Snowblog

Snow vs. Recession

By Carson Bennett, 1-12-09

According to the Denver Post on January 7, “Snow Trumped Recession” when it came to the holiday ski season. In fact, even more people visited Vail during the holidays this year than last year. According to the story, “‘History has shown us that skiers are devoted to their sport and even in a slippery economy they will find a way to get out there, especially if the snow is really good,’ said Jennifer Rudolph, spokeswoman for Colorado Ski Country USA, which has 22 member resorts.”

However, the Bulletin in Bend, Oregon, reports dismal holiday numbers. The weather was bad (who wants to ski in “frozen fog” anyway?) but the poor economy took its toll as well. According to Alana Audette, the President and CEO of the Central Oregon Visitor’s Association, “Central Oregon’s lodging community reported occupancy declines ranging from 10 to 30 percent over the holiday period.”

I’m curious. Is snow or recession the stronger motivator?

For me, they both are. For instance, I couldn’t help but buy a Colorado Pass this year, giving me unlimited access to Breckenridge, Keystone and Arapahoe Basin. I couldn’t afford it, but I wanted it, and I did what so many of us infantile gotta-have-it-now people do in this country in that situation. I added it to my already bursting credit card debt.

On the other hand, I really REALLY want to buy myself a complete Alpine Touring setup – skis, bindings, boots, and skins – and even though I have found a few good deals at consignment shops in the area, I haven’t let myself do it. I won’t put it on my credit card.

Was dropping a few hundred bucks on a ski pass (and paying almost a third more than I would have if I had saved up the cash first) worth it? Hell yes. I got first tracks on Montezuma Bowl in Arapahoe Basin. I spent time with friends from California under Chair 6 in Breckenridge. I spent New Year’s Eve, as I always do, with friends in the mountains. If I didn’t have a pass or lift tickets I couldn’t have done any of those things.

Would dropping a few hundred more credit-card-bucks on an AT system be worth it? I guess not. I have another pair of skis that are just fine. They’re five seasons old, the bindings aren’t rock-solid, they’re too narrow to float in deep powder, but I own them already. They work. They give me access any time I want to the three ski areas I mentioned before. Right now, with the economy the way it is and me working three part-time jobs, they’ll do. Will I stop looking for an AT system? Hell no. I just need to have the cash for it first.

That’s my snow vs. recession story, dear snowblog readers. What’s yours? Have any of you changed your winter snow sports routines? Have you bought snowshoes instead of a pass this year? Or have you said, “Screw it,” and plopped the MasterCard down on the counter? Are you still on the slopes every chance you get?

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