N.C. Ski Areas contributed $146 million in 2009-2010

The North Carolina Ski Areas Association (NCSAA), in collaboration with RRC Associates, conducted an economic value analysis study of the North Carolina ski industry during the 2009-10 winter season.

For the season, total skier visits in North Carolina were 671,554, total revenue was $32,526,608, year-round employment was 96, seasonal employment was 1,557, total payroll was $8,700,000, and capital expenditures for the North Carolina ski industry as a whole were $3,341,237. A complete report for the NCSAA economic value analysis can be found at http://www.goskinc.com/economics.

On Wednesday, Nov. 17, at 1 p.m., the NCSAA members and RRC Associates will host a press conference at Sugar Mountain Resort.

Dave Belin, senior director at RRC Associates will present the study findings. The event is open to the public, and local, county and state officials are invited and encouraged to attend. Sugar Mountain Resort is located at 1009 Sugar Mountain Drive in Sugar Mountain.

The North Carolina Ski Areas Association is a non-profit organization. Its purpose is to foster, stimulate and promote skiing and snowsports, as well as safety in skiing and snowsports in North Carolina; to further and protect the legitimate interests of the North Carolina area operator and to encourage cooperation and assistance from state agencies to promote skiing and snowsports in North Carolina.

Members include Appalachian Ski Mountain, Beech Mountain Resort, Cataloochee Ski Area, Sapphire Valley Ski Area, Sugar Mountain Resort and Wolf Ridge Ski Resort.

RRC Associates is a multi-disciplinary consulting firm providing market research, strategic analysis, and community/land planning services based in Boulder, Colo. RRC specializes in collecting and analyzing customer feedback for a variety of public and private clients nationwide and internationally.