More skiers than ever came to Utah this past season. Ski resorts set a new record despite the ongoing pandemic and lighter than usual snowpack.
Utah’s 15 resorts saw more than 5.3 million skier days during the 2020-21 season - up almost 3.5% compared to the previous record breaking season. That’s according to Ski Utah, a marketing firm owned and operated by all the ski resorts across the state.
The previous record was set two years ago with 5.13 million skier days.
President of Ski Utah Nathan Rafferty said for many, skiing and being outdoors provided an escape from the ongoing pandemic. He also noted resorts were able to adapt to the pandemic with limited capacity and new reservation systems.
But how did resorts beat records with new restrictions in place?
Rafferty said most resorts didn’t see individual day records. Instead, resorts saw more skiers throughout the whole season, including during off-peak times. Rafferty said this is likely thanks to remote workers, who could ski during weekday afternoons or during a lunch break.
Utah resorts also offer season passes like Epic or IKON, which allow skiers access to different destinations. Rafferty said skiers were able to spread out to resorts across the state.