New York’s Multi-Million Ski Industry is Melting Away
As our planet slowly cools from the effects of global warming, New York’s multi-million-dollar ski industry is in serious jeopardy, with a recent federal report indicating that the state could lose half of its skiing season by 2050.
The study, conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and by scientists at the University of Colorado reported that virtually all locations will see their seasons diminish due to rising global temperatures. New York’s skiing industry has already begun to feel its effects.
“We used to have snow from November to April,” says John Rothman, a ski instructor at Hunter Mountain, a skiing resort near Hunter, NY. “Now we are lucky if we have enough snow to open by Christmas and stay open until mid-March.”
The changing face of winter will come at an enormous cost for New York’s winter recreational businesses, which generate a whopping $300 million a year, and attract 3.6 million people annually, according to the EPA’s report. With shorter seasons and less snow, the state’s industry stands to lose $170 million per year.
The shorter winter seasons and unpredictable snowfall patterns are causing ski resorts to rely more heavily on artificial snowmaking, which requires energy and water resources. However, even with snowmaking, some ski resorts are struggling to maintain consistent snow coverage on their slopes, especially during warmer winters with limited snowfall.
“In past seasons we were able to make snow on the main trails and move on,” explains Scott Brandi, president of Ski Areas of New York. “These days making snow isn’t just a privilege anymore, but essential for the survival of the industry.”
For now, snowmaking seems to be the answer for many ski resorts, but this solution is not a long-term one. Snowmaking requires a sustained temperature of 28 degrees or less, temperatures that are coming later and later every year, endangering ski resorts’ profitability.
“Christmas and New Year are our most profitable times of the year,” Rothman says, “unfortunately we’ve been seeing less and less snow during does months of the year. Spring break used to also be very profitable for us. Now we are lucky if we get snow in March.”
In response to these challenges, some ski resorts in New York are taking steps to mitigate the impacts of global warming. This includes investing in implementing energy-saving measures and exploring alternative revenue streams such as summer activities and events. Ski resorts are also advocating for policies and actions to address climate change at local, state, and national levels.
“We are committed to fighting against global warming and reducing our impact on the planet,” Brandi states. “We hope to ensure that skiing remains around for generations.”
