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Deposit Photos

KOTTKE

2018/19
SEASON

END OF SEASON STUDY
PRELIMINARY RESULTS

By Dave Belin, Director of Consulting
Services, RRC Associates

THE 2018/19 WINTER SEASON IS IN THE BOOKS, and it was • The Pacific Northwest region saw visits rise by
a successful one for many ski areas in the United States. 4.2 percent to 4.0 million visits
Some regions got off to an early start in November, and • The Midwest region posted a 2.5 percent gain,
other regions stayed open late. Many ski areas reported to 6.4 million visits
great conditions from beginning to end. On the whole, • The Southeast region was up by 1.7 percent to
the 2018/19 season was the fourth best ever nationally, 4.2 million visits
and a record-setting season in the Rocky Mountain region.
The preliminary Kottke report, presented at the NSAA In historical context, four of the six geographic regions and
National Convention and Trade Show in San Diego in early the nation overall performed ahead of their recent 10-season
May, included surveys from 170 ski areas, which account for averages. Over the last 10 seasons, the average number
75 percent of the country’s skier visits. Thanks to the contri- of visits recorded nationally was 55.8 million visits. The
butions of those ski areas, NSAA can accurately measure and 2018/19 season, at a preliminary 59.1 million visits, was up
characterize key metrics of the season in each region of the 5.9 percent from the 10-year average. The Northeast, Rocky
country, in each month of the season, and at ski areas Mountain, Pacific Southwest, and Pacific Northwest regions
of different sizes. were all above their 10-year averages, while the Southeast
The preliminary report for the Kottke study estimated and Midwest regions posted results below their respective
total U.S. downhill snowsports visits at 59.1 million, up 10-year averages.
11 percent from the year before. There were 5.8 million
more skier visits in 2018/19 compared to 2017/18, and
more than half of those incremental visits occurred in the Pacific Northeast
Rocky Mountain region. Northwest
Notably, visits were up in all six geographic regions
Pacific
of the country, underscoring the strength of the season Southwest Rocky
overall. Specifically: Mountain Midwest
• The Pacific Southwest region was up 22.9 percent
to 7.7 million visits Southeast
• The Rocky Mountain region increased by
15.6 percent to a record 24.0 million visits
• The Northeast region grew by 6.2 percent,
to 12.7 million visits

44 | NSAA JOURNAL | SUMMER 2019