Spring Season Crashes For Ski Shops, Mountains Over Coronavirus

VERNON, CT — It was a somber mood at New England Ski & Scuba in Vernon on Wednesday. David McClure, one of the owners, was there to hand out the last set of checks after telling his staff it was the last hurrah for the season. There was the slim hope that a customer would wander in looking for a March markdown bargain.

It had been days since anything more than a stray rental return happened. At one point, McClure just shook his head, walked over the grid that shows the number of trails and lifts open at snow sports areas within driving distance of his customers' homes and put a big X through it.

It was a fitting way to describe a wild period over the past few days that turned the spring skiing and snbowboarding season upside down in the middle of St. Patrick's Day and spring break amid coronavirus social distancing recommendations.

He's now thinking of closing the shop until next month to save on energy and other overhead. Season rentals are not due back until then anyway.

Rewind to Saturday. With a few snow sports areas closing even before the social distancing recommendations came out. Wachusett Mountain in Massachusetts gave it a shot. Every other table in the lodge was taken out for those who wanted to use the indoor facility, but customers were urged to use outside tables with temperatures approaching 50 degrees.

Wachusett President Jeff Crowley explained he wanted to be responsible as a business owner but also give customers a chance to get outside "after a trying week."

Conditions were good at Wachusett. Most groups made sure to ride the lifts by themselves and there was plenty of cover on the trails.

Alas, the following week became more trying. On Sunday, citing caution and social distancing concerns, Wachusett decided to shut down.

A major player, Vail Resorts, announced on St. Patrick's Day it was closing its mountains.

"Given the current situation involving the impact of coronavirus on our communities, we have now made a decision that our North American resorts and retail stores will remain closed for the 2019-20 winter ski season," the statement read. "Dependent on the situation with COVID-19, and pending weather conditions, we will consider reopening Breckenridge in Colorado, Heavenly in Lake Tahoe and Whistler Blackcomb in British Columbia in late April/early May."

The Vail statement said company-owned and operated lodging properties would be closing on Friday.

"While it is incredibly disappointing for us to mark the end of the season at this time, we know it is the most responsible path forward for the health and wellbeing of our guests, our employees and the amazing communities where we operate," the statement read.

Refunds were being made available.

LeMassif in Quebec had closed even before travel restrictions were announced.

It all spelled out the end of the spring season.

One transitional product line this time of year at New England Ski & Scuba is snokeling equipment for school system academic trips to Bermuda. With trips abroad called off, as well as scuba classes because of closed pools, the fins, masks and snorkels sat on the shelves.

Back to skiing and snowboarding. The whirlwind week left McClure still shaking his head. There was snow on the trails, but folks had nowhere to go.

He now had to make a decision he never anticipated.