SkiTurfUSA
Synthetic Ski Slope History
Snow making certainly helped all ski resorts insuring acceptable conditions that have also been so dependent on mother nature to literally weather marginal natural snow winters and what seems to be a global decline in snowfall. At times, resorts also have been at the mercy of warm weather that crippled their snow making efforts as we continue to be challenged by our ever changing weather patterns.
Approximately 30 years ago some European engineers started developing new surface technology that led to engineering and manufacturing synthetic ski slopes for markets that rarely or ever received natural snow. Synthetic ski slope technology has evolved much like the synthetic turf market has evolved for athletic grass field replacement.
The synthetic slope industry has been launched with approximately over 1200 synthetic ski/snowboard slopes and tubing facilities around the world.
There are only a handful of manufacturers producing synthetic ski slope material extruded from a polymer resin.
It is only a matter of time that synthetic ski and tubing slopes will become as important ski resorts and urban ski centers as artificial turf became to the sports marketplace. There is an incredible opportunity for ski resorts to capitalize on the success that synthetic ski slopes have enjoyed in the Europe and now even in Turkey. Synthetic ski slopes can operate 365 days a year and also introduce individual, families and groups to skiing and/or snowboarding year round long before snow flies and with the potential of early season business the possibility of retaining for the entire season.
A significant amount of data and financial information is available for review as to the investment, operating costs, revenue and as well as projected ROI.
We know some of the benefits that a synthetic ski slope program offers as to a guarantee of an early season, incremental press exposure and the ability to attract new customers as well as to lock in your season pass holders earlier than ever before.
Below are listed some additional benefits that a synthetic ski slope program can offer:
- Offer your customer something entirely new to your resort
- Create a reason for your customer to visit your resort on a year round basis
- Insures your resort can be open 365 days a year
- Created additional year round revenues
- Build new business with corporate events, picnics, birthday parties & special events
- Offer summer ski & snowboard camps
- Schedule off season venues such as – “Learn to Ski and/or Ride” Instructional Program”
- Partner with ski & snowboard manufactures in summer/early fall to introduce new participants
- Train instructors & ski patrol on a year round basis
There is no reason that skiing, snowboarding and tubing should total disappear from your resort especially during the spring, summer and early fall as a synthetic ski slope can become an
extremely valuable promotional and marketing tool to continuing to develop your core business as well as generate incremental cash flow.