Scottish ski industry

[Goat]

From The Scotsman
It shows a touching faith in the future of the perennially snow-challenged Scottish ski industry.

Ski Scotland, the body set up to promote the country's five "resorts" is offering optimistic skiers the chance to buy season tickets for the first time.

The tickets will cost £369 and give access to the ski centres at Cairngorm, Glenshee, The Lecht, Glencoe and Aonach Mor, near Ben Nevis.

Only 25 will be available this season, as even Ski Scotland doesn't believe there will be an avalanche of applications.

Mailshots have been sent out to the 17,000 snowsports enthusiasts on Ski Scotland's database urging them to apply for the tickets before a deadline of October 31.

Skiers are being promised the chance to "follow the snow", try out "all the slopes" that Scotland has to offer and really "make the most of the winter".

Susie Rae, of Ski Scotland , said: "We have limited the tickets because we are just testing the water to see if there is a demand out there.

"The forecast is for a very good snow season, so fingers crossed."

Snowsports in Scotland have been in decline since the 1990s, with healthy snow years becoming increasingly rare.

The Cairngorm Ski Company, which runs the resort above Aviemore, has dramatically revised the forecast on which it bases its winter business - from more than 150,000 annual visits a few years ago to 48,000 next season.

Marketing manager Tania Alliod said: "The days of attracting numbers over 100,000 have gone. We had six good skiing weeks last season [out of a possible 18] and we had 58,000 ski visits. This year we are budgeting on 48,000 and we are cutting our cloth accordingly."

[fallen_nemesis]

they sent it out to 17 000 snowsports enthusiasts. good god. Think how much money it cost them to print 17000 letters and post them and there's only 25 tickets :/

[Elspeth]

Basically I know that if the Lecht don't get a good season this year then they are going to throw in the towel

[Vonnie]

Basically I know that if the Lecht don't get a good season this year then they are going to throw in the towel

It's sad, but this is exactly where (imho) global warming is starting to become more of an obvious issue - can you honestly remember the last year that there was a good snow? It was always taken for granted when we were younger that Christmas in Scotland would be snowy - last time I remember there being true chaos-causing snow was when I was pregnant with Finn - Christmas 2000/New Year 2001? Whilst the weather stays like that, the ski industry loses more and more money.

Seems utterly farcical that they sent 17,000 letters out for 25 passes though. Can you say 'false economy'?

[Elspeth]

Personally, the year before was a better ski season.
I'll be gutted if the Lecht closes. Most people slag it off, but it is my childhood and I care deeply about those who own it.

*prays for hunners of snow*

[Withnail]

Would they really have sent actual letters? Would it not have been emails?

[placebo_placebo]

well doesnt look like they'll be much skiing in scotland this year either :-( getting worse pain in the tits having to stick to the dry slope because everywhere else is too expensive...

[Zooropa]

Means I don't need to haul fucking crampons and ice axes about when I go walking though

[placebo_placebo]

ah thats true. means u need to ski/board on grass though

[heartworm]

I want one, od damn my skintness!"

[Withnail]

Think they're the same price this year, but you'll be damned trying to get your money's worth out of that, i think...

[heartworm]

haha, god damn, I never evennoticed its a year old! I aim totake advantage of as many snowy days as possible this year, but its scotland, how many will there be?


*dissapointed*