Ski California Newsroom
Welcome to the Newsroom

Thank you for your interest in Ski California (aka California Ski Industry Association), a nonprofit trade association that has represented the 35 member ski resorts in California and Nevada since 1969. In your coverage of the ski industry/winter snow sports this winter, should you need a spokesperson to comment on behalf of the industry, or need help organizing a multi-resort visit or response to an assignment, please contact us (see Media Quick Links).
Latest Ski California News
January 2023
- Jan 25, 2023: Annual Ski California Safety Day to Focus on Mountain Safety Guide (Snow Brains)
November 2022
- Nov 25, 2022: Avoiding Dangers on the Slope: Ski California Introduces Digital Mountain Safety Guide (KCRA 3)
- Nov 17, 2022: Ski California Debuts Updated Mountain Safety Guide (Ski Area Management)
- Nov 16, 2022: Ski Season 2022: California Mountain Resorts Roll Out the White Carpet (SJ Mercury News)
- Nov 16, 2022: Mammoth Mountain, CA, Currently Has the Most Open Terrain in the Country (SnowBrains)
- Nov 15, 2022: Ski California’s New Mountain Safety Guide Puts Safety in the Hands of Skiers and Riders (KTVN 2)
- Nov 15, 2022: Ski California Puts Safety in the Hands of Skiers and Riders (SnowBrains)
- Nov 4, 2022: Check Out What’s New at California Ski Resorts This Winter (Visit California)
October 2022
- Oct 13, 2022: Ski Season is coming. What you need to know before heading to California’s most popular resorts (LA Times)
- Oct 13, 2022: What’s new for you in the Far West for 2022-23 (OnTheSnow)
- Oct 6, 2022: Here’s What’s New at California & Nevada Ski Resorts This Season, Including New Terrain, Upgrades, and Anniversaries (SnowBrains)
June 2022
- June 16, 2022: Ski California’s LMOE Focused on More Than Just Lifts (Ski Area Management)
January 2022
- Jan 28, 2022: Avoiding collisions to be focus of Ski California’s Annual Safety Day (Tahoe Daily Tribune)
- Jan 24, 2022: Avoiding Collisions to Be Focus of Ski California’s Annual ‘Safety Day’ January 29 (SnowBrains)
December 2021
- Dec 30, 2021: California snow: Sierra snowpack signals ‘remarkable turnaround’ amid historic drought (Merc News)
- Dec 24, 2021: Tahoe ski resorts relish in wintry blast slamming the Sierra with several feet of snow (Merc News)
- Dec 16, 2021: Ski resorts are ready for the season. Here’s what’s new and how to hit the slopes safely (LA Times)
- Dec 14, 2021: Fires, Landslides, Lack of Snow: The Ski Industry Girds for Battle (The New York Times)
November 2021
- Nov 26, 2021: Manufactured snow is critical to Tahoe’s ski industry. Here’s how it’s made (Reno Gazette Journal)
- Nov 22, 2021: Get Lost – or Found – at Lake Tahoe’s Mega Resorts and Quirky Mom-and-Pop Hills (SKI Magazine)
- Nov 22, 2021: Tahoe skiing: It’s (almost) back to normal at ski resorts this winter (Merc News)
October 2021
- October 31, 2021: What You Need to Know About California Ski Resorts (Visit California)
- Oct 29, 2021: Everything You Need to Know About Skiing Lake Tahoe this Winter (San Francisco Chronicle)
- Oct 29, 2021: ‘We live for this.’ Skiers flock to Tahoe ski resorts on opening day (San Francisco Chronicle)
- Oct 18, 2021: Ski California Resorts update for winter 2021-22 (Roseville Today)
- Oct 11, 2021: Here’s What’s New and What to Expect at Ski California Resorts This Winter (Ski California)
September 2021
- Sept 15, 2021: Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows to Become Palisades Tahoe in Historic Name Change (Travel + Leisure)
- Sept 4, 2021: The Caldor Fire blew past every barrier firefighters put up. This is how they finally tamed it (San Francisco Chronicle)
- Sept 1, 2021: Caldor Fire: Snow-making machines running full tilt in desperate effort to save Tahoe ski resorts (Merc News)
August 2021
- Aug 17, 2021: Millions of skiers visited California resorts last year, despite the pandemic (San Francisco Chronicle)
