Ski resorts across New England are gearing up for fresh snow this weekend to kick off the 2022-2023 season.
The winter storm that began moving through Vermont and New Hampshire on Thursday night is expected to bring more than one foot of snow to both states as the weather system moves through the region.
Brandon Swartz, general manager of Attitash Ski Resort in New Hampshire, said the natural snow will allow them to open more terrain to skiiers and snowboarders.
“We're really excited that Mother Nature is ready to chip in and help us out,” Swartz said. “The temperatures have been great, but natural snow is always great to have. Our teams are really excited to get out there, and we're ready to continue to evaluate terrain.”
But other New Hampshire resorts have been opening later than usual this year due to a lack of snow.
John DeVivo, general manager of Cannon Mountain said they typically open on Thanksgiving weekend. This year, they didn’t open until Dec. 3, putting them two weeks behind on snowmaking.
DeVivo said he’s planning to open two more ski lifts and a handful of trails this weekend.
“I think we'll get a pretty fair glut this weekend. A lot of folks are starting to finish up their holiday shopping,” DeVivo said. “Typically what we would see is a big rush on a Saturday morning that might be slowed a bit with traffic. We'll probably see people tapering inward until about 1 or 2 p.m. Then Sunday should be fairly robust.”
Greg Maino, spokesperson for the Catamount Trail Association in Vermont, said their season hasn’t even started yet.
Catamount Trail is in the backcountry and relies solely on natural snow for skiers.
“I definitely think because there hasn't been a lot of snow, there's a lot of pent-up excitement and desire to get outside,” Maino said. “I would expect these next few days to be pretty busy with people getting out into the backcountry, especially in areas where snow is substantial.”
A healthy ski season can have a significant impact on the regional economy. According to a 2014 study, ski tourism accounted for over 7% of New Hampshire's seasonal employment.
