(Host) It was a good Thanksgiving for many area ski resorts.
As VPR’s Nina Keck reports, resort officials say – unlike last year – the weather cooperated.
(Keck) Jerry Lewis is general manager for Northern Ski works, which has shops in Killington and Okemo. While he says the economy and higher gas prices do affect business, he says mostly – it comes down to Mother Nature.
(Lewis) "If it’s cold and we get snow, business is brisk. But if it’s warm and we don’t have snow, we’re dead in the water."
(Keck) Lewis says unlike last year, business at his two stores has been strong.
The weather has also been a boon to the state’s ski resorts. Okemo Spokeswoman Bonnie Macpherson says she estimates they had 2,500 skiers this weekend and 30 trails open.
(Macpherson) "The days leading up to the weekend were cold so we could make lots of snow. We had a little bit of natural snow that covered all the trails. That made it all look pretty. And then we had two glorious blue bird sunny sky days that brought the skiers out in droves."
(Keck) She says season pass sales are up about 6 percent, with the biggest increase to college students.
Stowe, too, had a strong weekend with 14 trails and three lifts open. With snow in the forecast, resort officials say conditions should be even better next weekend.
For VPR News, I’m Nina Keck.