- Aug 17, 2021: Total Skier Visits Up 22% at Ski California Resorts During Pandemic (SnowBrains)
January 2021
- January 20, 2021: California and Nevada Ski Resorts Promote Respect and Education for Annual ’Safety Day’ January 23 (SnowBrains.com)
- January 13, 2021: Ski Tourism Faces a Boom or Bust Winter Season (Wall Street Journal)
- January 5, 2021: Hitting the slopes still popular even with après-ski sidelined (Travel Weekly)
December 2020
- December 31, 2020: Insiders Share Top Tips For Enjoying California Snow Season (Visit California / CA Now Podcast)
- December 25, 2020: ‘Stay Alive and Survive’: Ski Resorts Brace for a Pandemic Season (New York Times)
- December 22, 2020: Ski industry CEO’s gaze into crystal ball: ‘Bullish’ on future (OnTheSnow.com)
- December 21, 2020: The Reason We Have a season (Moonshine Ink)
- December 10, 2020: Ski California welcomes all to resorts for safe riding (KOLO-TV)
- December 10, 2020: Tahoe ski resorts open, but tourists asked not to come through holiday season (Reno Gazette-Journal)
- December 7, 2020: At these California ski resorts, slopes are open, but what about lodging? (Los Angeles Times)
- December 6, 2020: A Western Ski Roundup: Skiing in a pandemic season (Napa Valley Register)
- December 4, 2020: Bay Area travel: What’s allowed and what’s not under new order (San Francisco Chronicle)
- December 3, 2020: California Posts New Ski Resort Guidelines (NBC Bay Area)
- December 3, 2020: California releases COVID guidelines for ski resorts (KTVU-TV)
- December 2, 2020: Ski Resorts Allowed To Stay Open Under New State COVID-19 Guidelines (California Globe)
November 2020
- November 30, 2020: If you’re going to ski, here’s how to do it safely in the pandemic (CNN)
- November 25, 2020: Here’s what pandemic-era skiing and snowboarding will look like this winter (Los Angeles Times)
- November 20, 2020: Tahoe ski season opens with great snow, new COVID restrictions (San Francisco Chronicle)
- November 19, 2020: Ski season and COVID-19: What you need to know before you head to the slopes (USA Today)
- November 15, 2020: With more snow coming to Northern California, ski resorts will open with COVID-19 rules (Sacramento Bee)
- November 12, 2020: CapChat with Mike Reitzell / How COVID-19 Is Impacting Tahoe, Ski Season (Capital Public Radio)
- November 12, 2020: Report Confirms Outdoor Recreation is Crucial to National & State Economies
- November 11, 2020: Everything You Need To Know About Skiing Tahoe This Winter, During the Pandemic (San Francisco Chronicle)
- November 9, 2020: Tahoe: Skiing in the time of Covid? Bundle up and prepare for a wild ride (San Jose Mercury News)
October 2020
- October 25, 2020: Lake Tahoe resorts prepare for different kind of ski season (Tahoe Daily Tribune)
- October 20, 2020: Ski California Resorts Share What Guests Can Expect This Winter (Snowbrains.com)
- October 10, 2020: Luxury California ski resorts are gearing up for a wave of visitors with slope reservations and touchless massages (Business Insider)
- October 8, 2020: Have a season pass? Here’s your guide to how Tahoe-area ski resorts plan to open this year (Reno Gazette-Journal)
- October 6, 2020: What This Ski Season Will Look Like (Outside Online)
September 2020
- September 27, 2020: Reno-Tahoe ski resorts prepping for unique season ahead in age of COVID (Nevada Appeal)
- September 17, 2020: California ski resorts are limiting visitor numbers. No more walk-up tickets (Los Angeles Times)
- September 3, 2020: Tahoe Area Ski Resorts Plan Reopen with New COVID-19 Restrictions (KGO-TV)
August 2020
March 2020
January 2020
October 2019
January 2019
September 2018
May 2018
March 2018
- Alterra Mountain Company Unveils Long-Term Capital Improvement Plan to Improve the Guest Experience
- Squaw Valley | Alpine Meadows and the “Military to the Mountains” Program Welcome Veterans to the Slopes this March
February 2018
- Ikon Pass Joins Forces with Protect Our Winters with 50K Donation to Create The IKON Pass Fund
