SAM Magazine—Denver, June 10, 2022—Skier visits for the 2021-22 season at the 22 Colorado Ski Country USA (CSCUSA) member resorts were up 14 percent year-over-year, and CSCUSA is projecting a new statewide skier visit record—including non-CSCUSA member resorts—edging out the previous record of 13.8 million visits in 2018-19 by a few hundred thousand. Skier visits during the 2020-21 season totaled 12 million.  

Colorado saw a slow start to the winter, with many resorts not receiving significant snowfall until mid-December, causing several resorts to push back their opening dates. Once resorts opened, their teams were hit by the Omicron variant of Covid-19, resulting in staffing challenges just as skiers and snowboarders arrived for the holidays. February through April saw more snow and fewer Covid interruptions, leading to an overall successful season. 

“Despite the challenges our mountains faced early in the season, we are pleased to report that our business has recovered from the worst impacts of the pandemic,” said CSCUSA president and CEO Melanie Mills. “This winter’s visits have had a positive economic impact in our communities and in our state, while bringing with them challenges that come with growth in visitation. That this level of growth comes despite a dry early season and the very limited return of international skiers, is a real credit to the hard work of CSCUSA resort teams and to the warm hospitality of our mountain resort communities.”