Successful Ski Resorts: Maximize Your Summer Season

Presented at the 2006 IMBA Summit/World Mountain Bike Conference

Speakers: Rob McSkimming, Whistler Bike Park; Joey Klein, IMBA; Darco Cazin, Allegra Tourismus, Switzerland
Facilitator: Scott Linnenburger

Ski resorts are evolving into summer mountain bike resorts on a worldwide scale. Sometimes referred to as "summer skiing," resorts can maximize an extremely similar market of users and provide year-round play. Speakers at this session identified six steps in the evolution of a mountain bike resort:

• Inventory the potential: Create a register of existing trails and terrain assets.
• Improve and build new trails and make trail connections: Be sure to invest early in good work, saving future expenditures for expansion and not repair.
• Develop accessibility: Investigate lift service, train shuttle services, car shuttles, etc.
• Develop the trails community: Get community leaders and potential stake-holders out on the trails. The more these groups are tied to the sport the more they will support it.
• Develop the community behind the recreation: Provide the services mountain bikers need, such as bike hotels, bike parking, bike shops, bike washes, laundry and food.
• Market to skiers: Get them to come back in the summer. Develop external and internal marketing through skills centers, mountain bike schools and events.

Additional IMBA Resources:

Freeriding Resources
Ski Areas and Freeriding
Tourism and Economic Development
Success Story from Rochester, MN