to the resort's website.

Holiday/peak pricing applies during the end of December, Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend, President's Day weekend and all Saturdays during the season.

Mt. Hood Meadows offers special college student prices with a valid student ID: regular daily and night tickets are found at $44, according to the resort's website.

Besides lift ticket prices, students have found that even rental ski and snowboard equipment at resorts has become more expensive and difficult to rent.

"There are more waivers … to sign; there's more loops to jump through to rent now," Katt said and added that he's thinking that this keeps resorts from losing money on damaged rentals.

Students have also noticed that purchasing ski and snowboard equipment has also become more expensive.

"Even for people beginning snowboarding, it's hard for them to go out and get gear … to snowboard," Katt said.

Brian Benson, a graduate student in mechanical engineering, has lately been repairing his snowboard and other outdoor equipment on his own instead of purchasing new items as a way to save money.

"I'm usually pretty quick to replace equipment that's wearing out, but (now) I'm trying to get things just to work," Benson said.

Skiing and snowboarding, often thought of as elite activities, may be losing even their middle class base.

Benson, who went to Mt. Bachelor over break, noticed less skiers and snowboarders who appeared to be middle- and lower-class.

"The people who were there had a little more money," he said.

Gail Cole, senior reporter

news@dailybarometer.com, 737-2231