Last winter, our shop and ski area saw interest at levels we hadn't seen since the 1980s and '90s. And even in the 1990s the trend was downward. But lots of people had schedule flexibility, and strong incentives to find something fun to do outdoors.
This winter has not seen anything close to the same level of interest. A fair number of people seem to be looking for new or used gear to purchase, but rental business has pulled back to a moderate level on weekends and holidays. I say holidays, but we've only had the one so far. Christmas Week saw some pretty heavy rental business at the start of the week, but nothing like the frenzies that formed when we had skiable conditions last year.
Weather is a minor factor. The snow has been thin when we have it at all. It's sufficient to keep a few kilometers going for anyone who is really interested, but it's not a big white canvas on which the prospective skier can paint fantasy landscapes of the tour they hope to have.
Last weekend, we laid on extra help to deal with anticipated crowds and let them head home by 11 a.m. because no one had showed up.
We could have sold more ski sets this season if we could have gotten more product. The same goes for snowshoes, although in both categories the inquiries have tapered off.
Just as weather is not climate, so we might get what looks like "normal" weather during an overall shifting trend, so might we have busy days in rental or retail. But the boom has busted, as we knew it would. At least I hope that whoever is in charge of production knows it, because otherwise they will pump out product two seasons too late. On the plus side, it will mean closeouts and discounts like we haven't seen since the last century. On the minus side, the suppliers can't afford to take a hit like that, and it will create in the public's mind the impression that we really could be selling our wares for far less all the time.
We'll cross that snow bridge when we come to it. But remember that I said it.
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