CBMR hits nearly 7,000 skiers per day during busy Spring Break week

Already looking to next year with early pass sale

By Alissa Johnson

With both Texas and Oklahoma on Spring Break last week, it was hard to miss the level of activity around town and on the mountain. It was all hands on deck at Crested Butte Mountain Resort (CBMR) and the businesses around town. Now, it’s time to finish out the season with a bang and get a jump on next season with the early pass sale.

Despite rumors that skier visits surpassed recent records and hit 8,000 per day, CBMR senior marketing manager Erica Rasmussen says CBMR came very close to 7,000 skiers in a day over Spring Break.

“We never had more than 7,000 skiers in a single day last week. Nonetheless, as we—and most town businesses can attest—things were really busy! High volume times like this are appreciated to balance out the slower times we are all about to see once the lifts close,” Rasmussen said.

Rasmussen said that even with the high number of visitors, it was a great week.

“During Spring Break we all pitch in with other departments. It’s a great way to interact with the guests we work so hard to market to, and one thing I really noticed last week, whether we were greeting guests off the bus or scanning lift tickets, is the guests seemed very happy,” she said.

While the skier numbers never topped 7,000, Rasmussen did say ski rentals were tapped out at the north end of the valley.

“Everyone did their best to accommodate, but to our knowledge there were a couple of days when there were no rental skis left. That’s definitely a sign of a really busy week,” she said.

As for the remainder of the season, Rasmussen said things look good for both groups and individual skiers. SkiTops (the Ski Tour Operators Association) is currently in town, and another large group follows. And with the lifts spinning until April 9, which is one more week than usual, there are aggressive promotions in place to keep people coming to Crested Butte.

That includes a “buy one get one” offer for lodging nights, and a new promotion called 3 For All, which includes three days of skiing for $129. Those days can be used April 1 to April 9 or November 23 to December 15 next season. They are nontransferable but don’t have to be used all at once. A skier or boarder can use one or two days this spring and the remaining days next season, as long as it falls within the specified dates.

“Given the fact that a regular window ticket April 1 through April 9 is $111, this is a significant discount and a great way to get people up here for a couple days this season. It can roll over to next season as well,” Rasmussen said.

In addition, kids 12 and under ski free April 1 to April 9.

“We’re just looking to keep business volumes busy through closing day,” Rasmussen added.

Despite a report on a Denver TV station indicating that CBMR was among the resorts to extend its ski season, Rasmussen confirmed that CBMR has not decided to stay open beyond April 9. That “extra week of skiing” between April 1 and April 9 was already on the books.

“A decision has not been made yet as to any extension of the season,” she said.

But decisions have been made for next year’s passes. CBMR will again participate in the Rocky Mountain Super Pass Plus (the resort signed a three-year agreement with the pass prior to this season), which gives pass holders three free days at CBMR.

“We are pleased with this program and have heard several stories of pass holders who just love it here, and frankly, think it’s great way for people who may have wanted to get to Crested Butte not only cross it off their bucket list but realize it’s a place they have to get to regularly,” Rasmussen said.

The resort will also participate in the MAX Pass again, which gives its pass holders five days at 44 ski resorts, with no black-out dates, for $629. In addition, CBMR pass holders can add the MAX pass to their CBMR pass for $329 for adults. No specifics were available in terms of how many people those passes brought to Crested Butte this year.

And speaking of passes, the early pass sale is going on now, and lasts only through April 9 (the last day of the ski season). An adult Peak Pass is $659 and a Peak Pass Plus is $879.

After April 9, expect to pay $40 to $60 more. Between April 10 and October 6, the Peak Pass is $699 and the Peak Pass Plus is $939. In the meantime, Rasmussen hopes to see plenty of folks out on the slopes. “CBMR’s snowpack in relation to the competition is strong based on the more than 300 inches of snow we’ve gotten this year. We’re grateful to be in a good snow position as we enter the last three weeks of the season,” Rasmussen said.