Region is a mecca for European skiers
The hills are alive with the sound of Europeans, or so it seems on the slopes of New England. With the exchange rate favoring international skiers 2 to 1 and the shorter, inexpensive flights to New England airports, ski areas throughout the region have seen a marked increase in Europeans on the slopes.
"The vast majority of our international visitors are from the UK, especially in February and March," said Tom Horrocks, public relations director at Killington Resort in Vermont. "However, we did see quite a few visitors from Russia and former Eastern Bloc countries in December."
Europe offers thrilling Alpine verticals, atmosphere, and ski slopes that traverse pristine mountain villages - making it difficult for New England resorts to compete with the history and beauty there. But European skiers don't always have the time or ability to ski the Alps, and in New England, they get fewer crowds and more focus on the intermediate trails that suit the different abilities of a family.
"There are a number of reasons why we see so many overseas visitors. First and foremost, there is no language or cultural barrier for those from the UK," said Horrocks. "I have also been told by many of our visitors that they enjoy the American hospitality over what they find at resorts in the Alps."
The European skiers don't just happen along, and successful and persistent marketing campaigns by New England resorts and state agencies over the past 10 years have steadily increased the numbers.
"From a marketing perspective, nothing can beat the name recognition of Stowe, Vermont - where the famed Austrians of the 'Sound of Music,' the Von Trapp family - still live," said Jen Butson of SkiVermont. "Additionally, Jay Peak draws a number of Europeans who fly into Montreal, and, along with the French-Canadian skiers from Quebec, it adds an international flavor to it."
Although European resorts typically have a daily ticket price that is a full $15 less than most New England resorts, offerings such as the international Ski-Around pass at Jay Peak, Smugglers' Notch, Sugarbush, and Okemo are ski deals targeted for the international skiers.
In New Hampshire, skiers from outside the United States represented only about 2 percent of the total skiers last year, yet they stay much longer (1-2 weeks) and stay midweek, filling hotel rooms and buying lift tickets. The more traditional markets (Boston, Providence, New York) tend to ski on weekends and stay for 2-4 nights.
"English school groups are also a significant part of our international skiing visitors," said Alice Pearce of Ski New Hampshire. "The teenagers come in large groups in late February and early March every year."
The New Hampshire tourism department also has an active international effort that not only includes the United Kingdom and Ireland but other European countries.
"For a middle-class family, the New England resorts are absolutely comparable to Austria," said Friedl Brosch, a custom woodworker and expert Austrian skier living in Essex, Mass. "What Austrian skiers like are new challenges in skiing and they would love to spend a week here, skiing at six or seven different resorts in the region.
"What you don't have in New England is the vertical drops of up to 6,000 feet as we do there. But, not everyone wants to ski the double black diamonds there, either."
History also intrigues Europeans.
Along with the Von Trapp family legacy, Europeans and New England skiers have a shared history in the development of racing and recreational skiing in this country, according to Jeff Leich, executive director of the New England Ski Museum.
"The skiing links between New Englanders and Europeans date back to the 1920s, when the only people who actually knew how to ski were in Europe," said Leich.
During the early 1930s, Europeans were sought after by the early skiers in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. Ski instructors such as Otto Schniebs, Otto Lang, and Walter Prager were among an early group of German and Austrians teaching and developing skiing here.
In 1938, renowned Austrian skier Hannes Schneider of St. Anton - who pioneered the Arlberg technique and is known as the father of modern skiing - faced imprisonment in Nazi-occupied Austria, accused of "promoting skiing as a lifestyle."
As the borders to Austria were closed and he was imprisoned, an outcry among European and New England skiers alerted a North Conway, N.H., native, financier Harvey Gibson, to his plight. Gibson assisted in Schneider's release. Schneider was deported and arrived in North Conway in 1939.
The impact Schneider had on skiing in this country is legendary. He is remembered each March at the Hannes Schneider Cup weekend at Cranmore Mountain, which is attended by Austrian skiers and dignitaries from Schneider's native town.
"After World War II, a new generation of European instructors arrived in New England - like Norwegian Stein Eriksen and numerous Austrians at Stratton and Mount Mansfield, Hans Jenni in Maine, and Paul Valar in New Hampshire," said Leich. "These were young, handsome, and athletic people with endearing accents, and many of them became the heroes of the Americans who learned from them."
Europeans are also fascinated by our New England skiing hero, world champion skier and notorious bad boy Bode Miller, 30, of Franconia, N.H. Miller won the combined event at the World Cup stop in Kitzbuhel, Austria, Jan. 20, making him the most successful American skier ever with 28 World Cup wins, overtaking Phil Mahre's 1983 record.
Additionally, European skiers have visited Franconia and Cannon Mountain to see where it all began for Miller.
"For those who live in Europe, skiing is more of a cultural thing and not just a vacation; a young Austrian learns to ski and love our skiing heroes in the same way that an American learns to play baseball, but skiing is still a great sport for many of us here," Brosch said.
"And, as someone who grew up skiing in Europe, I have always told my friends to come on over here because the skiing is great."
