Businesses suffer as ski season delayed

RUIDOSO, N.M. (KRQE) - Ski season should be underway above Ruidoso right now, but it's not because there's no snow.

Many ski areas have no choice but to delay their opening again, and it's hurting a lot of local businesses.   

Ski Apache pushed back it's opening day again. There's just not enough snow yet.

"Unless you're going back east or to the Midwest, there's not a lot of snow out there for anybody," said Justin Rowland, Ski Apache director of operations.

The top of the mountain at Ski Apache shows some snow has stuck from a couple weeks ago, but it's not enough. While the delay has given the crew time to finish construction on lifts damaged by the Little Bear Fire earlier this year, more snow would help move things along.  

"Colder temperatures and natural snow, either one or both would be great," said Rowland.

It's not just people at the top of the mountain and in the ski areas hoping for a shift from mother nature. Several businesses in town are waiting in anticipation for more snow this winter.

Prep is already underway at ski shops, and now it's a waiting game.

"It's hard to sell a ski trip to somebody when it's 80 degrees in Texas, and 60 degrees up here," explained Don Damron, owner of Alto Ski Shop .

Damron has had his ski shop for 32 years.

"I've been here long enough to remember a couple of times we didn't open till January," he said. And times like this hurt business, he added.  
     
The Alto Ski Shop is open parttime for now, but like many, Damron hasn't been able to bring in many regular employees for work.

"They're not putting on any more staff because all you're going to do is sit and look at one another, and it costs money," he said.

Damron has two employees so far prepping gear as most of it sits in the shop. More than 10 ski shops in town depend on tourism this time of year along with hotels, restaurants, and local shops.

"Everybody involved needs Christmas," Damron continued.  "Thirty to 50 percent of your income can come in a 10-day, two-week period at Christmas and New Year's."

Ski Apache officials still plan on opening for business before Christmas, but there's one message most people in the area have.

"Just pray for snow.  That's all we need," said Damron.

The tentative opening date for Ski Apache is Dec. 14. This week, they'll test one of the new lifts, one of three replaced after the Little Bear Fire.

Ruidoso tourism officials said lodgers are still seeing normal business at this time, and that there's still plenty of activities for visitors in the area .