Winter Wonderland Awaits: Arizona Ski Shops Eager for Snow to Elevate Business and Adventure

PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Monday’s snowfall was a welcome surprise for many in Arizona, particularly for local businesses that thrive in winter weather.

Ski shops around the state have faced a slow winter start. However, the recent snow gives them hope for a boost in business. This winter has been unusually dry, especially in northern Arizona.

Robbie Kerr, owner of First Chair Rentals in Flagstaff, shared, “It’s definitely not like last year. We had six feet of snow at this time.” He added that he appreciates the efforts of the Snow Bowl, which has been making artificial snow and opening new trails weekly.

Typically, the Snow Bowl accumulates about 260 inches of snow from November to May, but this season, they’ve only received 29 inches so far.

Businesses in Phoenix feel the effects of this. Jake Hamilton, General Manager of Sun & Ski Sports, noted a drop in customers shopping for winter sports gear. “The last couple of months have been slow. More snow means more business for us,” he explained. With the new snow, he expects an increase in rentals and services.

Both Hamilton and Kerr are optimistic. “February and March often bring our biggest snowfalls,” Kerr mentioned. “We just have to wait and see.” Hamilton echoed this sentiment, hoping for continued snowfall.

To illustrate the situation, Flagstaff usually receives about 44 inches of snow from November through the end of January, but this year, they’ve only seen four inches. This significant difference highlights how much everyone in the area is depending on snowfall to improve the season.