I already bought my season pass at my local mountain knowing full well that this year might be a bust. I just wanted to financially support them through this rough time. I'd encourage all who are able to do the same and not hedge and wait to see what might happen. If passes go on sale for your favorite mountain and you are fortunate enough to be in a position to buy one, buy one.
I don't know if the resorts will open up in the same way and I wouldn't believe anyone who said they had an answer. I will say this: Even if a miracle occurs and a vaccine has been developed and deployed by late November, I believe the economic impacts will certainly be felt harshly in the ski industry. There will be fewer ski vacations and less money spent on food/drinks/gear.
Fortunately, many skiers wear facial coverings anyways, so it would hopefully be a less controversial thing if resorts required it. It is otherwise a mostly solo sport, and it is outdoors, so it has that going for it. I ski with friends as often as anyone, but I'm not usually hopping moguls within 10 feet of anyone. Not if I can help it anyways. The primary issues if places try to open are going to be the lifts/liftlines and the food service.
Even if things are relatively open, I'd expect the same sort of questionnaires that they now have at the dentist's office and such when you buy a daypass or park your car in the lot. Have you had any symptoms, have you had any known contact with a patient, is anyone in your household waiting on testing results, etc. My wife is an ICU nurse, so even if things are like that I would probably be disallowed, just as I currently am from sending my kids to daycare or going into the office in person. It might sadly be a year to lean heavily on my touring setup. I truly hope we can have this mess under a modicum of control by December, but having witnessed the last three months I am not optimistic.
I don't know if the resorts will open up in the same way and I wouldn't believe anyone who said they had an answer. I will say this: Even if a miracle occurs and a vaccine has been developed and deployed by late November, I believe the economic impacts will certainly be felt harshly in the ski industry. There will be fewer ski vacations and less money spent on food/drinks/gear.
Fortunately, many skiers wear facial coverings anyways, so it would hopefully be a less controversial thing if resorts required it. It is otherwise a mostly solo sport, and it is outdoors, so it has that going for it. I ski with friends as often as anyone, but I'm not usually hopping moguls within 10 feet of anyone. Not if I can help it anyways. The primary issues if places try to open are going to be the lifts/liftlines and the food service.
Even if things are relatively open, I'd expect the same sort of questionnaires that they now have at the dentist's office and such when you buy a daypass or park your car in the lot. Have you had any symptoms, have you had any known contact with a patient, is anyone in your household waiting on testing results, etc. My wife is an ICU nurse, so even if things are like that I would probably be disallowed, just as I currently am from sending my kids to daycare or going into the office in person. It might sadly be a year to lean heavily on my touring setup. I truly hope we can have this mess under a modicum of control by December, but having witnessed the last three months I am not optimistic.
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