The Protect Our Winters crew is doing everything they can to get out their message of the importance of preservation. POW photo.
For skiers and snowboarders, the impacts of warmer temperatures stretches far beyond our ability to recreate. Per Protect Our Winters' new study "The Economic Contributions of Winter Sports in a Changing Climate," an abnormal winter throws the entire livelihood of the snowsports industry—especially the communities tied with it—in jeopardy.
The report hones in on winter tourism. Using data dating back to 2001, the study analyzed the correlation between the quality of winter and the snowsports economy.
Money talks, and it is estimated that tourism related to snowsports dumps an average $20.3 billion of revenue into the US economy. For a variety of mountain towns across the US, that flow of cash means one thing: jobs.
Annually 23 million Americans participate in some form of winter tourism. Take away the ski resort and it equates to closing a manufacturing plant, which is evident in the fact that low snow years saw a loss of over 17,000 jobs in comparison to average years.
“While scientific data reinforces what we are witnessing in the mountains, this study confirms what we are experiencing in our towns, where we watch low snow years shut down businesses, as friends and neighbors lose their jobs" said Jeremy Jones, professional snowboarder and founder of Protect Our Winters. "Now is the time for athletes, snow lovers and folks who care about American jobs to come together to demand that our politicians take climate action on a national and global level.”
It might start with the ski resort, but that flow of money trickles down and is felt throughout entire mountain towns. Snow levels affect the business for hotels, restaurants, bars, grocery stores, and gas stations. As snow and ice cover continues to decrease throughout the US, there has been a drop in participation by tourists.
To that point, POW points out that throughout the 2001-2016 timeframe, resorts saw an average of 5.5 million less visits during the five lowest snow years.
“Winter sports enthusiasts can see that our winters are changing and understand that this will have an effect on the industry–this report just puts dollar values to that loss,” said report author Dr. Rebecca Hill of Colorado State University. “We hope that providing economic values to these losses will help to motivate action before it is too late.”
The report is also an update to Protect Our Winters’ 2012 analysis with the National Resources Defense Council, which not only continues the discussion of climate changes’ effects on the snowsports industry, but seeks to explore the many ways we can positively address such changes.
About The Author
stash member Katie Lozancich
TGR Staff Writer and photographer. Fond of bikes, pow, and dogs. Originally from Northern CA, home for me has ranged from the PNW to a teepee in Grand Teton National Park.