The cost of skiing / riding now (Aspen, Vail: middle-class, ski resorts, real estate)

[proveick]

Cripes, this sport has become WAY expensive. Check out these numbers.
Most Expensive Ski Resorts In North America: Vail Beats Aspen To Top TripAdvisor List
RP

[Josseppie]

I have never been a Vail fan. I think its overrated. Personally I like Keystone much better and its not as expensive. If I am going to a expensive resort I would much rather go to Aspen as that city is cute and has a lot of great restaurants. For a smaller resort I like Monarch.

[CosmicWizard]

My favorite ski resort of all time was the little hill in my back yard when I was a kid in PA, skiing on skis that I made myself from the staves of a nail barrell. Man that was fun, and it didn't cost me so much as a dime. Move over Aspen. Move over Vail.

[wanneroo]

Sounds about right. About 10 years ago I remember a study I heard about in Vail where they said the average cost for a ski trip for a family of 4 with average accommodations was about $10,000. After you add in airfares, lift tickets, ground transport, hotels, food, expenses, shopping, it adds up.

There are a number of places right now during Christmas season that will be renting for $20,000 a night.

[proveick]

I think it'a real shame to see what's happened to the resorts over the past 20 years. The yuppies have ruined these once mom and pop places, evolution gone wrong.
I just saw a condo at Beaver Creek on the market for $8.6 million.
Once upon a time the average middle class family could afford the sport.
At Snowmass last hear I met a family from New Zealand. They had 4 small kids, all wearing spider and descent. They had just spent 2 weeks skiing in Japan, 2 weeks in Canada and now 2 weeks in CO.
I guessing that would add up to $30K-$40K. Sheesh, not average folks. RP

[jazzlover]

Originally Posted by proveick

I think it'a real shame to see what's happened to the resorts over the past 20 years. The yuppies have ruined these once mom and pop places, evolution gone wrong.
I just saw a condo at Beaver Creek on the market for $8.6 million.
Once upon a time the average middle class family could afford the sport.
At Snowmass last hear I met a family from New Zealand. They had 4 small kids, all wearing spider and descent. They had just spent 2 weeks skiing in Japan, 2 weeks in Canada and now 2 weeks in CO.
I guessing that would add up to $30K-$40K. Sheesh, not average folks. RP

You are exactly right, and that is why I have predicted that the ski industry is going to be a declining, dying industry in Colorado. To survive, the ski industry must have a young-to-middle age middle-class clientèle with substantial discretionary income. All of those demographics are now headed the wrong way. A few toney resorts catering to the uber-wealthy will likely survive in the long-term, but the resorts that have traditionally catered to the mostly middle class skier--and that is most of the resorts--are already headed to an environment of predatory competition that will be followed by escalating financial failures and a lot of outright closedowns.

The other thing that most people don't understand is that it is nearly impossible for a ski resort to survive without the continuing land development of condos and second homes associated with it. That part of the industry going into distress and contraction, as well--and will likely never recover.

I shed no tears over this. The ski industry and its associated real estate development is not the environmentally benign and economically vibrant industry that its proponents would like to have people believe that it is. Take away the real estate speculation component, and what remains is an industry providing mostly seasonal low-wage jobs.

[Mike from back east]

Originally Posted by CosmicWizard

My favorite ski resort of all time was the little hill in my back yard when I was a kid in PA, skiing on skis that I made myself from the staves of a nail barrell. Man that was fun, and it didn't cost me so much as a dime. Move over Aspen. Move over Vail.

I found your old home movie....


Kid skiing in his backyard - YouTube

[proveick]

Hard to believe but since the 1800's CO has hosted 175 ski areas!

[Josseppie]

Originally Posted by jazzlover

You are exactly right, and that is why I have predicted that the ski industry is going to be a declining, dying industry in Colorado. To survive, the ski industry must have a young-to-middle age middle-class clientèle with substantial discretionary income. All of those demographics are now headed the wrong way. A few toney resorts catering to the uber-wealthy will likely survive in the long-term, but the resorts that have traditionally catered to the mostly middle class skier--and that is most of the resorts--are already headed to an environment of predatory competition that will be followed by escalating financial failures and a lot of outright closedowns.

Nothing lasts forever and that includes ski resorts. However I ski and when I go I see plenty of people skiing as well. So the demise of the ski industry will not be anytime soon in my opinion.

Originally Posted by jazzlover

The other thing that most people don't understand is that it is nearly impossible for a ski resort to survive without the continuing land development of condos and second homes associated with it. That part of the industry going into distress and contraction, as well--and will likely never recover.

The housing industry will come back next year and that includes the condos at the ski resorts. I know I plan on buying a cabin in the next few years and I am not the only one.

[proveick]

It would be nice to see Cuchara come back, but they will need snowmaking.