Where to Ski And Snowboard - Skiing declined in Scotland last season

Skiing declined in Scotland last season

9th June 2014, by Abi Butcher

Skiing and snowboarding in Scotland declined over the 2013/14 season

Skiing and snowboarding has declined in Scotland over the 2013/14 season, despite phenomenal snowfalls. The record levels of snow led to fewer days in Scotland’s five ski areas as staff struggled to dig out lifts during the winter.

There were 441 operational days across the areas of CairnGorm Mountain, Glencoe Mountain, Glenshee, The Lecht and Nevis Range, with an average of 534 skiers and snowboarders per day.

Some 235,303 “skier days” were had, down from 291,000 last year, which Ski-Scotland calculates was worth around £23.7 million to the economy, down from £30m raised over the 2012/13 season.

Visitors spent £4.7m was spent by skiers and snowboarders at the ski resorts with the remaining £19m spent in local accommodation, places to eat and drink, shops and filling stations.

“Back at the end of January, there was deeper snow on most of Scotland’s upper pistes than there was in world-renowned resorts in the Alps, Pyrenees and even the Rockies,” said chair of Ski-Scotland Heather Negus.

“In fact, some pistes in the Highlands were twice as deep as those overseas – and the snow kept on coming and coming!”

Scotland’s best ski season remains the record-breaking 2009-2010, which achieved 374,789 skier days.