Why Ski Resorts Are Dying - Cheddar Explains

Skiing is the quintessential winter pastime. But recently, the multi-billion dollar industry is in decline. The number of skiers is falling fast and the industry is scrambling to make up the difference. Is this going to be the end of the ski resort?

Further reading:

1: Skiing History

3: AARP

4: Explore Magazine

5: Unofficial Networks

6: Powder Magazine

7: CNBC

8: 5280

9: Bloomberg


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[TheProtocol]

As a twenty year ski patroller, it’s all about the money. They have raised lift ticket prices out of range many people can afford. Shorter hours, old lodges, barely sanitary facilities and overpriced cafeterias.

[phattorangecatto]

Main Reason: Younger Generations are having less and less disposable income. Ski trips have always been tied with higher income groups due to the high costs, People just can't afford it anymore

[cleverusernamecl]

Old people with money are dying and millenials with no money can't afford it. There saved you 9 minutes, you're welcome.

[connorkubilus]

It’s not the lack of passion for the sport. It’s the high cost, over crowding, long lift lines and price gouging at every corner.

[lincolnlipsky]

I was stationed in Germany for years, skiing is dirt cheap in Europe compared to the USA. Resorts need to stop gouging people

[timothyosborn]

If skiing weren't so darned expensive I'd go more often.

[wasclywabbit]

It couldn’t be the $200 lift tickets, paid parking, $20 hamburgers now, could it?

[SolarBearDIY]

I'm with the rest, the cost is the largest barrier. I started skiing in the 70s, and was an avid skier into the early 2000s. The price has gone up exponentially, and is no longer affordable as a family play day. It's sad really.

[CoyoteGuru]

Resort: "Say kid, you wanna slide downhill?"
Guy: "Sure, that sounds neat."
Resort: "That'll be $185 for the ticket, $70 for the skis, $800 for the flight, $200 for the rental car, $150 for the hotel, $200 for the clothes you'll have to buy, $20 for a cheeseburger at the lodge."
Guy: "That's...more than I make in a month, for one day of fun."

Next up: Millennials "killing" wedding industry; rich people dumbfounded

[Digephil]

They really gloss over the fact that ski ticket prices have almost tripled in some places. I used to ski Mt. Rose in 2008-2012 for like $25-30 a day. Checked last year, they're charging over $100!!!

[whatistheirface]

Skiing requires excess income and time off from work.

[DavidSeymourOfficial]

1- We cant afford a $100+ lift ticket per day
2- Climate change
3- We dont have health insurance lol

[Lazarus]

No vacations, no time off, and no money= no skiing. It is as simple as that.

[teatowel]

Failing middle class is the real reason.

[sdfkjllshadflhadfshl]

The problem is that lift ticket prices are skyrocketing. They've priced everyone but the very rich out of the sport.

[jcfc]

My father skied until he died at age 74 from brain cancer. I’m 54 and plan to ski until I die. Skiing is an expensive hobby, I wish lift tickets were cheaper. I started when I was 10. I got one run lesson, here’s who to snowplow. That was it. My brother and I basically taught ourselves to ski.

[kevinwessling]

Let children under 16 ski free -that’s when you learn the most and you’ll keep them for life

[marchurtubise]

I love skiing, but I didn’t realize how expensive it all is until my parents stopped paying for it💀

[mattmorisseau]

We’d ski more if they let us park overnight like our parents did. The business plan of wanting to fill hotel rooms doesn’t really work if no one’s buying them.

[jdubs]

I am 52 and started skiing when I was 2. Raced my entire youth at a pretty high level. Lived in Aspen for most of the 90's as a ski bum. Aspen is a completely different town now than the 90's. Not a good vibe anymore, which I think the vibe of skiing has diminished as well. Sad really. I miss what skiing was in the 80's and 90's.