The U.S. ski industry lost $2 Billion in revenue last winter due to COVID-19. An early outbreak in the pandemic was at a ski festival in Idaho where >100 skiers became infected.
While skiing is outdoors with lots of face covering and social distancing, there are inherent risks. Skiers eat in busy cafeterias. They drink in bars and gather in crowded restaurants. They ride in buses around ski resorts. They travel in gondolas with as many as 8 skiers in an enclosed space as they travel up the mountain. They ride chairlifts with strangers. They stand in line for tickets. Some ski-related jobs, such as food service, rental equipment, and classes, also involve working closely together indoors.
Despite the risk, opportunities abound for a safe ski experience. Simulations and modeling can help. Ski resorts and operators can explore processes/protocols virtually before opening to the masses – testing, sanitizing, equipment usage, capacity management, ticket sales, social distancing, face masks, table spacing/seating, gear rental, and more. All have myriad options and implications. MOSIMTEC data scientists and industrial engineers can leverage specialized software to help analyze options, stay away from trouble and be King of the Hill. See you on the slopes!
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