With the economy tanking the ski business is on a downhill slide. But if you're thinking about a spring getaway the timing couldn't be better as big discounts are being offered.
The Silver Star Resort near Vernon is down almost 10 per cent on out-of-town ski visits, which is nice for those who do make it out.
"Oh, it's wonderful. There are hardly any line-ups," said Andrea Hunter, who was visiting from Yellowknife.
What are being missed most at the resorts are visitors with foreign accents.
"It's the distance market in the U.K. that's really fallen right down. There's hardly anybody coming from the U.K. And the U.S. is also right down," said Jimmy Spencer, of the Canada West Ski Areas Association.
It's not just the resorts that feel it. Even the usually stable business in Nordic ski shops is off by about six per cent.
"It was really the rental income that was down, just because we didn't get the U.S. visitors we're used to getting," Theresa Korobanik of Stussi Sport.
So to make up for the drop, ski areas like Big White near Kelowna have been offering special deals, and skiers have been taking advantage.
This resort is happy to say visits are only down about five per cent, with skier visits from within the province have taken up some of the slack.
"Really, Vancouver has saved our bacon," said Michael Ballingal of Big White.
But the give-away deals come with a cost.
"Revenue will take a hit, but skier visits aren't taking as big a hit as we predicted," he said.
With a report by CTV British Columbia's Kent Molgat.
