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Bumpy start to ski season as layoffs hit Colorado resorts

Resort company cuts jobs at Copper, Steamboat and Winter Park

By Joanne Kelley, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published November 19, 2008 at 7:24 p.m.

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A skier rests at the bottom of Winter Park Resort on opening day.

Chris Schneider © The Rocky

A skier rests at the bottom of Winter Park Resort on opening day.

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Blaming a tough economic climate, resort operator Intrawest Corp. announced companywide job cuts that affect managers and other employees at some of its Colorado ski areas.

The layoffs come as winter resorts across the state brace for one of their toughest seasons in years, with season pass sales and advanced bookings hit by a severe recession in the global economy.

"The current business climate is unlike anything we have experienced in recent years and as such the resort is taking the necessary steps to preserve our ability to be competitive and ensure our future success," Steamboat President Chris Diamond said in a statement.

Intrawest declined to be specific on how many workers lost their jobs.

"We are taking the necessary steps to preserve our ability to be competitive," the company said in a statement. "As part of this process we have taken the difficult step of reducing and realigning our work force."

Areas such as Steamboat are particularly vulnerable during an economic downturn because of their dependence on skiers who fly in and book lodging for several days at a time. Industry analysts expect smaller ski areas that charge less for lift tickets and can be reached by car to have an easier time by comparison.

"They're not as dependent on out-of- state and international visitors," said Dave Belin, director at Boulder-based research firm RRC Associates. "Gas prices have also dropped so that should help, too."

In a survey of skiers conducted online last month, RRC found that most skiers planned to ski as many days as they did last year. But they planned to cut back in other ways — on lodging, lessons and other extras such as traveling a long way to get to a ski mountain.

Industry executives note that a big dumping of snow could help lift the fortunes of the state's ski areas in coming weeks.

"It's cold enough to make snow at night which allows the resorts to get a good base," said Colorado Ski Country USA's Jennifer Rudolph. "It'll come like it did last year. It started out slow, but then a lot of resorts had record snowfall."

Intrawest job cuts likely will hit year-round workers because many areas are still trying to fill various seasonal jobs in the annual hiring scramble before the lifts open for business.

Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, the company employs 22,000 workers during the peak winter season.

The company has been struggling with a heavy debt load, having reached an 11th-hour agreement last month to refinance a $1.7 billion loan. Its private equity owner, New York-based Fortress Investment Group, has been hit by the turmoil in the financial markets.

Intrawest spokesman Ian Galbraith said the staff reductions will not have any impact on the "guest experience."

The news coincided with opening day at Winter Park Ski Resort, which is operated by Intrawest under a long-term contract with the city of Denver. Intrawest also owns Copper Mountain in Summit County, as well as Canada's Whistler Blackcomb, host to the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Opening days at Colorado ski areas

Arapahoe Basin: Open

Aspen Highlands: Dec. 13

Aspen Moutain: Nov. 27

Buttermilk: Dec. 13

Copper Mountain: Open

Crested Butte: Wednesday

Echo Mountain: N/A

Eldora: Friday

Howelsen: Dec. 6

Loveland: Open

Monarch: Wednesday

Powderhorn: Dec. 11

Purgatory: Wednesday

Silverton: Nov. 29

Ski Cooper: N/A

Snowmass: Nov. 27

Sol Vista: Dec. 17

Steamboat: Wednesday

Sunlight: Dec. 5

Telluride: Wednesday

Winter Park: Open

Wolf Creek: Open

Source: Colorado Ski Country USA

Comments

  • November 19, 2008

    8:25 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    stella writes:

    What's a "bumby" start? Maybe the word is "bumpy"?

  • November 19, 2008

    8:49 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Otter writes:

    Where's Breck, Vail, and Keystone? Are they still in business?

  • November 19, 2008

    9:11 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    bgco writes:

    Otter -

    Vail, Breck, Keystone, and Beaver Creek are not members of Colorado Ski Country USA, whom was the source of the information. Hence, they are not listed.

  • November 19, 2008

    10:03 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    avsfan71085 writes:

    That's expected, people are afraid and low on money as is, secondly, is their even any snow up their? lol, I mean we have what like 2 inches so far in the metro area.

  • November 19, 2008

    10:04 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    ifyem writes:

    Better hope for some snow, or else these resorts are really going to have a bad season!!

  • November 20, 2008

    2:08 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    gwats writes:

    I'd venture a guess they won't hire as many illegals to be maids and general laborers as they have in years past. That room service meal may be a bit slower than in the past because the Kitchen Manager may not speak fluent Spanish. Employees that are left are really going to earn their keep this year.

  • November 20, 2008

    8:23 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    flyerliftmechanic writes:

    Gwats- Ski areas don't 'hire illegals to be maids'. Places like Vail, Copper, and such are big enough and hire enough temporary foreign help that INS pays attention to whom they actually hire. If they were to hire illegals, as you suggest, you'd see federal agents descend upon them like they did at Swift this past year. It's too much of a risk.

    Avsfan- as for snow- it's a bit thin, but it's here. Loveland has three lifts and 6 or 7 trails open, Keystone has a few trails off the gondola with more to come, Copper has three (four after tomorrow) lifts with six trails as well. (Breck, Winter Park, A-Basin, and Wolf Creek are also open but I don't know what they have running). This fall has gone almost exactly like last fall, where we didn't get any snow to speak of until December and then it commenced to dumping.

  • November 20, 2008

    10:43 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Sundog writes:

    Shouldn't the title be "Mogully Start?"

    nah. sorry.

  • November 20, 2008

    11:14 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    LockNLoad writes:

    Oh yeah. The bright side -Less crowds, shorter lift lines.

  • November 20, 2008

    2:59 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    jrhino writes:

    It is time for Immigration and Customs Enforcement to investigate those phony student visas and crack down on illegals. Lets open up some of those jobs to unemployed Americans.

    Like Pelosi says America is in need of Strong work place enforcement.

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