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CONTENTS

SUMMER 2018 Features

18

PG. 18
Kottke End of Season Preliminary Results, 2017–18

BY DAVE BELIN
Although the 2017-18 ski/snowboard season was a roller coaster ride for many regions, it ended with some encouraging takeaways. After a challenging
early season, above-average snowfall in March blessed ski areas in many parts of the country. While the weather variability resulted in a slight dip
in visits from the previous season, areas generally reported an increase in the number of operating days and in season pass sales, and a decrease in
unscheduled mid-season closures.

PG. 26 PG. 38
Best Practices for Growing Lift-Accessed How a Ski Area Can Reconnect Us
Mountain Biking To Our Space & Each Other
BY EARL SALINE, NATE FRISTOE & DAVE BELIN BY CURT STEINHORST
Lift-accessed mountain bike parks can be a strong source of summer Relentless virtual distractions make it hard to be “in the now.” How can
revenue if you have resort-wide buy-in, market the sport strategically, areas encourage guests to maintain a mindful presence in the mountains
and offer a variety of trails and programming to appeal to a broad and appreciate all the elements that make skiing and boarding unique?
audience. Here are six customizable strategies for increasing the number We can start by giving skiers and riders more reasons to put down
of riders in your bike park. With such high potential for lift-accessed their phones and engage. The more unfiltered experiences they have,
mountain biking at North American resorts, the period of greatest the greater likelihood they’ll tap into what makes the sport truly
growth still lies ahead. meaningful and memorable.