Attendance down for Colorado ski resorts

Many ski resorts across Colorado are off to a slow start this year but some are doing better than others.

"We have pretty good snow here" said Robin Brown of Grand Junction.

Even with the delay of opening day across most of the Colorado ski resorts, officials at powder horn say they're off to a busy start and they've got great skiing conditions.

"We've got a 33 inch base. We’re a hundred percent open and we actually were leading the snowpack race here in Colorado for a good part of December" said Luke Martin of Powderhorn Mountain Resort.

Skiers agree and say they're staying closer to home when it's time to hit the slopes.

"We’re not going to other places. We’re not going to the resort communities. We’re staying here at Powderhorn” said Brown.

Powderhorn is staying busy but the same can’t be said for other ski resorts across the state.

According to Colorado Ski Country USA, a non profit that represents 21 resorts across the state, total skier visits have decreased 11.5 percent during the first period of the ski season. Skiers and snowboarders say the conditions at some of the resort communities haven't been too well.

"I haven't gone to them once this year yet. (The) snow's really bad. I’ve had some friends go up there and they say it's really bad too" explains Jed Wilson of Grand Junction.

Another factor that contributed to fewer skiers during the start of this season was they delay in opening day, but ski officials are optimistic and say bookings and reservations for the rest of the season are higher than last year.

"Our reservations and ski school are really, really good. We’ve got them coming in. The phones are ringing really loudly" said Martin.

Colorado has one of the longest ski seasons and often stretches late into spring. If you haven't gotten to the slopes yet this year, you still have plenty of time.