2019 - 2020 Far West Skier's Guide - 54

The Public Affairs portfolio of programs is designed to present
the positions of the FWSA to the outside world. As "The Voice of the
Western Skier", FWSA has been very active in a host of areas that affect
ski area development, safety, volunteer liabilities, transportation, taxation, ski history, environment, and consumer advocacy. Topics such as
airline baggage rules, news about ski country direct airline routes, the
changing world of ski passes and discounts, and the effects of environmental changes on the snowsports industry, are of interest to our membership, as well as, to the Far West Skier's Guide readership. We
also work to better educate our members in areas such as the impact
of changing demographics and the need for increased diversity, ski area
and resort developments, regulatory efforts to modernize state ski laws,
expanding snowmaking capabilities, consumer tendencies, the Forest
Service's role in area development, and the need to meet visitor's various needs based on demographics such as age, capabilities, interests,
and other factors.
The width and breadth of the FWSA Public Affairs program is
significant. The FWSA is committed to doing its part in communicating with, and educating, our membership and partners on this incredible variety of Public Affairs topics.
FWSA strongly encourages all snowsports enthusiasts to get involved in issues that might affect them either directly, or even indirectly,
by keeping abreast of industry news, government activities, area developments, legislation, public meetings, consumer advocacy, and trends,
safety issues, and product developments. To help you stay informed
about relevant news, visit www.fwsa.org, and subscribe to the Far West
News Flash (a no-cost monthly electronic newsletter).

Season Stats & Comparison
Skier visits to U.S. ski resorts for the 2018-2019 season (59 million) saw an almost 11% increase over 2017-2018 visits (53.3 million).
Abundant snowfall, up 31% nationwide over the previous season, and
continued improvements to the guest experience contributed to increases in visitation in every region across the country. The 2018-2019
season ranks as the fourth best since NSAA began recording visitation
in 1978/79.
Visitation grew the most in the Pacific Southwest and Rocky
Mountain regions, by 22.9% and 15.6% respectively over the previous
season. Total visitation numbers were highest in the Rocky Mountain
region at over 24 million (a record year for the region), followed by the
Northeast with approximately 12.7 million. (NSAA webpage)

AREA DEVELOPMENT
Arapahoe Basin Joins the Ikon Pass
Arapahoe Basin will now be on the list of ski resorts offering Ikon
Pass holder access. Depending on the pass, skiers/riders will get either
7 or 5 days of access. Further details depend on the individual pass
purchased.

Opened in 1946
with one rope
tow, Arapahoe
Basin now offers
1,400+ acres
and nine lifts.
It has become
part of the Ikon
Pass resorts.

Founded by five pioneers of skiing - including an Olympian and
veterans - Arapahoe Basin Ski Area opened in 1946 with one tow
rope and a $1.25 lift ticket. It now offers more than 1,400 acres, nine
lifts, a children's center and a new European bistro at 12,500 feet with
panoramic mountain views.
A-Basin is known as The Legend for having one of the longest
ski and ride seasons in the world. The Basin is also a pure skier's and
snowboarder's mountain; and welcomes anyone and everyone whether
they're learning for the first time, looking for a serious challenge or
simply tailgating with friends on The Beach.
Credit: Icon Pass Website, photo courtesy of Arapahoe Basin

Vail Resorts to Acquire Peak Resorts
Vail Resorts, Inc. announced it has entered into a definitive merger
agreement to acquire 100 percent of the outstanding stock of Peak Resorts, Inc. at a purchase price of $11.00 per share, subject to certain
conditions, including regulatory review and Peak Resorts' shareholder
approval.
Through the acquisition of Peak Resorts, Vail Resorts will add 17
U.S. ski areas to its network of world-class resorts. Located near major
metropolitan areas, including New York, Boston, Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Columbus, St. Louis, Kansas City
and Louisville, the resorts include:
n Mount Snow in Vermont
n Hunter Mountain in New York
n Attitash Mountain Resort, Wildcat Mountain and
Crotched Mountain in New Hampshire
n Liberty Mountain Resort, Roundtop Mountain Resort,
Whitetail Resort, Jack Frost and Big Boulder in
Pennsylvania
n Alpine Valley, Boston Mills, Brandywine and Mad River
Mountain in Ohio
n Hidden Valley and Snow Creek in Missouri
n Paoli Peaks in Indiana
Vail Resorts considers the acquisition of Peak Resorts ski areas
in the Northeast to be "a perfect complement" to their existing resorts.
The acquisition fully embodies Vail's philosophy of Epic for Everyone, making skiing and riding more accessible to guests across the U.S.
and around the world.

54 Far West Skier's Guide 2O19 - 2O2O / Visit the Digital Edition at www.fwsa.org.

http://www.fwsa.org http://www.fwsa.org

2019 - 2020 Far West Skier's Guide

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of 2019 - 2020 Far West Skier's Guide