- Innovative Olympic Valley Microgrid Project Proposed
January 2018
December 2017
November 2017
October 2017
- Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe to open tomorrow for skiing and snowboarding
- California and Nevada Ski Resorts Gearing Up for Another Stellar Season
- With $4 Million in New Snow Safety Tools & Technology, Squaw Valley | Alpine Meadows Prepares for 2017-18 Season and Beyond
September 2017
April 2017
December 2016
November 2016
- Squaw Valley | Alpine Meadows Partners with Alpenglow Expeditions to Provide Lift-Accessed Guided Backcountry Tours
- Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe to Open Friday, November 18
- California Ski Season Has Begun
- Squaw Valley | Alpine Meadows and The Village at Squaw Valley® Give $800,000 to the Community, Environment and Protection of Lake Tahoe in 2016
- 2016 Tahoe Donner Winter Events
October 2016
- Snow is Falling – Opening Days Are Not Far Behind for California and Nevada Ski Resorts
- California and Nevada Skiing Just Got Better
September 2016
- Report Shows California Ski Industry Making Significant Advancements in Sustainability; Calls for More Efforts to Preserve Winters for Generations
- Sierra-at-Tahoe Announces Partnership with Vapur to Launch Hydration Program
April 2016
- Squaw Valley | Alpine Meadows Announces Free Premium Parking for Carpools with “POW Parking” Program
- Squaw Valley | Alpine Meadows Signs “Business Backs Low-Carbon USA” Statement and Celebrates Banner Year for Sustainable Action
January 2016
November 2015
About Ski California
Ski California (aka California Ski Industry Association) is a non-profit trade association representing 35 ski resorts in California and Nevada. Since its inception in 1969, a Board of Directors consisting of representation from each member resort has lead the organization in its primary functions of public policy, public relations and advocacy. Particular areas of focus include mountain safety, environmental stewardship, and technical training. Ski California monitors existing and proposed legislation to ensure that national and state legislators hear and consider the industry perspective on issues affecting mountain communities and businesses. Ski California researches, analyzes, and pursues safety while preserving the integrity of mountain sports and the natural environment in which they are enjoyed by millions each year.
Snowfall History
Season | CA/NV Average | Tahoe Average | |
2021-22 | 230″ | 397″ | |
2020-21 | 209″ | 306″ | |
2019-20 | 328″ | 386″ | |
2019-20 | 328″ | 386″ | |
2018-19 | 450″ | 545″ | |
2017-18 | 215″ | 263″ | |
2016-17 | 523″ | 626″ | |
2015-16 | 308″ | 360″ | |
2014-15 | 96″ | 85″ | |
2013-14 | 166″ | 187″ | |
2012-13 | 235″ | 259″ | |
2011-12 | 210″ | 256″ | |
2010-11 | 465″ | 581″ | |
2009-10 | 318″ | 375″ |
Ski California Skier Visits History
Season | Skier Visits |
2021-22 | 6,896,802 |
2020-21 | 6,753,303 |
2019-20 | 5,552,767 |
2018-19 | 7,118,427 |
2017-18 | 6,031,796 |
2016-17 | 6,996,203 |
2015-16 | 7,067,235 |
2014-15 | 4,496,898 |
2013-14 | 4,862,362 |
2012-13 | 6,793,811 |
2011-12 | 5,819,067 |
2010-11 | 7,786,108 |
2009-10 | 7,980,974 |
Ski California president Michael Reitzell can speak to the following topics:
(for media interviews)
- The organization’s over 50-year history of being the unified “voice” of the California and Nevada ski industry
- Ski California’s new (2022) digital Mountain Safety Guide
- Economic impact of skiing/snowboarding in California ($3.2B in 2018-19)
- Annual visitation across Ski California resorts, and industry trends
- Safety initiatives – the industry’s experience and collective efforts to promote safety and educate the skiing and riding public
- The California/Nevada ski industry’s sustainability efforts
- The business of the ski industry in California and Nevada
- Ski California Gold Pass – the only fully transferable pass with no blackout dates valid at all 35 member resorts in California and Nevada
