intoduction

The mountains are calling, and people are responding. During the cooler months at higher elevations, Downhill Snowsport participation has risen over the years. Downhill Snowsports refers to downhill skiing and snowboarding, and will be used interchangeably. According to the National Ski Area Association (NSAA), the estimated domestic participants in the United States has grown from just shy of 9 million annual visitors in the late 1990s to about 11.6 million visitors during the 2022-2023 season [1]. Not only has popularity in activities like skiing and snowboarding grown domestically but has also been drawing in an increasing international crowd. During the 2022-2023 season, between domestic and international, the total number of visitors was an astonishing 65.4 million just in the United States [2]. Despite the timeless allure of the Alps and Japan’s legendary powder, the United States boasts the highest number of ski resort visitors annually for any single country. The popularity also comes with a favorable economic effect. The NSAA cites a study done by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), which concluded that in 2022, general outdoor recreation contributed over $1 trillion to the United States’ economy, with just shy of $60 billion coming from Downhill Snowsports. Needless to say, skiing and snowboarding has a massive market, and not just in the United States. According to an article by Travel + Leisure, “there are thousands of ski resorts sprinkled across more than 60 nations” worldwide [3]. The article summarizes 20 of the best ski resorts, with eight located in the United States and two located in Canada. In other words, out of the entire list this author had composed, half of the best Downhill Snowsport areas are in North America.

With the increasing participation and market in Downhill Snowsports, how are skiers and snowboarders accessing and paying for some time on the slopes? In an article written by Sam Weintraub at PeakRankings, he reflects on the “skyrocketing” prices of lift tickets over the year and how enthusiasts can “get the best bang for their buck” [4]. There are ten ski resorts mentioned in the article, each having a single day pass in the hundreds of dollars, with the most expensive having a price tag around $300. However, something that stands out in the article are options to alleviate some of this financial pain. Cue Epic, Ikon, and resort specific passes. Although the cost of a single day on the slopes may be dizzying, these passes allow for a bulk payment prior to the season starting which allows for multiple, sometimes unlimited, days at select ski resorts. In the cases of Epic and Ikon passes, there are dozens of resorts worldwide to use their packages at. Each pass has different tiers for adults, ranging from a few hundred dollars to over one thousand dollars [5] [6]. However, if an enthusiast isn’t fond of the idea of Epic or Ikon, or just has a singular resort in mind, they’re not completely out of luck. Powder Mountain, located in Utah, is an independent ski resort (not associated with Epic or Ikon). Their day passes are also usually in the hundreds of dollars; however, they too offer package deals ranging from the low to mid-thousands of dollars [7]. Some of the resorts which are associated with Epic and Ikon have their package deals as well. Many skiers and snowboarders opt for at least one of these packages to maximize their investment and time on the slopes.

There are plenty of factors which draw people to the slopes. It could be the beauty of the outdoors, the thrill of adrenaline, or bonding at après-ski. Whatever their reasons, there is one essential element required, snow. Especially true over the majority of North America, the winter months into early spring mean snow in the mountains. The basis for snow forming depends on temperature and humidity. In the words of The National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC), “there needs to be moisture in the atmosphere and low temperatures”, specifically “0 degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit)” [8]. However, the normal season for skiing and snowboarding doesn’t always mean ideal conditions. Some factors including high wind speeds and low visibility can deter enthusiasts and even temporarily close runs (common pathways down a mountain), lifts, and even the entire resort. In an article by Emma Brooks from The Ski Lesson, it’s stated that “ski lifts typically close when wind speeds reach between 25 to 40 miles per hour,” but that different technologies of ski lifts have varying lower limits requiring closure for safety reasons [9]. In 2021, multiple lifts were closed at a Colorado resort “due to limited visibility” [10]. To the dismay of many enthusiasts, the normal season doesn’t always ensure enough snow. During the 2023-2024 season, a popular destination in Montana, Teton Pass, closed “halfway through” the season [11]. The article also issued a warning that the “trend of declining snowfall is expected to continue” and this could deal a “harsh blow to the ski industry over the next few decades.” Considering entire communities and a booming industry are built around an expectation that enough snow will fall in certain areas during the winter, this is an eerie reminder just how real climate change is. Research surrounding this topic has been done in depth, including a recent publication by Daniel Scott and Rober Steiger in "How climate change is damaging the US ski industry" [12].

Aside from the snow being a factor, what exactly draws people to ski resorts? In early 2024, Forbes ranked Les Trois Vallees in France the “most desirable winter sports destination in the world” [13]. Due to the weather surrounding the resort, Les Troi Vallees retains enough snow for 5 continuous months out of the year. With the benefit of having the base necessity, they’ve built up an impressive lift and trail system. The resort offers an impressive 600km total distance of skiable slopes over an elevation change of 612m, with a diverse range of difficulties for all those at any level [13]. The terrain is serviced by 157 ski lifts of varying types, consisting of single person rope tows, the general lifts, and sizable gondolas, the largest of which can hold 160 people in a single trip. Not only is the mountain setup impressive, the ski resort and surrounding areas offer plenty of amenities. Hungry? Les Trois Vallees has a “total of 16 stars in the Michelin Guide between 10 restaurants” [14]. Want to celebrate a day on the slopes with some friends? The village offers plenty of options of bars and nightclubs featuring live music and festivals. Staying for an extended trip? The series of villages offer grocery services and other necessities. Want to wind down and relax another way? There are several spas and wellness centers available. Unfortunately, accidents on the slopes do occur. The resort also contains a medical center when an emergency occurs. Ski resorts and the surrounding communities offer plenty of amenities to support both their employees and the mountain goers. Even if someone isn’t too fond of getting their adrenaline fix on the slopes, there are plenty of ways to relax and enjoy themselves in the villages.

Although the last example was from a ski resort located in Europe, the focus of this topic is more precisely focused on resorts across North America. Although Canada and the United States are neighbors, how much do their ski resorts differ? Do their snowfall amounts, ski resort offerings, and ski communities differ? Additionally, do these differences exist within the United States and Canada across different regions or clusters? Perhaps there is even some consistency between across borders which ignore non-political boundaries. Although certain regulations and politics may influence communities and businesses according to political boundaries, weather phenomena are not obliged by these boundaries. Snowfall is one such phenomenon that contains patterns outside of the political boundaries. In one study using the GHCN-D database, a change in the annual snowfall between several time periods across three decades was examined. The illustration provided shows that the patterns which are formed by examining the change in snowfall illuminate this claim. The patterns of snowfall form different bands which change across and within different boundaries.

Questions

1. Is there a correlation between weather factors and a resort’s rating?
2. Do the Epic and Ikon passes have distinct qualities across their associated resorts?
3. Given a timeframe, ideal weather conditions, and a maximum travel distance from an origin, can a resort or sequence of resorts be recommended?
4. Across North America, considering boundaries like localities and regions, where are resorts concentrated?
5. Do clusters of resorts share similar weather and business offerings?
6. Are rising temperatures and declining snowfall present across resorts in North America?
7. Do resorts with higher ratings have better nearby business offerings?
8. Are resort ratings and nearby business offerings affected by elevation?
9. Considering weather, business offerings, and ratings are there significant differences between resorts in the United States and Canada?
10. Which resorts receive the most snowfall?