Top Five Fridays - July 13, 2018 // Ski Industry News
#1: Peak Resorts Report Record Revenues for 2017 Fiscal Year:
A scene from Hunter Mountain, one of Peak Resort's 14 ski areas. Image: Hunter Mountain on Facebook
Let's get things started this week with some news that ties into last week's interview with Alterra CEO Rusty Gregory. Earlier this week, Peak Resorts shared their 2017 earnings report, and showed record setting revenue, posting $1.4 million in profit on $132 million in sales. Those numbers are up $9 million in revenue, and $200,000 in profit from last year's numbers. As the owner of 14 ski areas in the midwest and east coast regions, Peak Resorts CEO Tim Boyd credited the increase in sales in part to the introduction of their new Peak's Pass which gives combined access to seven of the companies ski areas in the northeast.
As you'll recall, we shared an interview last week from Alterra's CEO, Rusty Gregory. If you read that article, you may have picked up on his comments regarding the impact of consolidation on small ski areas. In short, his view point was that as consolidation continues, new opportunities will emerge for the more forward thinking small ski areas, creating a landscape in which they don't struggle to survive, but are actually able to capitalize on new opportunities and experience growth. Skeptics would likely see comments such as this as unrealistic or overly optimistic, and yet here we have an actual example. Amongst Peak Resorts' ski areas, you'll find names like Alpine Valley, OH, Jack Frost, PA, Paoli Peaks, IN, and Snow Creek, MI. All of these ski areas are inarguably considered small feeder hills, and yet Peak Resorts has found a way to make it work. It's impressive to say the least, and hopefully a road map of sorts that other small ski areas can use to survive in the tumultuous economic climate of ski resort ownership.
#2: Mt Hood's Timberline Ski Area Purchases Summit Ski Area, Setting Up Voltron Option:
A shot of the Summit Ski Area chairlift, with Mt. Hood looming in the background. Image: Summit Ski Area on Facebook
It wouldn't be a Friday in the middle of July if we didn't bring you some sort of acquisition news. Things were pretty quite this week in that regard, but there was one niche purchase that could have pretty cool implications for those who call Timberline Ski Area home. This week, the resort purchased Summit Ski Area, a small one lift, two run ski area that's located right in Government Camp, OR at the foot of Mt. Hood. To those unfamiliar with the two ski areas, the best way to point out the significance of the purchase is by looking at the two resorts from a birds eye view. There, you can easily see why this purchase makes sense and may be part of a long term plan: the two ski areas are basically stacked on top of each other and could potentially be connected. If that were to happen, the one "Voltron" resort could have a total vertical length of 4,540 feet, the largest in the region. At the moment though, that seems to be simply a speculative pipe dream. In official statements on the purchase, Timberline President Jeff Kohnstamm has simply said, "We are very pleased with the acquisition and plan to operate Summit Ski Area as a family oriented, affordable, friendly mountain resort." Truth be told, that's fine, and likely something the area needs to maintain local interest. Still, the skier in us can't help but fantasize about the possibilities of a combined resort. For more on this, check out the writeup from LiftBlog.com!
#3: University of Vermont Geology Center and Craftsbury Outdoors Center Take Scientific Approach to Snow Storage:
It's admittedly quite difficult to make a pile of snow covered in mulch look cool, scientific, or exciting. Excavators are pretty cool though, so consider this a start. To see tons of other photos from this project, visit this photo album from UVM's P. Bierman.
Remember a handful of weeks ago when we shared the news of snow farmers in Europe? If not, here's a quick recap: a handful of ski areas in the Alps are experimenting with techniques to preserve snow from one winter to the next. By using large insulated panels and a reflective tarp, teams overseas are hoping to stave off the sun during the summer months, allowing them to get a jump start on winter once fall returns.
Since posting that article, we've been learning more about a similar effort occurring in our own backyard in Craftsbury, VT. There, scientists from the University of Vermont Geology department have teamed up with the Craftsbury Outdoor Center to experiment with snow saving techniques. While we certainly don't know the level of science being considered by the Europeans, one of the things that impressed us most about this local Vermont effort is the degree to which the scientific method is being applied to the pile of snow. In addition to monitoring the snow's temperature and density, the team involved in this project is also measuring environmental variables such as wind, humidity, sunlight, and temperature. All in all, it's a pretty cool project and we're excited to see the results as the project progresses! For more on this, check out the blog updates from the Craftsbury Outdoor Center.
#4: Iran Accuses Israel of Stealing its Snow and Clouds. Actually Though:
Skiers tour past barren peaks near Iran's Darbandsar Ski Resort. Image: Iran Ski Tours on Facebook
Finally, something from the realm of the bizarre. This week in Iran, the head of the nation's Civil Defense Organization made public claims that he believed Israel and an unnamed neighboring country had colluded to prevent clouds from entering Iran, saying, "Foreign interference is suspected to have played a role in climate change. Joint teams from Israel and one of the neighboring countries make the clouds entering into Iran barren. Moreover, we are faced with the cases of cloud theft and snow theft." On the surface, this quote and line of thought are pretty humorous. After all, the notion of "stealing" clouds seems ludicrous and lacks any ties to reality. The head of Iran's own meteorological service even negated the comments, saying, "[he] probably has documents of which I am not aware, but on the basis of meteorological knowledge, it is not possible for a country to steal snow or clouds." While elegantly worded, this statement is clearly laden with humor, intentional or not.
Of course there is another side of this story to consider as well, and one that's a bit more somber. Taking a step back, we're forced to consider the roots of this crazy statement. When we do, it's clear that the whole concept came about because of climate change. As a result of a perceived low snow year, which in turn leads to a decrease in tourism and economic value of Iran's ski areas, a high ranking official attempted to place blame on a neighboring country. As we move forward and climate change continues to have an impact on both the world of skiing and the world at large, it's important to recognize the real impact it can have on already complicated situations. You can read more about this situation from the Telegraph.
#5: And Now, Your Edits of the Week:
When There's Only One Way to Figure Out if it's Possible:
Finally, Crazy Sky People Explore the Clouds