Statewide ski numbers up from last season

Industry growth being spurred by the popularity of skiing and snowboarding with younger crowd.

The Denver Post reports that the number of skiers and snowboarders in the United States reached a record 58.8 million last season, up 3.3 percent from a year ago, according to preliminary data from the National Ski Areas Association.

Industry growth is being spurred by the popularity of sking and snowboarding with a younger crowd and equipment improvements that allow aging baby boomers to stay on the snow longer. "It's a multigenerational phenomenon", NSAA president Michael Berry said, "Baby boomers, their children and their grandchildren are all out there skiing. The resorts have become multigenerational gathering places".

The six-state Rocky Mountain Region, which includes Colorado, saw a 5.8 percent gain in skier-visits, or some 1.1 million people more than the prior year. The state's 25 ski resorts may top 12 million skiers for the first time.

Says Susan Gunnin, author of this blog and realtor with the Breckenridge RE/MAX office "This comes as no real surprise after the near record snowfall we've had this year. And real estate values are reflective of the trend. Values have been increasing along with the age of the very baby boomers who are fueling the real estate market."

For more information, check out her web site, or email her.