Ski industry experts say nearly half of annual skier visits happen during the all important holiday weekends — kicking off with Christmas and New Year's. So far, conditions are far from ideal.
Eight of 20 alpine ski resorts in Vermont will be open this Christmas.
Vermont resorts that will have lifts running this weekend include:
- Jay Peak
- Killington
- Mount Snow
- Okemo
- Smugglers’ Notch
- Stowe
- Stratton
- Sugarbush
Bromley and Bolton are closed, but hope to open right after Christmas.
For Nordic Fans
Craftsbury Outdoor Center and Rikert Nordic Center in Ripton are open for cross-country skiing. Sarah Woijik, spokesperson for Ski Vermont, says investments resorts have made in recent years in newer, more efficient snowmaking technology are paying off.
“The resorts that are open and the ones that have the most terrain - they’ve spent millions of dollars on improving their snowmaking systems,” said Woijik.
She says the upgraded equipment is allowing resorts to blow snow in less optimal conditions - which has helped this year.
“But they also can just pump out a lot more in a shorter amount of time,” Woijik said. “Luckily, we just had a nice cold spurt this last weekend that they could replenish and expand terrain a little bit.”
Sarah Woijik says after last year’s record conditions this year’s lack of snow is disappointing - but she says it’s just pushing resorts to get more creative and skiers may have to be a bit more understanding.
“Well you know the ski industry is probably the most optimistic industry in Vermont — because we have to be since we rely on the weather,” Woijik said. ‘People are saying, Hey! Spring skiing on Christmas, when do you expect that?’"
“Definitely the last few weekends, I was out and the conditions are quite nice — especially for beginners,” said Woijik. “So I think you have to make what you can out of it and I think resorts are definitely doing that.”
