Text 
Top of Utah ski areas face dual challenge: lack of snow and a tight economy
By Jeff DeMossOGDEN -- Snow has been about as scarce as good economic news lately, but local ski areas are maintaining an optimistic outlook as they prepare to open for the season later this week.
Snowmaking operations are allowing Snowbasin and Wolf Creek to move ahead with plans to open Friday morning, while Powder Mountain is waiting for nature to grace its slopes with enough flakes.
For the first time since 2000, Snowbasin is opening after Thanksgiving weekend this year.
General Manager Denzel Rowland said crews have been making snow whenever possible and the top75 percent of the mountain should have good coverage by Friday.
Snowbasin's Needles Express gondola and Middle Bowl Triple chairlift, and possibly the new Little Cat beginner lift, will be operating Friday.
Wolf Creek hasn't been able to make snow in a week, but the resort, popular among beginners and night skiers, still plans to open in a limited capacity Friday.
"We had a pretty good start, and then it warmed up on us again," said Mountain Manager Jeff Summers, "but we had some good piles already made. We're excited to get the doors open."
Colder nights this week should facilitate additional snowmaking, he said.
Six of Utah's 13 resorts have opened, with five more scheduled to open Friday and Saturday.
The two northernmost resorts in the state -- Powder Mountain and Beaver Mountain -- have not set opening dates.
With no snowmaking equipment, Powder Mountain depends on Mother Nature to provide opening-day conditions.
Snowmaking can ease the uncertainty surrounding the weather and extend a resort's season, but ski areas do their best business after the big, natural storms, said Carolyn Daniels, marketing director for Powder Mountain.
"We hope it's kind of like last year when the snows came later, but when they came, oh, my goodness," Daniels said.
Weather aside, the state of the economy may provide new challenges for ski areas in a state that has seen mostly boom times in recent years, but local resort officials say preseason indicators have beenhealthy.
"Our season pass sales have been good," Rowland said. "That tells me people are probably staying closer to home."
Daniels said publicity could be a big factor in this season's success.
Snowbasin and Powder Mountain have received a lot of positive press in national magazines and other media recently.
Among others, Ski magazine recently ranked Snowbasin as having the best lifts in western North America. The magazine also gave Snowbasin high marks for on-mountain food, service and overall experience.
Powder Mountain took the magazine's top spot for value, which could be an especially important factor during a recession, Daniels said.
"This was a great year for that to happen," she said. "Finally, this area has been discovered by the media."
Wolf Creek may be the state's smallest ski area, but it's also the least expensive, which Summers said should make it an attractive option this season.
One issue that could affect visitor numbers at Utah resorts this winter is a possible boycott encouraged by supporters of the legalization of same-sex marriage.
Some have called for a boycott of Utah businesses following the passage of a proposal in California overturning that state's allowance of same-sex marriages.
The Salt Lake City-based Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints openly advocated the passage of Proposition 8, and church members donated millionsof dollars to the cause,which angered many who fought to defeat the proposal.
Jessica Kunzer, communication director for the nonprofit marketing group Ski Utah, said there was a lot of concern in the industry immediately following the initial push for a boycott, "but we haven't heard much of that as of late."
"We are aware of it, but we're taking a low-key approach," Kunzer said. "The ski industry doesn't have a position on that issue."
She said it's too early in the season to say how successful it will be, but added that conditions at open resorts are better than people might think.
Regardless of the economy and other external factors, the success of any ski season ultimately comes down to the quality and quantity of snow, Daniels said.
"It all depends on the snow," she said. "I don't think people are giving up recreation."
That seems to be the case in Colorado, where ski resorts say that the Thanksgiving weekend snowfall that reached nearly 5 feet in some areas is bringing more and more people to the slopes.
Several Colorado resorts said their skier-visit totals equaled or exceeded traffic from last year's Thanksgiving holiday.
Rowland expressed confidence that people will still be getting out and skiing despite the nation's weak economy.
"We sell fun, and I don't think people are taking fun out of their lives."
Add Your Comment
Shooter,
Recall in two years when you wanted us boycotters to go away, cuz babycakes, watch what ya wish for.
Please read our posting guidelines before reporting a comment.