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A late-season surge helped the Aspen Skiing Co. increase its skier visits by an estimated 4 percent over last season, according to a company spokesman.
Skico's Jeff Hanle said the final numbers must still be crunched, but it appears the company logged an increase of 3 to 4 percent over last season's 1.3 million skier visits. That's about an additional 40,000 visits.
March came in like a lamb and finished like a lion businesswise for Skico.
"The first part of the month was horrible," Hanle said. "The second part of the month was fantastic. It was beyond our projections."
In an interview with the Rocky Mountain News last month, Skico President and Chief Executive Officer Pat O'Donnell explained how important March and April are to the company. It takes roughly 100 days in a typical ski season to make enough money to pay the bills, O'Donnell explained. The company's profits come in the final 40 or so days of the season - in March and April, he said.
"March is make or break time for the ski industry," Hanle confirmed.
A ski area operator must have a solid season through February to be in a position to reap the benefits in March, he said. It's not like everything in March is automatically gravy.
But generally speaking, after 90 to 100 days of skiing "we're looking at the point where we're starting to make money," Hanle said.
Skico's skier visits - the number of lift tickets sold for a half- or full day - were up slightly for the season through February. That gain was disappearing during the first half of March, then came back strong.
"We did pick up ground in March," said Hanle. "We're more than 10 percent above last March."
Snow conditions were the opposite of March 2004, when unseasonably warm weather ate into the base. This year the lifts closed down while the slopes were still covered. Another factor for the strong showing in March was Easter fell during the month. It often comes in April.
Hanle said Skico officials knew advance reservations in Aspen's hotels were strong during the last half of March so they anticipated a strong close to the season. That strong booking carried into the first week of April.
Skico won't reconsider keeping any terrain open despite the outstanding conditions. Aspen Mountain and Snowmass closed Sunday; Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk closed a week earlier.
Skico has also restricted uphill travel on Aspen Mountain, Snowmass and Highlands. The company has started work logging and skidding timber from Deep Temerity at Highlands. At Aspen Mountain the Summer Road will be cleared shortly so work can begin on the upper and lower terminals of the Silver Queen Gondola to prepare for replacing the cabins this summer. At Snowmass new chairlifts are being installed. Uphillers are still welcome at Buttermilk. (See On the Hill for details.)
Scott Condon's e-mail address is scondon@aspentimes.com
Skico's Jeff Hanle said the final numbers must still be crunched, but it appears the company logged an increase of 3 to 4 percent over last season's 1.3 million skier visits. That's about an additional 40,000 visits.
March came in like a lamb and finished like a lion businesswise for Skico.
"The first part of the month was horrible," Hanle said. "The second part of the month was fantastic. It was beyond our projections."
In an interview with the Rocky Mountain News last month, Skico President and Chief Executive Officer Pat O'Donnell explained how important March and April are to the company. It takes roughly 100 days in a typical ski season to make enough money to pay the bills, O'Donnell explained. The company's profits come in the final 40 or so days of the season - in March and April, he said.
"March is make or break time for the ski industry," Hanle confirmed.
A ski area operator must have a solid season through February to be in a position to reap the benefits in March, he said. It's not like everything in March is automatically gravy.
But generally speaking, after 90 to 100 days of skiing "we're looking at the point where we're starting to make money," Hanle said.
Skico's skier visits - the number of lift tickets sold for a half- or full day - were up slightly for the season through February. That gain was disappearing during the first half of March, then came back strong.
"We did pick up ground in March," said Hanle. "We're more than 10 percent above last March."
Snow conditions were the opposite of March 2004, when unseasonably warm weather ate into the base. This year the lifts closed down while the slopes were still covered. Another factor for the strong showing in March was Easter fell during the month. It often comes in April.
Hanle said Skico officials knew advance reservations in Aspen's hotels were strong during the last half of March so they anticipated a strong close to the season. That strong booking carried into the first week of April.
Skico won't reconsider keeping any terrain open despite the outstanding conditions. Aspen Mountain and Snowmass closed Sunday; Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk closed a week earlier.
Skico has also restricted uphill travel on Aspen Mountain, Snowmass and Highlands. The company has started work logging and skidding timber from Deep Temerity at Highlands. At Aspen Mountain the Summer Road will be cleared shortly so work can begin on the upper and lower terminals of the Silver Queen Gondola to prepare for replacing the cabins this summer. At Snowmass new chairlifts are being installed. Uphillers are still welcome at Buttermilk. (See On the Hill for details.)
Scott Condon's e-mail address is scondon@aspentimes.com
