The snowpack is mostly melted, but the aftermath of a dismal ski season persists.

State of play: Outdoor retailers saw a decline in gear sales with historically little snow, and many are overstocked with unsold merch from this past winter.

• Some are desperate to reduce inventory, offering unusually deep price cuts to make room for the next season's gear.
• Others are being cautious about what 2026-27 gear they order.

What they're saying: "Overall, we managed to get by," says Charlie Wafel, a manager at Rocky Mountain Ski and Sport in Colorado Springs, but sales were "definitely low."

The big picture: Colorado's worst-recorded snowpack and unseasonably warm temperatures put a major dent in skier traffic last winter.

• Ski areas reported visits being down 24% after four years of record-setting levels, the Colorado Sun reports.
• The ripple effects hit retailers and other businesses in mountain towns.

What we're watching: Rather than linger on the past, ski shop owners are building hype with major discounts and the possibility that a new El Niño weather pattern could deliver better snow for the upcoming season.

• "The big question is: Will people be stoked about all this talk about a super El Niño and start buying again this fall … or will it be like this winter?" says Matt McDonald at Powder7 ski shop in Golden.

Pass it along

After a disappointing 2025-26 ski season dented visits and sales, Vail Resorts is betting better service will bring back visitors.

Why it matters: Vail owns four of Colorado's biggest ski destinations — Vail, Breckenridge, Keystone and Beaver Creek — meaning many Colorado Springs skiers will likely notice the changes firsthand.

Driving the news: The Broomfield-based company says its next chapter won't come from buying more resorts or selling more season passes.

Here's what's changing:

🎿 Private lessons will include concierge-style planning for dining, rentals and other activities.

🍕 Pizza, chicken fingers and other cafeteria classics will feature higher-quality ingredients.

⛷️ Returning rental customers can skip in-store fittings, with tuned gear ready when they arrive.

Reality check: Ski companies aren't just trying to survive lean snow years. They're trying to build businesses that aren't reliant on Mother Nature's cooperation.

What they're saying: CEO Rob Katz told the Wall Street Journal the company's edge will come from "systemic improvements to experience" made possible by its scale and technology.

Between the lines: Katz likened the strategy to Delta's and United's, saying the airlines differentiated themselves through technology, communication and "premiumization."

Zoom out: Without much snow last season, many Colorado ski resorts turned to elevated on-mountain dining experiences.

The bottom line: As unpredictable winters pressure the ski industry, Vail is wagering lower-friction, higher-end experiences will give it a competitive edge.

Tell a bougie buddy

🎬 The Cinemark theater near Powers Boulevard and South Carefree Circle is one of just 25 U.S. theaters where moviegoers can see Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey" in 70mm IMAX — the format the director considers definitive.

🚲 Blodgett Open Space has several miles of new trails, including 2.5 miles of bike-only downhill routes, four miles of multiuse trails and a new 50-space trailhead parking lot. (KKTV)

🤢 Taylor Farms said Friday it would pull products linked to a multistate cyclosporiasis outbreak that's sickened thousands, though its Colorado Springs processing and distribution facility remained open. (Gazette 🔑)

Mid-summer is one of the cheapest times to buy ski gear before prices climb again in the fall.

• Here are some local deals (available as of Friday) to score now:

⛷️ Evo: A bargain like 2026 Völkl M7 Mantra skis for $557.90 (down from $929.99) is just one of the markdowns right now.

🏔️ Epic Mountain Gear: Discounted items include 2026 Mindbender men's skis for $453.97 (down from $699.95), plus goggles in a range of styles and colors across the Colorado company's seven Front Range stores.

🏂 Denver Ski Co.: Deals range from 31% to 69% off last season's skis, snowboards, boots and bindings.

❄️ Powder7: Price cuts at this family-owned and -operated shop in Golden include 2025 Line Pandora 106 skis for $360 (52% off) and women's Helly Hansen switch cargo insulated ski pants for $88 (60% off).

🎿 Meier Skis: The Denver-based handmade ski maker is running a "Beat the Clock" sale through July 31, with custom-built skis and boards starting at $699, for delivery this fall.